About
Dakota was an American based melodic rock group, initially active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Dakota first achieved moderate success with their 1980 self-titled album Dakota, but the band's popularity increased rapidly while performing as the opening act for Queen on their 1980–1981 The Game Tour.
Read more
The band released their second and best-selling AOR album, titled Runaway, in 1984. The band experienced several line-up changes during the 1980s and eventually stopped performing in 1987. During the 1990s and 2000s original member Jerry Hludzik continued to record a number of records under the Dakota name, featuring guest musicians, friends and also his son Eli Hludzik.
In 2014, original members Jerry Hludzik and Bill Kelly reunited and teamed up with Jon Lorance and Eli Hludzik to record a new Dakota album titled Long Road Home, which was released on October 30, 2015.
In 2026, the band was announced as an inductee into the Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame.
Discography
Albums
Singles
-
What the Night Gave Me
-
Only the Dark Knows
-
Rising Sun
-
Avalon 6AM (DR. DRTY Remix)
-
Cry of the Banshee
-
Manray
-
Tuluminati
-
All I Think of Is You (Alex Gaudino and Dyson Kellerman edit)
-
Avalon 6AM
-
Lights Go Down
-
The Spirit of the Warrior (Transmission 2017 Theme)
-
In Search of Something Better
-
Mota‐Mota (extended mix)
-
Running Up That Hill
-
Cathedral [Montreal]
-
Sinners
-
Johnny the Fox
-
Chinook
-
Roxy '84
-
Sin City
-
Swirl
-
Gypsy Room
Links
Is person
Identifiers
- MusicBrainz
- 4ffc0fe9-2f1d-440f-9286-85f13bb747aa
Data from MusicBrainz, saved 14 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.