Performing at Chicago Singer Spotlight on Wednesday, June 12 at FitzGerald's

Alan Dawson
Alan Dawson recorded his first song at the age of three and he has been performing ever since. His professional music career began as a drummer for local bands while in high school, and later as the drummer/singer for the Chicago based band the "Cryan' Shames" on their 1968 "Synthesis" album. He has sung on commercial jingles for United Airlines, Juicy Fruit, Meisterbrau, 7-up, Franco-American, and McDonalds. He took time off from touring and performing live to raise two sons, and is now back at work with his current musical partners Jim Welton and Bobby Schiff, with whom he was a member of the country-rock band "Cotton". While versed in a number of musical styles, his firsts loves are ballads and (being from Chicago, of course) blues. He would like to thank Becca and Amy for the opportunity to sing at this wonderful venue along with this group of talented singers and musicians.

Nikki Rich
Nikki Rich sings regularly with Stuart Rosenberg's 'Music for Celebration', and the rock band, Maryann and the Professors. She is also a recent addition to the Dark Star Orchestra. She has appeared on numerous occassions at the different singer showcases over the years around Chicago and the suburbs, and is excited to add this Singer Spotlight to the list. This year also marks her debut as National Anthem singer for the Chicago Cubs after multiple seasons singing for the the Bulls and White Sox. When not running her optical shop in Highland Park, she gets the chance to get in the studio to record on CD projects and jingles. Many thanks for the support of friends and family over the years and to Becca and Amy for this opportunity for all singers.

Lori Wyatt
Lori Wyatt is the lead singer of Kathryn Fixx, a five piece combo from Chicago, where they have forged their sound into an industrial Midwest fusion of Alternative, blended with a strong dose of R&B and a good measure of Techno. Wyatt, whose strong stage presence has been the hallmark of her long association with music, the band has a quality that is at once haunting and accessible. Songs range from the dreamy "And I Want You" to the mystical "Beautiful" to the edgy "Near Ruins". This band has presence and seeing her perform is as good as hearing her sing.

Justin Hayford
Justin Hayford specializes in reviving little-known songs from the 1930's and '40's. With his sell-out "Rare Find" concert series at Davenport's Piano Bar & Cabaret, he has rescued dozens of songs from ignoble and undeserved obscurity--songs like "You're Awful," "How Do You Do Without Me," "I'm Not So Bright," and "My Sweet Tooth Says I Wanna But My Wisdom Tooth Says No." He received the 2001 After Dark Award for Outstanding Cabaret Artist, and his first CD, A Rare Find, was released on the LML Music label in November of 2001.