Gene Watson’s Peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as ‘the singer’s singer’ – and rightly so!
All of Gene Watson’s Peers, who were contacted during 2013, were most gracious with their time and words.
It is here, within this special part of The Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Billy Dean, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 7 February 2013.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Billy Dean who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Billy Dean
This quote was submitted on Thursday 7 February 2013.
‘Hey, Sean, I’m a Gene Watson fan for sure!
Here’s a quote!
In the house I grew up in, Gene Watson was a part of our family soundtrack.
His music played as much of a role in our home as did the sofa.
When my Dad was in the ‘dog house’, according to Mom, he would sit on the front porch with his guitar and sing ‘Farewell Party‘, which was written by Lawton Williams (Monday 24 July 1922 – Thursday 26 July 2007), until Mom let him back in the house.
Thanks, Gene, for continuing to choose great songs, and deliver them as only you know how’
Thank you, Billy Dean, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Billy Dean…
Billy Dean was born William Harold ‘Billy’ Dean Jr. on Monday 2 April 1962 in Quincy, Florida and first gained national attention after appearing on the television talent competition ‘Star Search’.
Billy Dean’s father, also known as Billy Dean, maintained a band called The Country Rock in his spare time and, by the time he was eight years old, Billy began playing in his father’s band. Throughout high school, at Robert F. Munroe Day School, Billy Dean continued to play music, both in his father’s band and with other local musicians.
Billy Dean soon began touring in local clubs and sang Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’ at his high school graduation.
Billy Dean was also a basketball player in high school and was offered a scholarship to East Central Community College in Decatur, Mississippi.
Billy Dean attended college for one year before dropping out in order to pursue his desired career in music. By the time he was twenty, in 1982, Billy Dean made the finals on ‘Wrangler Country Star Search’, followed by a Male Vocalist win on the television competition ‘Star Search’ six years later, in 1988.
Billy Dean also worked as a demo singer and took acting lessons, appearing in television commercials for McDonald’s, Chevrolet and Valvoline.
By the end of the decade, Billy Dean had signed to a publishing contract with EMI Music, as well as a recording contract with SBK Records, a subsidiary of Liberty Records.
On Tuesday 21 August 1990, Billy Dean saw the release of his debut album, ‘Young Man’ (Capitol Records, 1990), which was produced by Tom Shapiro, and included three tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Lowdown Lonely’ (written by Tom Shapiro and Bucky Jones) / this track was released as a single in 1990, but it did not chart
‘Only Here For A Little While’, which was written by Wayland D. Holyfield (Sunday 15 March 1942 – Monday 6 May 2024) and Richard Leigh (No.3, 1990)
‘Somewhere In My Broken Heart’ (written by Billy Dean and Richard Leigh) (No.3, 1991) / this track also reached No.18 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Chart in 1991 / the original version of this track was recorded by Randy Travis, who included it on ‘No Holdin’ Back’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1989)
Billy Dean’s debut album, ‘Young Man’ (Capitol Records, 1990), also included the following tracks:
‘Young Man’ (written by Billy Dean and Austin Gardner)
‘I Won’t Let You Walk Away’ (written by Keith Follesé, Adrienne Follesé and Chuck Jones)
‘How Can I Hold You’ (written by Chris Waters, Tom Shapiro and Billy Dean)
‘She’s Taken’ (written by Billy Dean and Tim Nichols)
‘What Have You Got Against Love’ (written by Chris Waters and Tom Shapiro)
‘Tear The Wall Down’ (written by Billy Dean and Bill Kenner)
‘Brotherly Love’ (written by Tim Nichols and Jimmy Stewart)
Personnel involved in the recording of Billy Dean’s debut album, ‘Young Man’ (Capitol Records, 1990), included the following:
Eddie Bayers and Lonnie Wilson (drums)
Barry Beckett (piano)
Michael Black, Jessica Boucher, Rick Giles and Dennis Wilson (backing vocals)
Bruce C. Bouton, Paul Franklin and Pat Severs (pedal steel guitar)
Billy Dean (lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar)
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
John Barlow Jarvis (keyboards, piano)
Mike Lawler (keyboards)
Chris Leuzinger, Brent Mason and Reggie Young (Saturday 12 December 1936 – Thursday 17 January 2019) (electric guitar)
Terry McMillan (Monday 12 October 1953 – Friday 2 February 2007) (harmonica, percussion)
Mark O’Connor (mandolin)
Dave Pomeroy, Michael Rhodes and Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
Brent Rowan and Billy Joe Walker Jr. (Friday 29 February 1952 – Tuesday 25 July 2017) (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Biff Watson (acoustic guitar, keyboards)
Billy Dean’s debut album, ‘Young Man’ (Capitol Records, 1990), reached No.12 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1990, and No.99 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1990; the album was certified ‘Gold’ by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
In 1987, Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989) and Earl Thomas Conley (Friday 17 October 1941 – Wednesday 10 April 2019) recorded ‘Brotherly Love’, as a duet, but it was not included on an album until it concurrently appeared on Keith Whitley’s posthumous 1991 album, ‘Kentucky Bluebird’ (RCA Records, 1991) and Earl Thomas Conley‘s 1991 album ‘Yours Truly’ (RCA Records, 1991).
Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989) and Earl Thomas Conley‘s ‘Brotherly Love’, which was produced by Blake Mevis (1949 – Wednesday 9 February 2022) and James Stroud, was released on Monday 26 August 1991, charted for twenty weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart, peaking at No.2 in 1991, holding the position for one week.
In 1992, Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989) and Earl Thomas Conley‘s ‘Brotherly Love’ was nominated by the Country Music Association (CMA) for ‘Vocal Event of The Year’.
On Tuesday 24 September 1991, Billy Dean saw the release of ‘Billy Dean’ (Capitol Records, 1991), which was produced by Tom Shapiro, and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘You Don’t Count The Cost’ (written by Tom Shapiro and Chris Waters) (No.4, 1991)
‘Only The Wind’ (written by Tom Shapiro and Chuck Jones) (No.4, 1991)
‘Billy The Kid’ (written by Billy Dean and Paul Nelson) (No.4, 1992)
‘If There Hadn’t Been You’ (written by Ron Hellard and Tom Shapiro) (No.3, 1992)
Billy Dean’s ‘Billy Dean’ (Capitol Records, 1991) also included the following tracks:
‘Simple Things’ (written by Billy Dean and Steve Dean)
‘Hammer Down’ (written by Bob Regan and George Teren)
‘Small Favors’ (written by Billy Dean and Tim Nichols)
‘Gone But Not Forgotten’, which was written by Wayland D. Holyfield (Sunday 15 March 1942 – Monday 6 May 2024) and Verlon Thompson
‘Intro To Daddy’s Will’ (written by Billy Dean and Steve Dean)
‘Daddy’s Will’ (written by Billy Dean and Steve Dean)
Personnel involved in the recording of Billy Dean’s ‘Billy Dean’ (Capitol Records, 1991) included the following:
Bruce C. Bouton (pedal steel guitar, Dobro)
Billy Dean (lead vocals, background vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Bruce Dees, Julie King,Tom Shapiro, Lisa Silver, Harry Stinson, Dennis Wilson and Curtis Young (background vocals)
Bill Hullett (acoustic guitar, lap steel guitar)
Chuck Jones (acoustic guitar)
Brent Mason, Bob Regan and John Willis (electric guitar)
Terry McMillan (Monday 12 October 1953 – Friday 2 February 2007) (harmonica, percussion)
Steve Nathan (piano, keyboards)
Biff Watson (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, classical guitar, piano, keyboards)
Lonnie Wilson (drums, background vocals)
Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
Billy Dean’s ‘Billy Dean’ (Capitol Records, 1991) reached No.22 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1991, No.88 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1991, and No.8 on the Canadian RPM Country Albums Chart in 1991.
In 1991, Billy Dean toured with The Judds – Wynonna Judd & Naomi Judd (Friday 11 January 1946 – Saturday 30 April 2022) – on their farewell tour, as well as undertaking tours with Wynonna Judd and Clint Black.
Billy Dean also wrote and recorded the theme song to the ABC animated television series ‘Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa’ and hosted a Top 21 countdown show on VH1.
By 1992, Billy Dean had also earned the ‘Top New Male Vocalist Award’ from the Academy of Country Music (ACM).
Rob Crosby recorded Billy Dean’s ‘When Hearts Agree’ (co-written with Rob Crosby and Kent Blazy) and included the track on ‘Another Time & Place’ (Arista Records, 1992).
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Billy Dean’s ‘If I Were You’ (co-written with Verlon Thompson) and included the track on ‘If Only My Heart Had A Voice’ (Reprise Records, 1993); the track was a duet with Travis Tritt.
On Tuesday 26 January 1993, Billy Dean saw the release of ‘Fire In The Dark’ (Liberty Records, 1993), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Tryin’ To Hide A Fire In The Dark’ (written by Billy Dean and Tim Nichols) (No.6, 1992)
‘I Wanna Take Care of You’ (written by Billy Dean and J.K. Jones) (No.22, 1993)
‘I’m Not Built That Way’, which was written by Don Pfrimmer (Thursday 9 September 1937 – Monday 7 December 2015) and George Teren (No.34, 1993)
‘We Just Disagree’ (written by Jim Krueger) (No.9, 1993)
Billy Dean’s ‘Fire In The Dark’ (Liberty Records, 1993) also included the following tracks:
‘When A Woman Cries’ (written by Joshua Kadison)
‘That’s What I Like About Love’ (written by Mark D. Sanders and Verlon Thompson)
‘Only A Woman Knows’ (written by Billy Henderson and Steve Jones)
‘Two of The Lucky Ones’ (written by Billy Dean and Tim Nichols)
‘Give Me All The Pieces’ (written by Chuck Jones and Chris Waters)
‘Steamroller’ (written by James Taylor)
Personnel involved in the recording of Billy Dean’s ‘Fire In The Dark’ (Liberty Records, 1993) included the following:
Billy Dean (lead vocals)
Dan Dugmore (Dobro, steel guitar)
Vicki Hampton, Donna McElroy, Cindy Richardson Walker, Dennis Wilson and Curtis Young (background vocals)
John Barlow Jarvis (keyboards, synthesizer)
Kirk ‘Jelly Roll’ Johnson (harmonica)
Chris Leuzinger, Dan Mahar and John Willis (electric guitar)
John Rich (steel guitar)
Biff Watson (acoustic guitar, synthesizer)
Lonnie Wilson (bells, cymbals, drums, percussion)
Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
Billy Dean’s ‘Fire In The Dark’ (Liberty Records, 1993) reached No.14 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1993, No.83 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1993, and No.4 on the Canadian RPM Country Albums Chart in 1993.
It was also in 1993 when Billy Dean was an opening act during Alan Jackson’s tour.
On Tuesday 21 September 1993, Suzy Bogguss saw the release of ‘Something Up My Sleeve’ (Liberty Records, 1993); the title track, which was written by Suzanne Ragsdale and Verlon Thompson, was a duet with Billy Dean.
Following the release of his first three studio albums, ‘Young Man’ (Capitol Records, 1990), ‘Billy Dean’ (Capitol Records, 1991) and ‘Fire In The Dark’ (Liberty Records, 1993), Billy Dean saw the release of a ‘greatest hits’ album.
On Tuesday 8 March 1994, Billy Dean saw the release of ‘Greatest Hits’ (Liberty Records, 1994), which reprised Billy’s first nine Billboard singles, as well as a new song, ‘Once In A While’, which Billy Dean wrote and recorded for the soundtrack of the 1994 film, ‘8 Seconds’. The song peaked at No.53 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart as a result of unsolicited airplay.
Billy Dean’s ‘Greatest Hits’ (Liberty Records, 1994) included the following tracks:
‘Only Here For A Little While’, which was written by Wayland D. Holyfield (Sunday 15 March 1942 – Monday 6 May 2024) and Richard Leigh (No.3, 1990)
‘Somewhere In My Broken Heart’ (written by Billy Dean and Richard Leigh) (No.3, 1991) / this track also reached No.18 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Chart in 1991 / the original version of this track was recorded by Randy Travis, who included it on ‘No Holdin’ Back’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1989)
‘You Don’t Count The Cost’ (written by Tom Shapiro and Chris Waters) (No.4, 1991)
‘Only The Wind’ (written by Tom Shapiro and Chuck Jones) (No.4, 1991)
‘Billy The Kid’ (written by Billy Dean and Paul Nelson) (No.4, 1992)
‘If There Hadn’t Been You’ (written by Ron Hellard and Tom Shapiro) (No.3, 1992)
‘Tryin’ To Hide A Fire In The Dark’ (written by Billy Dean and Tim Nichols) (No.6, 1992)
‘I Wanna Take Care of You’ (written by Billy Dean and J.K. Jones) (No.22, 1993)
‘I’m Not Built That Way’, which was written by Don Pfrimmer (Thursday 9 September 1937 – Monday 7 December 2015) and George Teren (No.34, 1993)
‘Once In A While’ (written by Steve Dorff and John Bettis) (No.53, 1994) / this track was also included on the soundtrack to the 1994 film, ‘8 Seconds’
Billy Dean’s ‘Greatest Hits’ (Liberty Records, 1994) reached No.29 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1994, and No.148 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1994; the album was certified ‘Gold’ by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
On Tuesday 14 June 1994, Billy Dean saw the release of ‘Men’ll Be Boys’ (SBK / Liberty Records, 1994), which was his final album release for SBK / Liberty Records, before Liberty Records’ country music division was merged with Capitol Records Nashville; the album was not as successful in sales or chart performance, and included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Cowboy Band’ (written by Jule Medders and Monty Powell) (No.24, 1994) / this track was produced by Jimmy Bowen for Lynwood Productions and Billy Dean
‘Men Will Be Boys’, which was written by Guy Clark (Thursday 6 November 1941 – Tuesday 17 May 2016) and Verlon Thompson (No.60, 1994) / this track was produced by Jimmy Bowen for Lynwood Productions and Billy Dean
Billy Dean’s ‘Men’ll Be Boys’ (SBK / Liberty Records, 1994) also included the following tracks:
‘Wish You Were Here’ (written by Tim Menzies and Tony Haselden) / this track was produced by Jimmy Bowen for Lynwood Productions and Billy Dean
‘I Can’t Find The Words To Say Goodbye’ (written by Billy Dean and David Gates) / this track was produced by Jimmy Bowen for Lynwood Productions and Billy Dean
‘Pay Attention’ (written by Suzy Ragsdale) / this track was produced by Jimmy Bowen for Lynwood Productions and Billy Dean
‘Starting Over Again’ (written by Billy Dean and John Barlow Jarvis) / this track was produced by Chuck Howard
‘Love & Bide’ (written by David Gates) / this track was produced by Jimmy Bowen for Lynwood Productions and Billy Dean
‘Indian Head Penny’, which was written by Guy Clark (Thursday 6 November 1941 – Tuesday 17 May 2016) and Verlon Thompson / this track was produced by Jimmy Bowen for Lynwood Productions and Billy Dean
‘I Will Be Here’ (written by Steven Curtis Chapman) / this track was produced by Chuck Howard, and was originally recorded by Steven Curtis Chapman, who included it on ‘More To This Life’ (Sparrow Records, 1989)
‘Misery & Gin’, which was written by Johnny Durrill and Tommy ‘Snuff’ Garrett (Tuesday 5 July 1938 – Wednesday 16 December 2015) / this track was produced by Jimmy Bowen for Lynwood Productions and Billy Dean / the original version of this track was recorded by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016), who included it on ‘Back To The Barrooms’ (MCA Records, 1980)
Personnel involved in the recording of Billy Dean’s ‘Men’ll Be Boys’ (SBK / Liberty Records, 1994) included the following:
John Catchings (cello)
Billy Dean (lead vocals, electric guitar)
Dan Dugmore (steel guitar)
Glen Duncan (fiddle)
Paul Franklin (steel guitar)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
John Barlow Jarvis and Matt Rollings (piano)
Terry McMillan (Monday 12 October 1953 – Friday 2 February 2007) (harmonica, percussion, congas, shaker, tambourine, cowbell, wind chimes)
Steve Nathan (synthesizer)
Eric Silver (violin)
Michael Spriggs (acoustic guitar, gut string guitar)
Biff Watson (acoustic guitar)
Kris Wilkinson (viola)
John Willis (electric guitar)
Lonnie Wilson (drums)
Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
Michael Black, Carol Chase, Billy Dean, Timothy Hedge, Doc Hollister, Cindy Richardson, Harry Stinson, Dennis Wilson and Curtis Young (background vocals)
Billy Dean’s ‘Men’ll Be Boys’ (SBK / Liberty Records, 1994) reached No.51 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1994.
Following the release of ‘Men’ll Be Boys’ (Liberty Records, 1994), Billy Dean placed his career on hiatus to raise his family, which at that point consisted of his wife, Cathy, and their son, William Eli Dean.
Joe Diffie (Sunday 28 December 1958 – Sunday 29 March 2020) recorded Billy Dean’s ‘Good Brown Gravy’ (co-written with Verlon Thompson and Bill Kenner) and included the track on ‘Third Rock From The Sun’ (Epic Records, 1994).
David Gates (formerly of Bread) recorded Billy Dean’s ‘I Will Wait For You’ (co-written with David Gates) and included the track on ‘Love Is Always Seventeen’ (Discovery Records, 1994).
David Gates (formerly of Bread) recorded Billy Dean’s ‘No Secrets In A Small Town’ (co-written with David Gates) and included the track on ‘Love Is Always Seventeen’ (Discovery Records, 1994).
David Gates (formerly of Bread) recorded Billy Dean’s ‘I Can’t Find The Words To Say Goodbye’ (co-written with David Gates) and included the track on ‘Love Is Always Seventeen’ (Discovery Records, 1994).
In 1996, Billy Dean returned to the recording studio and saw the release, on Tuesday 2 April 1996, of ‘It’s What I Do’ (Capitol Records Nashville, 1996), which reunited him with Tom Shapiro, who had co-produced Billy Dean’s first two albums.
Billy Dean’s ‘It’s What I Do’ (Capitol Records Nashville, 1996) included four tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘It’s What I Do’ (written by Tom Shapiro and Chuck Jones) (No.5, 1996)
‘That Girl’s Been Spyin’ On Me’ (written by Tom Shapiro and Max T. Barnes) (No.4, 1996)
‘I Wouldn’t Be A Man’ (written by Mike Reid and Rory Bourke) (No.45, 1996) / the original version of this track was recorded by Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 – Friday 8 September 2017), who included it on ‘Traces’ (Capitol Records, 1987); Don Williams‘ version of the track reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1987
‘In The Name of Love’ (written by Skip Ewing and Doug Stone) / this track was released as a single in 1997, but it did not chart
Billy Dean’s ‘It’s What I Do’ (Capitol Records Nashville, 1996) also included the following tracks:
‘When Our Backs Are Against The Wall’ (written by Billy Dean and Tim Nichols)
‘Play Something We Can Dance To’ (written by Billy Dean and Dennis Morgan)
‘The Mountain Moved’ (written by Bob Regan and George Teren)
‘Don’t Threaten Me With A Good Time’ (written by Kostas, Bobby Boyd and Don Mealer)
‘Leavin’ Line’, which was written by Pam Rose, Mary Ann Kennedy and Patricia Karen Bunch (Thursday 22 June 1939 – Monday 30 January 2023)
Personnel involved in the recording of Billy Dean’s ‘It’s What I Do’ (Capitol Records Nashville, 1996) included the following:
Eddie Bayers (drums, percussion)
Bruce C. Bouton (lap steel guitar)
Larry Byrom and Biff Watson (acoustic guitar)
Linda Davis, Thom Flora, Nicol Sponberg, Tina Clark-Vallejo, Curtis Wright and Curtis Young (background vocals)
Billy Dean (lead vocals, background vocals, acoustic guitar)
Paul Franklin (pedal steel guitar, Dobro)
Terry McMillan (Monday 12 October 1953 – Friday 2 February 2007) (shaker, tambourine, cowbell, harmonica)
Steve Nathan (keyboards)
Brent Rowan (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Joe Spivey (fiddle, mandolin)
Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
Jonathan Yudkin (fiddle)
Carl Marsh (synthesizer strings performance)
Carl Marsh and Tom Shapiro (synthesizer strings arrangement)
Billy Dean’s ‘It’s What I Do’ (Capitol Records Nashville, 1996) reached No.18 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1996, and No.143 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1996.
On Tuesday 29 October 1996, actress and singer, Crystal Bernard, saw the release of her debut album, ‘Girl Next Door’ (River North Records, 1996); the debut single from the album, ‘Have We Forgotten What Love Is’ (co-written by Billy Dean), reached No.56 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1996.
In the latter part of 1996, Billy Dean saw the release of a non-charting single, ‘In The Name of Love’, which was not included on any of his albums.
Ricky Skaggs recorded Billy Dean’s ‘Voices Singing’ (co-written with Richard Leigh) and included the track on ‘Life Is A Journey’ (Atlantic Records, 1997).
In 1998, Victoria Shaw and several other artists, including Billy Dean, collaborated on the charity single ‘One Heart At A Time’.
On Tuesday 25 August 1998, Billy Dean saw the release of ‘Real Man’ (Capitol Records, 1998), which was produced by Billy Dean and David Gates (formerly of Bread), and included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Real Man’ (written by Billy Dean) (No.33, 1998)
‘Innocent Bystander’ (written by Billy Dean and David Gates) (No.68, 1998)
Billy Dean’s ‘Real Man’ (Capitol Records, 1998) also included the following tracks:
‘A Fall In Tennessee’ (written by Billy Dean and David Gates)
‘I’m A Fool Too’ (written by Billy Dean and Kenny Lewis)
‘I’m Not Needed Here’ (written by Billy Dean and David Gates)
‘If I Could Find The Heart (To Love Again)’ (written by Billy Dean and David Gates) / this track was a duet with Gina Jeffreys
‘Big Sister’, which was written by Billy Dean and Bruce Burch (Friday 30 January 1953 – Saturday 12 March 2022)
‘Voices Singing’ (written by Billy Dean and Richard Leigh) / this track featured St. Nicholas School Children’s Choir of Chattanooga, along with Billy Dean’s son, Eli
‘By My Song’ (written by Billy Dean and Richard Leigh)
‘She Gets What She Wants’ (written by Billy Dean, Kenny Lewis and Tim Nichols)
‘Im A Kewl Kid’ (written by Billy Dean, Kenny Lewis and Tim Nichols)
‘Real Men Don’t Care’ (written by Billy Dean, Kenny Lewis and Tim Nichols)
Personnel involved in the recording of Billy Dean’s ‘Real Man’ (Capitol Records, 1998) included the following:
Barry Bales, Kenny Lewis and Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
Eddie Bayers and Dave Dunseath (drums)
Ron Block (banjo)
Sam Bush (fiddle)
Billy Dean (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, percussion, lead vocals, background vocals)
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Paul Franklin (steel guitar)
David Gates (formerly of Bread) (bass guitar, keyboards, string arrangements, background vocals)
Doc Hollister and Matt Rollings (piano)
Gina Jeffreys (duet vocals on ‘If I Could Find The Heart (To Love Again)’
Renee Martin, David Pack, John Wesley Ryles and Curtis Young (background vocals)
Brent Mason, Andy Most and Steuart Smith (electric guitar)
Terry McMillan (Monday 12 October 1953 – Friday 2 February 2007) (percussion)
Steve Nathan (keyboards)
St. Nicholas School Children’s Choir (choir)
Dan Tyminski (mandolin)
Billy Dean’s ‘Real Man’ (Capitol Records, 1998) reached No.41 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1998.
Following the release of ‘Real Man’ (Capitol Records, 1998), Billy Dean exited the Capitol Records roster. Billy Dean also took up acting once more, appearing in the minor television specials, ‘A Face To Kill For’ and ‘Blue Valley Songbird’.
Gina Jeffreys recorded Billy Dean’s ‘Have We Forgotten What Love Is’ (co-written with Crystal Bernard) and included the track on ‘Somebody’s Daughter’ (ABC Music Records, 1998).
On Tuesday 11 May 1999, Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) saw the release of ‘She Rides Wild Horses’ (Dreamcatcher Records, 1999); the album included ‘Buy Me A Rose’, which was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart for one week in May 2000, and featured guest vocals from Billy Dean and Alison Krauss; the track also reached No.40 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 2000.
Upon reaching No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in May 2000, ‘Buy Me A Rose’ made Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020), who was 61 years old at the time, the oldest country music singer to have a No.1 hit single.
‘Buy Me A Rose’ was also the only No.1 single for both Billy Dean and Alison Krauss, both of whom received chart credit for performing background vocals on the song. ‘Buy Me A Rose’ was also Kenny Rogers’ only No.1 single for his personal record label, Dreamcatcher Records.
Chad Brock recorded Billy Dean’s ‘If I Were You’ (co-written with Verlon Thompson) and included the track on ‘Yes’ (Warner Bros. Records, 2000); the track was a duet with Mark Wills.
In 2001, Billy Dean joined Suzy Bogguss and twelve-year-old singer, Jillian Arciero (credited as Jillian) on ‘Please Keep Mom & Dad In Love’, which reached No.51 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart; the track was issued on Kenny Rogers’ Dreamcatcher Records, but the track was never included on any album.
Although he continued touring, Billy Dean did not chart again until 2003 with ‘I’m In Love With You’ (written by Billy Dean and Chuck Cannon), which was released on the independent View 2 Records label.
Billy Dean’s next release for View 2 Records was a cover of John Denver’s ‘Thank God, I’m A Country Boy’ (written by John Martin Sommers); John Denver (Friday 31 December 1943 – Sunday 12 October 1997) recorded the original version of ‘Thank God, I’m A Country Boy’ and included the track on ‘Back Home Again’ (RCA Records, 1974).
A version of ‘Thank God, I’m A Country Boy’ (written by John Martin Sommers), which was recorded ‘live’ on Monday 26 August 1974 at Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, was included on John Denver’s ‘An Evening With John Denver’ (RCA Records, 1975).
The ‘live’ version of John Denver’s ‘Thank God, I’m A Country Boy’ (written by John Martin Sommers) was released as a single; the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in May / June 1975, and No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1975.
Asylum-Curb Records took over promotion of Billy Dean’s version of ‘Thank God, I’m A Country Boy’ (written by John Martin Sommers) shortly after its release and, by mid-2004, the track had reached No.27 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart.
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Billy Dean’s ‘Listen To The Rain’ (co-written with Chuck Cannon) and included the track on ‘Back To The Well’ (Dreamcatcher Records, 2003).
Following Billy Dean’s version of ‘Thank God, I’m A Country Boy’ (written by John Martin Sommers) was the single ‘Let Them Be Little’, which was co-written by Richie McDonald of Lonestar and was recorded by Lonestar on ‘Let’s Be Us Again’ (BNA Records, 2004).
On Tuesday 29 March 2005, Billy Dean saw the release of ‘Let Them Be Little’ (Asylum-Curb Records, 2005), which included six tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘I’m In Love With You’ (written by Billy Dean and Chuck Cannon) (No.52, 2003) / this track was produced by Billy Dean and Lari Michele White Cannon (Lari White) (Thursday 13 May 1965 – Tuesday 23 January 2018)
‘Thank God, I’m A Country Boy’ (written by John Martin Sommers) (No.27, 2004) / this track was produced by Billy Dean and Lari Michele White Cannon (Lari White) (Thursday 13 May 1965 – Tuesday 23 January 2018)
‘Let Them Be Little’ (written by Billy Dean and Richie McDonald) (No.8, 2004) / this track was produced by Billy Dean and Lari Michele White Cannon (Lari White) (Thursday 13 May 1965 – Tuesday 23 January 2018)
‘This Is The Life’ (written by Billy Dean and Chuck Cannon) (No.52, 2005) / this track was produced by Billy Dean and Ray Barnette
‘Race You To The Bottom’ (written by Billy Dean and Ray Barnette) / this track was released as a single in 2005, but it did not chart / this track was produced by Billy Dean and Ray Barnette
‘Swinging For The Fence’ (written by Billy Dean and Ray Barnette) / this track was released as a single in 2006, but it did not chart / this track was produced by Billy Dean and Ray Barnette
Billy Dean’s ‘Let Them Be Little’ (Asylum-Curb Records, 2005) also included the following tracks:
‘Eyes’ (written by Billy Dean and Ray Barnette) / this track was produced by Billy Dean and Ray Barnette
‘Slow Motion’ (written by Billy Dean, Chuck Cannon and Chuck Jones) / this track was produced by Billy Dean and Lari Michele White Cannon (Lari White) (Thursday 13 May 1965 – Tuesday 23 January 2018)
‘Good Love Gone Bad’ (written by Billy Dean, Chuck Cannon and Stephanie Paisley) / this track was produced by Billy Dean and Lari Michele White Cannon (Lari White) (Thursday 13 May 1965 – Tuesday 23 January 2018)
‘Shelfer Street’ (written by Billy Dean) / this track was produced by Billy Dean and Ray Barnette
‘Somewhere In My Broken Heart’ (written by Suzanne Ragsdale and Verlon Thompson) / this track is a re-recording of a track, the original version of which was a duet with Suzy Bogguss, and was included on Suzy Bogguss’ ‘Something Up My Sleeve’ (Liberty Records, 1993) / this track was produced by Billy Dean and Ray Barnette
‘Billy The Kid’ (written by Billy Dean and Paul Nelson) / this track is a re-recording of a track, the original version of which reached No.4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1992 / this track was produced by Billy Dean and Ray Barnette
Personnel involved in the recording of Billy Dean’s ‘Let Them Be Little’ (Asylum-Curb Records, 2005) included the following:
Tim Akers (keyboards, organ, piano)
Ray Barnette (bass guitar, background vocals)
Mike Brignardello and Michael Rhodes (Wednesday 16 September 1953 – Saturday 4 March 2023) (bass guitar)
Sam Bush and David Harvey (mandolin)
Billy Dean (acoustic guitar, lead vocals, background vocals)
Glen Duncan (fiddle, mandolin)
Stuart Duncan, Aubrey Haynie and Jonathan Yudkin (fiddle)
Shannon Forrest and Dan Needham (drums)
Paul Franklin and Scotty Sanders (steel guitar)
Kevin Haynie (banjo)
Wes Hightower, Kim Parent, Marcia Ramirez and Marty Slayton (background vocals)
Joe Hogue (keyboards, programming)
Jim Hoke (harmonica)
John Barlow Jarvis and Matt Rollings (piano)
Jeff King and Jerry McPherson (electric guitar)
Paul Leim (drums)
Bryan Sutton and Biff Watson (acoustic guitar)
John Willis (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Billy Dean’s ‘Let Them Be Little’ (Asylum-Curb Records, 2005) reached No.8 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2005, and No.50 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2005.
On Tuesday 28 June 2005, Trick Pony saw the release of ‘R.I.D.E.’ (Asylum Records / Curb Records, 2005); one of the included tracks was ‘When I Fall’ (written by Billy Dean and Keith Burns).
On Tuesday 11 October 2005, Billy Dean saw the release of ‘The Christ (A Song For Joseph)’ (Curb Records, 2005), a Christmas music album, which included the following tracks:
‘The Christ (A Song For Joseph)’ (written by Ray Barnette and Billy Dean)
‘Mary, Did You Know?’ (written by Buddy Greene and Mark Lowry) / this track featured guest vocals from David Pack
‘Silent Night’, which was written by Franz Xaver Grüber (25 November 1787 – 7 June 1863) and Joseph Mohr (11 December 1792 – 4 December 1848) / this track featured guest vocals from Dolly Parton
‘The First Noel’ (traditional)
‘Little Drummer Boy’ (written by Katherine Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone)
‘Just For Me & You’ / this track was a duet with Billy Dean’s daughter, Hannah
‘Oh, Holy Night’ (written by Adolphe Adam)
‘What Child Is This’
‘Away In A Manager’
‘Shine On’
On Tuesday 26 May 2009, Billy Dean saw the release of ‘Billy Dean Sings Richard Leigh’ (BDMG Records, 2009), which included the following tracks:
‘The Greatest Man I Never Knew’
‘Loved & Never Learned’
‘Angels’
‘Take It From One Who Knows’
‘The End of The World’
‘The Only One’
‘Watch What Happens’
‘It Can’t Be’
‘Til Someone Comes Along’
‘Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue’
On Tuesday 2 February 2010, Billy Dean saw the release of ‘The One Behind The Wheel’ (BDMG Records, 2010), which included the following tracks:
‘Driven My Life Away’
‘Driven My Life Away’ (karaoke)
‘Family Man’
‘Family Man’ (karaoke)
’18 Wheels & A Dozen Roses’
’18 Wheels & A Dozen Roses’ (karaoke)
‘Huggin This Blacktop’
‘Huggin This Blacktop’ (karaoke)
‘Six Days’
‘Six Days’ (karaoke)
‘Highway’
‘Highway’ (karaoke)
‘Real Things’
‘Real Things’ (karaoke)
‘I Only See You’
‘I Only See You’ (karaoke)
‘You Don’t Count The Cost’
‘You Don’t Count The Cost’ (karaoke)
‘This Is The Day’
‘This Is The Day’ (karaoke)
On Tuesday 25 September 2012, Billy Dean saw the release of ‘A Man of Good Fortune’ (Rainman Records, 2012), which included the following tracks:
‘I Can’t Leave’
‘A Seed’
‘Middle of Nowhere’
‘Dear John’
‘All The Difference In The World’
‘I Don’t Need As Much Hell’
‘Crazy Beautiful’
‘Imagine What I’d Do’
‘Made For You & I’
‘Laura Nadine’
• Visit Billy Dean’s official site at billydean.com