Doug Westberg has been playing piano for 50 years and entertaining audiences for 40, having been an entertainer, church music director, classical organist, theater music director, children’s music enrichment leader, and composer of jazz-pop songs, choral music, and concert pieces which have received numerous performances and commissions throughout the Portland area. His current musical offering--based around the solo piano (or keyboard)--is an eclectic stew that includes liberal doses of ragtime and neo-ragtime (Randy Newman, the Beatles, Scott Joplin), keyboard rock and pop classics (Billy Joel, Steely Dan, Elton John), Tin Pan Alley and the Great American Songbook, highlighted by his body of brilliant and witty original songs. Featuring wickedly funny satire and virtuosic musicianship in a range of styles as versatile as his cover repertoire, Doug’s original songs draw from ragtime, blues, boogie rock, piano jazz, and modern jazz-pop as it suits his purpose. Wildly inventive, brilliantly crafted, and scathingly funny, his lyrics skewer politicians and celebrities, the perils of modern technology, and the vanity and vainglory of American popular culture in all its manifestations.

Westberg has recorded 2 full-length CDs: Phrenology (2003) (soon to be re-released as Behind By A Move) and his new album Waiting For The Bars To Rust (2010).

Doug has been an active part of the Portland/Vancouver music scene for over 30 years. His projects have ranged from theatrical productions like the original cabaret musical comedy The Almost Has-Been And The Nearly Never-Was (with Carol Holden) to classical organ concerts. In 2004, he shared Songwriter Of The Year honors in the Portland Songwriters Association Showcase Series, and his song “You’re All The Woman I Need,” won Best Country Song in the PSA International Song Contest. Every Friday and Saturday night from 8:00-Midnight, he can be found playing, singing, and taking requests at Aaron’s Wine Cellar and Piano Bar in Portland, Oregon, 322 SE 82nd Ave. Saturday nights, Westberg is joined by son Nevada Westberg on drums. His versatility and style defy comparisons; “The best compliment I ever got,” says Westberg, “was from a guy who told me I reminded him of a combination of Randy Newman and Garrison Keillor.”

Westberg holds 2 music degrees from Marylhurst University. As a composer, his commissions have included a piece for the dedication recital series for the 43-rank Clark-MacDonald Pipe Organ at Marylhurst as well as several churches. He has played and concertized at Marylhurst University, Evergreen State College, Pomona College, Phillips Academy Andover, L’Arche Nehalem Spring Social, The Old Church, Vancouver Wine and Cheese Festival, Elevated Coffee, Ross Island Grocery, Alpenrose Dairy, dozens of churches, hundreds of weddings, farmers markets, art walks, street fairs, fundraisers, cocktail parties, corporate events, etc.

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Onward and Upward

Please visit my YouTube channel youtube.com/user/steelheaddoug .  New vids being added all the time.  Subscribe to the channel and share the vids with your friends!

My focus at this writing is finding representation and/or a job on a cruise ship.  It seems that cruise ships are the last bastion of piano bar entertainment.

Please become a fan at Facebook (search "Doug Westberg") or on the home page here ("Fan Collector") to be apprised of when and where I start gigging again.

Thank you to everyone who supported Aaron's Wine Cellar and Piano Bar.  It was a great ride.  Don't forget me!

Love, Doug

Jul 29, 2010 Add comment Share

full steam ahead

Just got a sweet little digicam and I'm videoing everything this weekend. Want another 5 minutes of fame? Wanna be in a music video? Come to Aaron's Wine Cellar (322 SE 82nd) this Friday and Saturday, 8:00-midnight.

I'm now a member of ASCAP as a writer and publisher and will soon be registering my song catalog.

My new album is now live on CD Baby, in addition to iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, eMusic, Napster, and more! Download me into your favorite jukebox software/music service!

May 17, 2010 Add comment Share

New Material

Am working on adapting "I'm A Clone" for acoustic piano. Gonna be awesome!! Premiere at Aaron's, Friday 5/14.

Other new numbers:
A Day In The Life, Beatles*
Viva La Vida, Coldplay*
Take Me To The Pilot, Elton John
The Piano Has Been Drinking, Tom Waits
and more...
*must be heard to be believed...

If you come to sing, I now have books with the complete lyrics of The Beatles, and Paul Simon/Simon & Garfunkel!

May 11, 2010 Add comment Share

New Web Site

http://dougwestberg.com now points to my new web site at Reverb Nation! Among many new interactive features, you can now download my song list from my home page!

Friday, Ted came by and sat in on trumpet. Saturday, Nevada wasn't there, but Carol sang a couple songs and we had a nice enthusiastic crowd! Aaron's is growing steadily, people are finding it, coming back, bringing their friends. Aaron's is at 322 SE 82nd Ave just N of Stark.

Apr 20, 2010 Add comment Share

Reverb Store Open

The new album Waiting For The Bars To Rust is now available for purchase as a download album or individual tracks at my new Reverb Store: http://www.reverbnation.com/store/artist_431013

Apr 15, 2010 Add comment Share

Influence Gallery Open Mike

The Jeff Kossack CD release party & open mike yesterday was a triumph. I got my demo CD into his hands and he was very impressed and friendly. Jeff gave a fine concert, he is a very accomplished L.A. musician. The group at Influence Gallery Open Mike are some of the friendliest people in the universe. I've been there 3 times now and I'm on a first name basis with everybody. Thank you Evan Acey for letting me sing and not giving me the hook when I went a little long. Thank you Carol for giving me some of your time so I could finish my third song. Catch me at the Hillsboro First Tuesday Art Walk, tomorrow, 6/2, 6-8p.m. inside Gimre's Shoe Store, 256 E Main.

Jun 1, 2009 Add comment Share