Kerri Dopart

Kerri was born in Newport, Rhode Island and lived there until graduating from Brown University in 2001. She lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for a year where she learned to speak her grandparents' native tongue, Portuguese, and Spanish as well. Kerri moved to San Diego in 2001, earned a teaching credential and a master's degree and began her teaching career teaching Spanish K-8 and guitar lessons.

Kerri released her first EP Unrequited Love Songs in March of 2006, and her first full-length cd I Saw This Coming on April 11, 2007. She has played to full houses at San Diego coffee shops and bars such as Twiggs, Lestat’s, Hot Monkey Love, Milano Coffee Company, The Brass Rail and more.

Kerri was a featured artist in the San Diego Singer/Songwriter Showcase at the San Diego County Fair in June of 2006 and also played a set at the Imperial Beach Art Jam. “Kerri Dopart stole the show at the San Diego County Fair this year,” says Tim Mudd, event coordinator and Wednesday night open mic host at Twiggs Coffee Shop in University Heights.

Her song Praying For An Earthquake earned Kerri the award for Female Vocalist of the Year – Country, by the Los Angeles Music Awards in 2006. She was also nominated for Female Singer/Songwriter of the Year. Praying For An Earthquake also was selected for the finals of the 2007 GINA/LAWIM Singer-Songwriter Contest. Alfred C. Bowman, Executive Producer of the L.A. Music Awards says, “This girl is more than just a number. Her song Praying For An Earthquake is absolutely beautiful. Of the hundreds and thousands of songs I listen to every year, this song stuck with me.” The Great American Song writes of Earthquake, “Superb! Excellent melodic elements, intriguing, smart structure. Talented work.” Unisong International adds, “Nicely sticky. A great story here and it deserves to get the best possible treatment. Listeners will hang on every word.”

In April of 2007, Kerri played to 1,000 scholars and benefactors at the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation in Atlanta, and the Woman's Film, Music and Literature Arts Festival in Austin. On August 18, Kerri will be playing at the LouieFest Festival in Washington outside Tacoma, and Kerri is extremely honored to be chosen to kick off the school year as the headlining artist at Whitman College in Walla Walla on August 31.

Kerri was chosen to perform in the Future Stars in Radio and Music Conference in Memphis, in the Vox Concert Series in Wisconsin, and for the Hudson Valley Renegades minor league baseball team in New York. Kerri was selected to be a featured performer in November at the Mid-Atlantic Music Conference in Charlotte and was a semi-finalist in the 2007 Winery Music Awards competition in California. She performed live on San Diego country radio station KSON on June 8.

Kerri recorded Unrequited Love Songs and I Saw This Coming with some of the most talented musicians in San Diego County, including “Cactus” Jim Soldi, of Johnny Cash fame and Sharon Whyte of the Eve Selis band. Kerri’s influences include country artists Faith Hill and Martina McBride as well as singer/songwriters such as Sarah McLachlan and the Indigo Girls.

Look for Kerri’s music video "Bicycle", directed by Thomas J. Ohara, on YouTube, or visit www.myspace.com/kerridopart.