Dale Menten
Inducted 2009
Dale Menten was born in Mankato and in the 1960s formed rock and roll band The Gestures. Their music was infectious, live appearances were a sight to behold, and their national hit “Run Run Run” barely missed making the American Top 40 in 1964. Dale traveled across America performing with many national acts including Roy Orbison, The Beach Boys, and The Everly Brothers to name a few. In 1967 he composed and produced a rock-opera entitled The House of Leather which was presented Off-Broadway in New York City, and is considered to be the first ever rock-opera. In the late 1960s Menten continued working as a producer & composer, and eventually created Cookhouse Studios in Minneapolis. He was very successful at creating many songs and hundreds of “jingles” for a number of marketing campaigns plus radio and television commercials. Dale was busy as a songwriter, arranger, producer, studio musician and vocalist from the 1960s well into the new millenium. He currently owns Menten Music, Inc. in Minneapolis.
