Dean Lemire
Portland, OR
 
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Dean Lemire is a native of Portland, Oregon. He started playing the piano at the age of five. His training in classical piano was with Mary Dunlap, Music Department Chair, at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon.   Dean is a staff organist at Oaks Park Roller Rink, Portland, Oregon, where, for over 38 years, holds forth at the console of the mighty 4/18 Wurlitzer organ. Here he studied the pipe organ under the tutelage of the late Don Simmons.   He also played at the Imperial Roller RInk in Portland for many years until it closed.   Dean was also a staff organist at the famous Organ Grinder pizza restaurant 4/51 Wurlitzer in Portland as well as over 16 years at Uncle Milt’s Pipe Organ Pizza Wurlitzer in Vancouver, WA.

 
He was the organist for the Portland Trailblazers and for the Portland Winterhawks at Portland’s Memorial Coliseum, as well as organist for the Portland Beavers baseball team at Civic Stadium/PGE Park for many years.
 
Dean has traveled extensively as a keyboard artist with various USO tour groups, including The New Oregon Singers. He has performed with such names as Bob Hope, and Lawrence Welk......Entertaining US troops worldwide, from the wards of Tripler Army Hospital to the carrier deck of the USS Enterprise.
 
BPOE State Organist for the Oregon State Elks Association for 2010-2011.
 
Most recently, Dean was a featured artist for the 2010 National Convention of the American Theatre Organ Society, performing on the Oaks Park Wurlitzer, in Portland, Oregon, as well as the 1988 ATOS Portland, Oregon convention on the same instrument.
 
Dean's theatre organ arrangements are fresh, innovative and exciting; even familiar standards are given new life. His impeccable keyboard technique coupled with his wry wit always combine to provide a delightful program.
 
Dean can be heard playing the Oaks Park Wurlitzer on the last Sunday night of each month as well as performing jazz piano and various venues and events in the Portland area.