- Bowie, MD
- A Cappella Group
- $200 and up
Overview
I am a vocalist who has vast experience in providing stirring performances for decades! With or without music, I possess the demonstrated ability to move and inspire an audience.
I usually sing with performance tracks and have my own sound equipment and technician (if needed). I also use a keyboardist when requested, but have found that the full instrumentation of a track is preferable to clients in producing the experience they desire. But my goal is to satisfy every client so I am willing to meet any request, including learning your special song(s)! Quality service is my motto!
Reviews
61 reviews
Bernadine J.
November 16, 2024It's All About Praise
Beautiful songbird and minister who sings from the heart, and gives all praises to God.
Hired as: Gospel Singer
Valerie Dawkins
Thanks so much for your kind words! It was my pleasure to support your event. 🙏🏽❤️ God bless!
Donna C. B.
February 17, 2024Valerie has a voice of an angel.
I wanted a gospel singer for my husband's memorial service. Someone who could truly help with making this a celebration of life. Valerie did just that with her amazing voice and thoughtful words of encouragement. I am so thankful I found her and will always be grateful to her for her participation in the service. Thank you!!
Hired as: Gospel Singer
Jorge S.
December 25, 2022Valerie Made our Christmas Eve Service Special
I Pastor a church in Annapolis, MD, and we invited Valerie to lead our Christmas Eve service worship. She made our service very special with the beautiful gift of her voice but also her encouraging spirit and personality. We recomend her to anyone out there who wants to make their event a special expereience.
Hired as: Praise & Worship Leader
Sadat I.
November 15, 2022She is nice, professional and kindhearted woman
She showed up with a warm smile and killed it
Hired as: Singing Telegram
Booking information
Price range: $200 - $2000
Languages: English
Gig length: 15 - 240 minutes
Insurance: Yes
What to expect
I believe former clients can tell you best:
Valerie Dawkins was wonderful we truly enjoyed her singing. And her singing was profound, truly she has a beautiful voice. She was kind enough to learn a song dear to my heart in a short time period and sing it the day of the ceremony. I would recommend her to the White House to sing at their celebrations and ceremony. Truly it was the right choice to have her come and sing. All I can say thank you Valerie. Pastor Pamela JP Martin -- Pamela M, Silver Spring, MD, 9/29/2012
Valerie was so Amazing that most of my guests thought it was a CD Playing!!! When they realized she was singing live, they all wanted a business card :) Valerie took time to get to know me as a person and made sure my wedding ceremony was perfect. I look forward to using her services again in the future!!!! -- Natalie C, Philadelphia, PA, 10/7/2012
Ms. Dawkins was a wonderful surprise for my husband's 50th birthday party. Valerie and I communicated via email and phone before the event and she went above my expectations. She had to drive well over an hour to reach us, she arrived ahead of schedule & worked with the staff to ensure my surprise gift of song. When she preformed the entire place came to a stop, all eyes were on her. My husband was very moved. My favorite part was at the end of the song Valerie added a personal note of love from me to my husband in keeping with my song of choice. Thank you, Thank you, Thank You!!! -- Sherry P, Easton, MD, 9/5/2012
About
When she sings…people stop what they are doing to listen. When she sings…people get goose bumps. When she sings…people are moved to tears. When she sings…people want more!
The powerful vocals of Valerie Dawkins have been known to captivate and inspire audiences across the country. For more than 3 decades, this anointed Singer-Songwriter has performed at various church events, weddings, corporate events, and a host of other occasions. In fact, from the department store to the local beauty salon, there is hardly any environment in which Valerie has been that she hasn't been asked to sing! Her voice has been said to contain "a certain magic", possessing the ability to move the spirit and soothe the soul. Her versatility is evident in her ability to effectively use her instrument in many music genres. But whether gospel, R & B, or pop, Valerie recognizes that she is accountable to the "Giver" of the gift in its use. The rich, sultry tones in her voice are reminiscent of such powerhouse vocalists as Aretha Franklin, Mahalia Jackson, and Whitney Houston, to name a few. It has been said that she must have a "microphone in her throat"!
While in college, she gave a full concert accompanied by a live band. She has worked as a session vocalist for various recording projects. Valerie has appeared as a guest soloist on a Singles' Cruise where Gospel artist Smokie Norful was the featured artist. She also lent her talents to the 2008 Annual Foster Youth Benefit Concert hosted by W.H.A.L.E.R.'s Creation at the Hard Rock Cafe (DC). Recently, Valerie was selected as one of ten finalists to compete in the Budweiser Superfest Opening Act Contest, and came in 2nd place. She is currently the Worship Leader at the Spirit of Elijah Kingdom Church in Fort Washington, MD, where she has been privileged to serve in this capacity since the church's inception in 1990.
In addition to being an accomplished singer, Ms. Dawkins has written many songs – for praise and worship, for weddings, and even songs in celebration of the transition to eternity. Her creative talents have also been expressed through original poetry, the narration of dance recitals, playwriting, and even a Christian comedy stand-up routine!
Be it with live music, accompaniment tracks or a capella, Valerie Dawkins is sure to deliver the goods. Due to a technical malfunction at one wedding venue, Valerie had to sing with no music. When it was all over, the satisfied couple ended up giving her the biggest tip she'd ever received. Truly, it's the anointing that makes the difference!
Valerie is working towards recording her first solo project in the coming year. Possessing the right mix of pure, raw talent and a wealth of experience, Valerie Dawkins is sure to make your event special and memorable. Book her today and find out for yourself what happens...when she sings!
Additional booking notes
My umbrella company is Dawkins Communications, LLC and we are insured. I have my own sound equipment, which includes two cordless mics. I take pride in my sound so my sound technician is always on hand to ensure the best quality possible.
If there is a need for MC services or a DJ, Dawkins Communication, LLC can meet those needs as well! Work samples provded upon request.
Services offered
Past booked events
June 2025
06
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:00am - 11:45am
•
Hyattsville, MD
November 2024
15
Friday
Fundraiser
7:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Waldorf, MD
April 2024
21
Sunday
Birthday Party
2:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Upper Marlboro, MD
January 2024
24
Wednesday
Funeral/Memorial Service
9:30pm - 9:45pm
•
Fairfax, VA
April 2023
08
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:00am - 12:00pm
•
Temple Hills, MD
December 2022
24
Saturday
Worship Service
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Annapolis, MD
November 2022
12
Saturday
Birthday Party
4:30pm - 4:45pm
•
Washington, DC
October 2022
29
Saturday
Birthday Party
1:00pm - 1:30pm
•
Arlington, VA
September 2022
10
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:30am - 1:00pm
•
Washington, DC
August 2022
13
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:00am - 12:00pm
•
Dunn Loring, VA
06
Saturday
Birthday Party
12:00pm - 12:15pm
•
Alexandria, VA
June 2022
13
Monday
Nonprofit Event
9:00am - 9:15am
•
Arlington, VA
April 2022
28
Thursday
Birthday Party
10:00am - 10:15am
•
Arlington, VA
16
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
1:30pm - 2:00pm
•
Hyattsville, MD
08
Friday
Personal Occasion
11:00am - 12:00pm
•
Hyattsville, MD
October 2021
22
Friday
Worship Service
9:00am - 10:00am
•
Indian Head, MD
01
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
2:00pm - 3:30pm
•
Forestville, MD
September 2021
25
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:00am - 12:30pm
•
Washington, DC
June 2021
19
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:00am - 11:15am
•
Herndon, VA
11
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
12:30pm - 2:00pm
•
Alexandria, VA
05
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
12:00pm - 1:00pm
•
Annapolis, MD
March 2021
06
Saturday
Birthday Party
10:00pm - 10:30pm
•
Woodbridge, VA
January 2021
29
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
10:30am - 11:00am
•
Brentwood, MD
15
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:00am - 12:00pm
•
Washington, DC
November 2020
21
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
12:30pm - 1:00pm
•
Nottingham, MD
October 2020
17
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:00pm - 11:15pm
•
Hyattsville, MD
January 2020
07
Tuesday
Funeral/Memorial Service
12:00pm - 12:30pm
•
Baltimore, MD
December 2019
25
Wednesday
Birthday Party
5:00pm - 5:15pm
•
Arlington, VA
14
Saturday
Nonprofit Event
11:00am - 12:30pm
•
Bowie, MD
October 2019
26
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
2:00pm - 3:30pm
•
Alexandria, VA
September 2019
28
Saturday
Birthday Party
8:00pm - 8:45pm
•
Bethesda, MD
02
Monday
Dinner Party
12:30pm - 12:45pm
•
Timonium, MD
May 2019
18
Saturday
Birthday Party
7:00pm - 7:45pm
•
Greenbelt, MD
April 2019
05
Friday
Birthday Party
5:30pm - 5:45pm
•
Alexandria, VA
March 2019
12
Tuesday
Funeral/Memorial Service
9:30am - 12:30pm
•
Washington, DC
October 2018
13
Saturday
Wedding Engagement
8:30pm - 8:45pm
•
Baltimore, MD
August 2018
11
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
1:30pm - 2:15pm
•
Washington D.C., DC
July 2018
06
Friday
Wedding Engagement
7:00pm - 7:15pm
•
Alexandria, VA
June 2018
16
Saturday
Anniversary Party
3:00pm - 3:30pm
•
Woodbridge, VA
April 2018
20
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
3:00pm - 3:30pm
•
Baltimore, MD
October 2017
28
Saturday
Birthday (Adult)
12:30pm - 2:00pm
•
Chevy Chase, MD
June 2017
10
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
3:00pm - 3:30pm
•
Silver Spring, MD
May 2017
17
Wednesday
Funeral/Memorial Service
8:30am - 9:30am
•
Arlington, VA
January 2017
18
Wednesday
Worship Service
10:30pm - 12:00am (Thu)
•
Stafford, VA
November 2016
12
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
3:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Silver Spring, MD
October 2016
09
Sunday
Dinner Party
6:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Silver Spring, MD
September 2016
02
Friday
Wedding Ceremony
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Pasadena, MD
July 2016
31
Sunday
Wedding Ceremony
12:30pm - 1:30pm
•
Washington, DC
19
Tuesday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:00am - 11:15am
•
Arlington, VA
June 2016
25
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
3:30pm - 4:30pm
•
Annapolis, MD
February 2016
14
Sunday
Wedding Ceremony
1:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Baltimore, MD
December 2015
12
Saturday
Holiday Party (Christmas)
7:00pm - 12:00am (Sun)
•
Upper Marlboro, MD
November 2015
20
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:00am - 12:00pm
•
Upper Marlboro, MD
July 2015
27
Monday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:00am - 11:30am
•
Severna Park, MD
25
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
3:00pm - 4:30pm
•
Washington, DC
March 2015
22
Sunday
Birthday Party
5:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Washington D.C., DC
December 2014
20
Saturday
Funeral Service
11:00am - 12:30pm
•
Washington D.C., DC
September 2014
12
Friday
Funeral Service
10:30am - 1:00pm
•
Arlington, VA
March 2014
23
Sunday
Wedding Ceremony
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Alexandria, VA
December 2013
28
Saturday
Funeral Service
11:00am - 12:00pm
•
Forestville, MD
October 2013
30
Wednesday
Other
12:00pm - 1:00pm
•
Washington, DC
26
Saturday
Other
4:00pm - 4:30pm
•
Washington, DC
September 2013
21
Saturday
Church Service
10:00am - 3:00pm
•
Havelock, NC
May 2013
18
Saturday
Other
5:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Norfolk, VA
February 2013
14
Thursday
Other
6:00pm - 6:15pm
•
Washington, DC
January 2013
05
Saturday
Funeral Service
10:00am - 12:00pm
•
Oxon Hill, MD
December 2012
28
Friday
Fundraiser
7:00pm - 8:30pm
•
Washington, DC
Set list
This is by no means an exhaustive list. Besides, clients are continually adding to it as I learn their requests!
Happy - Pharell Williams
I'm Sure It's You - Shelea Frazier
A Couple of Forevers - Chrisette Michele
Love Is You - Chrisette Michele
I Love the Lord - Whitney Houston
I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
His Eye is on the Sparrow - public domain
Great Is Thy Faithfulness - public domain
He's Concerned - CeCe Winans
Yesterday - Mary Mary
He's Been Faithful - Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Bless Me - Donald Lawrence
I Won't Complain - Paul Jones
Every Prayer - Israel Houghton
Never Would Have Made It - Marvin Sapp
He Saw the Best In Me - Marvin Sapp
I Desire More - Crystal Aiken
You Are Good - Israel & New Breed
Because of Who You Are - Martha Munizzi
Breathe - Michael W. Smith
Alpha & Omega - Israel & New Breed
Make the Praise Glorious - Martha Munizzi
I Just Want to Praise You - Maurette Brown Clark
Great Is Your Mercy - Donnie McClurkin
Oh Give Thanks - Judith McAllister
I Will Bless the Lord - Byron Cage
Flesh of My Flesh - Leon Patillo
The Lord's Prayer - public domain
The One He Kept For Me - Maurette Brown Clark
I Believe In You and Me - Whitney Houston
Sweet Love - Anita Baker
Inseparable - Natalie Cole
Unforgettable - Nat King Cole
At Last - Etta James
Sweet Thing - Chaka Khan
There's Hope - India Arie
Forever For Always For Love - Laylah Hathaway
Here I Am - Leona Lewis
Hero - Mariah Carey
Love On Top - Beyonce
One One - Beyonce
It's Love - Jill Scott
For the Love of You - Isley Brothers
You and I - Stevie Wonder
Ribbon In the Sky - Stevie Wonder
So Amazing - Luther Vandross
Here and Now - Luther Vandross
Make Us One - Twila Paris
The Prayer - Donnie McClurkin & Yolanda Adams
Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion
Blessings - Laura Story
God and God Alone - Steve Green
The Love of God - Mercy Me
How Do You Love Like That - Fred Hammond
That Name - Yolanda Adams
What About the Children - Yolanda Adams
Victory - Yolanda Adams
Still I Rise - Yolanda Adams
Let Us Worship - Yolanda Adams
One God - Maurette Brown Clark
Alabaster Box - CeCe Winans
Don't Cry For Me - CeCe Winans
Can't Give Up Now - Mary Mary
All I Need - Brian Courtney Wilson
Changed - Tremaine Hawkins
God Is Able - Smokie Norful
Every Prayer - Israel Houghton & Mary Mary
Praise Is What I Do - William Murphy
You Are Great - Juanita Bynum
Lord You're Holy - Karen Wheaton
On My Cross - FFH
Pour My Love on You - Phillips Craig & Dean
I Believe I Can Fly - R. Kelly
The Greatest Love of All - Whitney Houston
One Moment In Time - Whitney Houston
Saving All My Love For You - Whitney Houston
I'm Every Woman - Whitney Houston
You'll Never Walk Alone - traditional
Natural Woman - Aretha Franklin
My Funny Valentine - Sarah Vaughn
Is It a Crime - Sade
Love is Stronger Then Pride - Sade
Feeling Good - Nina Simone
I Can't Make You Love Me - Bonnie Raitt
Fever - Peggy Lee
Been So Long - Anita Baker
Blue Skies - Michael Buble
I'll Be Seeing You - Frank Sinatra
Influences and inspiration
My musical influences include: Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, CeCe Winans, Vikki Winans, Yolanda Adams, and Mahalia Jackson, just to name a few. I am also big fan of Anita Baker, Lalah Hathaway, and Leandris Johnson. Anyone who sings from the heart and makes you feel the message...
Setup requirements
I require an adequate sound sytem (with the means to play CDs or an ipod) or the space to set one up. This can be discussed on a case by case basis.
Report Valerie Dawkins
Gospel Singer
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