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 by The Gene Watson Fan Site, 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 Kix Brooks, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 14 November 2013.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Kix Brooks who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Kix Brooks
This quote was submitted on Thursday 14 November 2013.
‘The first time I heard ‘Fourteen Carat Mind‘, I just shook my head and said, ‘Well, I’ll never be that good!’
Gene Watson is the kind of country singer that most of us realize has that thing that only God can give you.
After meeting him, I was impressed that someone with that kind of talent was also blessed with a natural humility, and love of his music, that makes you like him even more – a true class act and an American country music icon’
Thank you, Kix Brooks, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Kix Brooks…
Kix Brooks was born Leon Eric ‘Kix’ Brooks III on Thursday 12 May 1955; he is a country music artist, actor and film producer, who is best known for being one half of the duo Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn).
Prior to the duo’s foundation, Kix Brooks was a singer and songwriter, charting twice on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart and releasing an album for Capitol Records.
Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn comprised Brooks & Dunn for twenty years, with both members beginning solo careers. Kix Brooks’ solo career after Brooks & Dunn included the album ‘New To This Town’ (Arista Nashville Records, 2012).
Kix Brooks grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana. He has one sister, one half-sister, one half-brother and his father adopted one son of his third wife.
Kix Brooks attended Riverside Elementary for grades K-5.
Following graduation from the former Sewanee Military Academy, an Episcopalian institution in Sewanee, Tennessee Kix Brooks attended Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, where he was a theatre arts major. Kix Brooks moved to Alaska to work for his father on an oil pipeline for one summer and then returned to Louisiana Tech to finish his education. Kix Brooks then moved to Maine and wrote advertising for a company owned by his sister and brother-in-law.
Kix Brooks’ father urged him to pursue his desire to become a musician and, as a result, Kix Brooks moved to Nashville in the early 1980s. Kix Brooks’ then girlfriend (now wife Barbara, with whom he has a son and daughter) followed shortly thereafter.
Kix Brooks began working for Tree Publishing as a staff songwriter and recorded his first solo single, ‘Baby, When Your Heart Breaks Down’, for Avion Records in 1983, but he returned to song-writing after its failure.
John Conlee recorded Kix Brooks’ ‘I’m Only In It For The Love’ (co-written with Deborah Allen and Rafe Van Hoy) and included the track on ‘In My Eyes’ (MCA Records, 1983); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in September 1983.
‘I’m Only In It For The Love’ was the first song which Rafe Van Hoy and his then wife, Deborah Allen, had written with Kix Brooks; the track turned out to be Kix Brooks’ first No.1 as a writer and was also the first song which Rafe Van Hoy and Deborah Allen had written on their new synthesizer.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recorded Kix Brooks’ ‘Modern Day Romance’ (co-written with Dan Tyler) and included the track on ‘Partners, Brothers & Friends’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1985); the track, which became The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s second No.1 hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart, was No.1 for one week in September 1985.
Holly Dunn (Thursday 22 August 1957 – Tuesday 15 November 2016) recorded Kix Brooks’ ‘Why Wyoming’ (co-written with Chris Waters and Tom Shapiro) and included the track on ‘Cornerstone’ (MTM Records, 1987).
Sawyer Brown recorded Kix Brooks’ ‘Old Photographs’ (co-written with Kenneth Beal and Bill McClelland) and included the track on ‘Somewhere In The Night’ (Capitol Records / Curb Records, 1987); the track reached No.27 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1987.
Marie Osmond recorded Kix Brooks’ ‘Let Me Be The First’ (co-written with Deborah Allen and Rafe Van Hoy) and included the track on ‘Steppin’ Stone’ (Capitol Records, 1989).
In 1989, Kix Brooks saw the release of his self-titled debut album, ‘Kix Brooks’ (Capitol Records, 1989), which was produced by Rafe Van Hoy and Kix Brooks, and included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Sacred Ground’ (written by Kix Brooks and Vernon Rust) (No.87, 1989)
Kix Brooks’ self-titled debut album, ‘Kix Brooks’ (Capitol Records, 1989), also included a new version of ‘Baby, When Your Heart Breaks Down’, which was originally released as a single in 1983.
Kix Brooks’ self-titled debut album, ‘Kix Brooks’ (Capitol Records, 1989), also included the following tracks:
‘Highways & Heartaches’ (written by Kix Brooks and Chris Waters)
‘Way Up North Around Shreveport’ (written by Kix Brooks and Don Cook)
‘There’s A Telephone Ringing’ (written by Kix Brooks, Alan Laney and Kyle Young)
‘She Does The Walk On By’ (written by Kix Brooks and Gary Nicholson)
‘The River’, which was written by Kix Brooks and Russell Smith (Friday 17 June 1949 – Friday 12 July 2019)
‘The Story of My Life’ (written by Kix Brooks and Roger Murrah)
‘A Little Magic On My Mind’ (written by Kix Brooks and Lewis Anderson)
‘I’m On To You’ (written by Kix Brooks, Chris Waters and Tom Shapiro)
‘The Last Rodeo’ (written by Kix Brooks and Wally Wilson)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kix Brooks’ self-titled debut album, ‘Kix Brooks’ (Capitol Records, 1989), included the following:
Kix Brooks (lead vocals, background vocals)
Pat Jacobs (drums)
Danny Milliner (bass guitar, background vocals)
Brent Rowan (guitar)
Hassell Teekell (piano, keyboards, Hammond B-3 organ)
On Tuesday 2 November 1993, Kix Brooks’ self-titled debut album, ‘Kix Brooks’ (Capitol Records, 1989), was re-issued on CD, by Liberty Records / Capitol Records.
Highway 101, featuring lead vocalist, Paulette Carlson, recorded Kix Brooks’ ‘Who’s Lonely Now’ (co-written with Don Cook) and included the track on ‘Paint The Town’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1989); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in December 1989 / January 1990.
Ronnie Dunn was born Ronnie Gene Dunn on Monday 1 June 1953 in Coleman, Texas and, before moving to Tulsa in Oklahoma, briefly studied theology at Abilene, Texas Christian College. While there, Ronnie Dunn fronted the house band at a popular nightspot, ‘Duke’s Country’, and later broke into the national spotlight by winning a talent contest which was sponsored by Marlboro.
In 1990, Arista Records’ Tim DuBois put Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn together and they became known as Brooks & Dunn.
On Tuesday 13 August 1991, Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn) saw the release of ‘Brand New Man’ (Arista Records, 1991), which was produced by Don Cook and Scott Hendricks, and included five tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Brand New Man’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook) (No.1 for one week in September 1991)
‘My Next Broken Heart’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook) (No.1 for one week in December 1991)
‘Neon Moon’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) (No.1 for one week in May 1992)
‘Boot Scootin’ Boogie’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) (No.1 for three weeks in August 1992)
‘Lost & Found’ (written by Kix Brooks and Don Cook) (No.6, 1992) / this track was the first Brooks & Dunn single which featured Kix Brooks on lead vocals
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Brand New Man’ (Arista Records, 1991), also included the following tracks:
‘Cool Drink of Water’ (written by Kix Brooks and Don Cook)
‘Cheating On The Blues’, which was written by Kix Brooks, Don Cook and Chick Rains (Wednesday 5 November 1941 – Friday 21 January 2022)
‘I’ve Got A Lot To Learn’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook)
‘I’m No Good’ (written by Kix Brooks and Don Cook)
‘Still In Love With You’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook)
Personnel involved in the recording of Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Brand New Man’ (Arista Records, 1991) included the following:
Brooks & Dunn
Ronnie Dunn (lead vocals, background vocals)
Kix Brooks (lead vocals, background vocals)
Additional Musicians
Bruce C. Bouton (pedal steel guitar, lap steel guitar)
Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar, mandolin)
Mike Chapman (1953 – Monday 13 June 2016) and Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
John Barlow Jarvis (Steinway piano, keyboards)
Terry McMillan (Monday 12 October 1953 – Friday 2 February 2007) (harmonica)
Brent Mason (electric guitar)
John Wesley Ryles, Harry Stinson and Dennis Wilson (background vocals)
Lonnie Wilson (drums)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Brand New Man’ (Arista Records, 1991) reached No.3 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1991 and was certified 6× Multi-Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of six million copies.
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Brand New Man’ (Arista Records, 1991) also reached No.10 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1991, and No.5 on the Canadian RPM Country Albums Chart in 1991.
Mario Martin recorded Kix Brooks’ ‘While I Was Dreamin’ of You’ (co-written with Don Cook) and included the track on ‘Keep It On The Country Side’ (DPI Records, 1992).
On Tuesday 23 February 1993, Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn) saw the release of ‘Hard Working Man’ (Arista Records, 1993), which was produced by Don Cook and Scott Hendricks, and included five tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Hard Workin’ Man’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) (No.4, 1993)
‘We’ll Burn That Bridge’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook) (No.2, 1993)
‘She Used To Be Mine’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) (No.1 for one week in November 1993)
‘Rock My World (Little Country Girl)’ (written by Bill LaBounty and Steve O’Brien) (No.2, 1993)
‘That Ain’t No Way To Go’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook) (No.1 for week in June 1994)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Hard Working Man’ (Arista Records, 1993) also included the following tracks:
‘Mexican Minutes’, which was written by Jim Messina and Kent M. Robbins (Wednesday 23 April 1947 – Saturday 27 December 1997)
‘Heartbroke Out of My Mind’ (written by Ronnie Dunn)
‘Texas Women (Don’t Stay Lonely Long)’ (written by Kix Brooks)
‘Our Time Is Coming’ (written by Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn)
‘I Can’t Put Out This Fire’ (written by Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn)
‘Boot Scootin’ Boogie’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) / this track, which was a remixed dance version of a track originally included on ‘Brand New Man’ (Arista Records, 1993), was produced by Don Cook, Scott Hendricks and Donn Tankersley
Personnel involved in the recording of Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Hard Working Man’ (Arista Records, 1993) included the following:
Brooks & Dunn
Ronnie Dunn (lead vocals, background vocals)
Kix Brooks (lead vocals, background vocals)
Additional Musicians
Arista Tabernacle Choir (choir)
Bruce C. Bouton (steel guitar)
Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar, mandolin)
Jimmy Gunn (cabasa, percussion)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
Terry McMillan (Monday 12 October 1953 – Friday 2 February 2007) (harmonica)
Scott Hendricks (cowbell, percussion)
John Barlow Jarvis (Steinway piano, organ)
Bill LaBounty, John Wesley Ryles, Harry Stinson and Dennis Wilson (background vocals)
Dan McBride and Brent Mason (electric guitar)
Jim Messina (background vocals on ‘Mexican Minutes’)
Danny Parks (acoustic guitar)
Lonnie Wilson (drums)
Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Hard Working Man’ (Arista Records, 1993) reached No.2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1993, and was certified five-times Multi-Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Hard Working Man’ (Arista Records, 1993) also reached No.9 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1993, No.1 on the Canadian RPM Country Albums Chart in 1993, and No.41 on the Canadian RPM Top Albums Chart in 1993.
On Tuesday 27 September 1994, Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn) saw the release of ‘Waitin’ On Sundown’ (Arista Records, 1994), which was produced by Don Cook and Scott Hendricks, and included five tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘She’s Not The Cheatin’ Kind’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) (No.1 for one week in October 1994)
‘I’ll Never Forgive My Heart’ (written by Ronnie Dunn, Janine Dunn and Dean Dillon) (No.6, 1994)
‘Little Miss Honky Tonk’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) (No.1 for one week in April / May 1995)
‘You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook) (No.1 for one week in August 1995)
‘Whiskey Under The Bridge’ (written by Don Cook, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn) (No.5, 1995)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Waitin’ On Sundown’ (Arista Records, 1994) also included the following tracks:
‘Silver & Gold’ (written by Michael Lunn and Michael Noble)
‘My Kind of Crazy’ (written by Kix Brooks, Don Cook and Bill LaBounty)
‘If That’s The Way You Want It’ (written by Don Cook, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn)
‘She’s The Kind of Trouble’ (written by Kix Brooks)
‘A Few Good Rides Away’, which was written by Kix Brooks and Chick Rains (Wednesday 5 November 1941 – Friday 21 January 2022)
Personnel involved in the recording of Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Waitin’ On Sundown’ (Arista Records, 1994) included the following:
Brooks & Dunn
Ronnie Dunn (lead vocals, background vocals)
Kix Brooks (lead vocals, background vocals)
Other Musicians
Bruce C. Bouton (pedal steel guitar, lap steel guitar)
Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
John Barlow Jarvis (Steinway piano, Hammond B-3 organ)
Bill LaBounty, John Wesley Ryles, Harry Stinson and Dennis Wilson (background vocals)
Brent Mason (electric guitar)
Lonnie Wilson (drums, percussion)
Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Waitin’ On Sundown’ (Arista Records, 1994) reached No.1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1994 (their first album to do so), and was certified three-times Multi-Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Waitin’ On Sundown’ (Arista Records, 1994)also reached No.15 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1994, No.1 on the Canadian RPM Country Albums Chart in 1994, and No.31 on the Canadian RPM Top Albums Chart in 1994.
Wade Hayes recorded Kix Brooks’ ‘Steady As She Goes’ (co-written with Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook) and included the track on ‘Old Enough To Know Better’ (Columbia Records, 1995).
On Tuesday 16 April 1996, Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn) saw the release of ‘Borderline’ (Arista Records, 1996), which was produced by Kix Brooks, Don Cook and Ronnie Dunn, and included five tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘My Maria’, which was written by Daniel Moore and B.W. Stevenson (Wednesday 5 October 1949 – Thursday 28 April 1988) (No.1 for two weeks in May / June 1996) / this track was the most played song of the year on American country music radio in 1996 according to Billboard magazine
‘I Am That Man’ (written by Terry McBride and Monty Powell) (No.2, 1996)
‘Mama, Don’t Get Dressed Up For Nothing’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook) (No.13, 1996)
‘A Man This Lonely’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Tommy Lee James) (No.1 for one week in February 1997)
‘Why Would I Say Goodbye’ (written by Kix Brooks and Chris Waters) (No.8, 1997)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Borderline’ (Arista Records, 1996) also included the following tracks:
‘More Than A Margarita’ (written by Kix Brooks and Chris Waters)
‘Redneck, Rhythm & Blues’, which was written by Ronnie Dunn, Kim Williams (Saturday 28 June 1947 – Thursday 11 February 2016) and Lonnie Wilson
‘My Love Will Follow You’ (written by Buddy Miller and Julie Miller)
‘One Heartache At A Time’ (written by Kix Brooks and Tony King)
‘Tequila Town’ (written by Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn)
‘White Line Casanova’ (written by Ronnie Dunn)
Personnel involved in the recording of Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Borderline’ (Arista Records, 1996) included the following:
Brooks & Dunn
Ronnie Dunn (lead vocals, background vocals)
Kix Brooks (lead vocals, background vocals)
Additional Musicians
Bruce C. Bouton (pedal steel guitar, slide guitar)
Dennis Burnside (piano, keyboards, Hammond B-3 organ)
Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar, hi-string guitar, mandolin)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle, ‘assorted hoedown tools’)
David Hungate, Michael Rhodes (Wednesday 16 September 1953 – Saturday 4 March 2023) and Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
Brent Mason (electric guitar)
Tom Roady (percussion)
John Wesley Ryles and Dennis Wilson (background vocals)
Lonnie Wilson (drums, percussion)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Borderline’ (Arista Records, 1996) reached No.1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1996, and was certified twice Multi-Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Borderline’ (Arista Records, 1996) also reached No.5 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1996, No.1 on the Canadian RPM Country Albums Chart in 1996, and No.37 on the Canadian RPM Top Albums Chart in 1996.
Wade Hayes recorded Kix Brooks’ ‘Our Time Is Coming’ (co-written with Ronnie Dunn) and included the track on ‘On A Good Night’ (Columbia Records, 1996).
On Tuesday 16 September 1997, Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn) saw the release of ‘The Greatest Hits Collection’ (Arista Records, 1997), their first greatest hits compilation, which included the following tracks:
‘My Maria’, which was written by Daniel Moore and B.W. Stevenson (Wednesday 5 October 1949 – Thursday 28 April 1988) (No.1 for two weeks in May / June 1996) / this track was the most played song of the year on American country music radio in 1996 according to Billboard magazine
‘Honky Tonk Truth’, which was written by Ronnie Dunn, Lonnie Wilson and Kim Williams (Saturday 28 June 1947 – Thursday 11 February 2016) / this track was new to this collection
‘You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook) (No.1 for one week in August 1995)
‘Boot Scootin’ Boogie’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) (No.1 for three weeks in August 1992)
‘He’s Got You’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride) (No.2, 1997) / this track was new to this collection
‘Hard Workin’ Man’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) (No.4, 1993)
‘That Ain’t No Way To Go’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook) (No.1 for week in June 1994)
‘Rock My World (Little Country Girl)’ (written by Bill LaBounty and Steve O’Brien) (No.2, 1993)
‘Neon Moon’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) (No.1 for one week in May 1992)
‘Lost & Found’ (written by Kix Brooks and Don Cook) (No.6, 1992) / this track was the first Brooks & Dunn single which featured Kix Brooks on lead vocals
‘She’s Not The Cheatin’ Kind’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) (No.1 for one week in October 1994)
‘Brand New Man’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook) (No.1 for one week in September 1991)
‘Days of Thunder’ (written by Kix Brooks and Paul Nelson) / this track was previously unreleased
‘We’ll Burn That Bridge’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook) (No.2, 1993)
‘She Used To Be Mine’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) (No.1 for one week in November 1993)
‘Mama, Don’t Get Dressed Up For Nothing’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook) (No.13, 1996)
‘My Next Broken Heart’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook) (No.1 for one week in December 1991)
‘Whiskey Under The Bridge’ (written by Don Cook, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn) (No.5, 1995)
‘Little Miss Honky Tonk’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) (No.1 for one week in April / May 1995)
Personnel involved in the recording of Brooks & Dunn’s ‘The Greatest Hits Collection’ (Arista Records, 1997), included the following:
Brooks & Dunn
Ronnie Dunn (lead vocals, background vocals)
Kix Brooks (lead vocals, background vocals)
Additional Musicians
Arista Tabernacle Choir (choir)
Bruce C. Bouton (steel guitar, slide guitar, lap steel guitar)
Dennis Burnside (keyboards, Hammond organ, piano)
Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar, mandolin)
Mike Chapman (1953 – Monday 13 June 2016), David Hungate, Michael Rhodes (Wednesday 16 September 1953 – Saturday 4 March 2023) and Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
Steve Gibson (acoustic guitar)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
Scott Hendricks (cowbell)
Wes Hightower, Bill LaBounty, Liana Manis, Terry McBride, John Wesley Ryles, Harry Stinson and Dennis Wilson (background vocals)
John Barlow Jarvis (Steinway piano, keyboards, Hammond organ)
Brent Mason (electric guitar)
Tom Roady (percussion)
Lonnie Wilson (drums, percussion)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘The Greatest Hits Collection’ (Arista Records, 1997) reached No.2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1997, and was certified four-times Multi-Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘The Greatest Hits Collection’ (Arista Records, 1997) also reached No.4 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1997, No.1 on the Canadian RPM Country Albums Chart in 1997, and No.15 on the Canadian RPM Top Albums Chart in 1997.
On Tuesday 2 June 1998, the same day on which Reba McEntire saw the release of ‘If You See Him’ (MCA Records, 1998), Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn) saw the release of ‘If You See Her’ (Arista Records, 1998), which was produced by Kix Brooks, Don Cook and Ronnie Dunn, and included five tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘If You See Him / If You See Her’ (written by Terry McBride, Tommy Lee James and Jennifer Kimball) (No.1 for two weeks in June / July 1998) / this track was a duet with Reba McEntire
‘How Long Gone’ (written by Shawn Camp and John Scott Sherrill) (No.1 for two weeks in September 1998)
‘Husbands & Wives’, which was written by Roger Miller (Thursday 2 January 1936 – Sunday 25 October 1992) (No.1 for one week in December 1998) / the track also reached No.36 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1998 / the original version of this track was recorded by Roger Miller (Thursday 2 January 1936 – Sunday 25 October 1992), whose version peaked at No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1966 and was originally included on Roger Miller’s ‘Words & Music’ (Smash Records, 1966)
‘I Can’t Get Over You’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride) (No.5, 1999)
‘South of Santa Fe’ (written by Larry Boone, Paul Nelson and Kix Brooks) (No.4, 1999) / this track was the last single which featured Kix Brooks on lead vocals instead of Ronnie Dunn
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘If You See Her’ (Arista Records, 1998) also included the following tracks:
‘Brand New Whiskey’, which was written by Gary Stewart (Sunday 28 May 1944 – Tuesday 16 December 2003) and Mary Lou Stewart
‘Born & Raised In Black and White’ (written by Don Cook and John Barlow Jarvis)
‘Your Love Don’t Take A Backseat To Nothing’ (written by Terry McBride, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn)
‘Way Gone’ (written by Kix Brooks and Bob DiPiero)
‘When Love Dies’, which was written by Chuck Cannon and Kent M. Robbins (Wednesday 23 April 1947 – Saturday 27 December 1997)
‘You’re My Angel’, which was written by Greg Humphrey and Michael Smotherman (Wednesday 17 December 1947 – Friday 29 November 2019)
Personnel involved in the recording of Brooks & Dunn’s ‘If You See Her’ (Arista Records, 1998), with the exception of ‘If You See Him / If You See Her’ (written by Terry McBride, Tommy Lee James and Jennifer Kimball), included the following:
Bruce C. Bouton (pedal steel guitar, lap steel guitar)
Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn (lead vocals, background vocals)
Dennis Burnside (piano, keyboards, Hammond B-3 organ)
Mark Casstevens and Steve Gibson (acoustic guitar)
Shannon Forrest (drums)
Larry Franklin (fiddle, mandolin)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle, ‘assorted hoedown tools’)
Wes Hightower, Liana Manis, John Wesley Ryles and Dennis Wilson (background vocals)
David Hungate (bass guitar, tic tac bass)
John Barlow Jarvis (piano, keyboards, Hammond B-3 organ)
Chris Leuzinger (electric guitar)
Brent Mason (electric guitar, gut string guitar)
Lonnie Wilson (drums, percussion)
Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
The Nashville String Machine (David Angell, David Davidson, Carl Gorodetzky, Lee Larrison, Pamela Sixfin, Alan Umstead, Catherine Umstead and Mary Kathryn Vanosdale (violins)
Gary Vanosdale and Kris Wilkinson (violas)
John Catchings and Bob Mason (cellos)
Personnel involved in the recording of Brooks & Dunn’s and Reba McEntire’s ‘If You See Him / If You See Her’ (written by Terry McBride, Tommy Lee James and Jennifer Kimball), included the following:
Bobby All (passed away on Thursday 19 March 2009) (acoustic guitar)
Bruce C. Bouton (pedal steel guitar)
Larry Byrom (electric guitar)
Kix Brooks and John Wesley Ryles (background vocals)
Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar)
Ronnie Dunnand Reba McEntire (lead vocals)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
John Barlow Jarvis (piano, electric piano)
Brent Mason (electric guitar)
Randy McCormick (synthesizer)
Michael Rhodes (Wednesday 16 September 1953 – Saturday 4 March 2023) (bass guitar)
Lonnie Wilson (drums)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘If You See Her’ (Arista Records, 1998) reached No.4 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1998, and was certified twice Multi-Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘If You See Her’ (Arista Records, 1998) also reached No.11 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1998, No.7 on the Canadian RPM Country Albums Chart in 1998, and No.42 on the Canadian RPM Top Albums Chart in 1998.
On Tuesday 23 March 1999, Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn) saw the release of ‘Super Hits’ (Arista Records, 1999), which was produced by Kix Brooks, Don Cook, Ronnie Dunn and Scott Hendricks, and included the following tracks:
‘Neon Moon’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) (No.1 for one week in May 1992)
‘Rock My World (Little Country Girl)’ (written by Bill LaBounty and Steve O’Brien) (No.2, 1993)
‘A Man This Lonely’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Tommy Lee James) (No.1 for one week in February 1997)
‘You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook) (No.1 for one week in August 1995)
‘If That’s The Way You Want It’ (written by Don Cook, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn) / this track was originally included on Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Waitin’ On Sundown’ (Arista Records, 1994)
‘Cool Drink of Water’ (written by Kix Brooks and Don Cook) / this track was originally included on Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Brand New Man’ (Arista Records, 1991)
‘I Can’t Put Out This Fire’ (written by Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn) / this track was originally included on Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Hard Working Man’ (Arista Records, 1993)
‘Our Time Is Coming’ (written by Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn) / this track was originally included on Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Hard Working Man’ (Arista Records, 1993)
‘White Line Casanova’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) / this track was originally included on Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Borderline’ (Arista Records, 1996)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Super Hits’ (Arista Records, 1999) reached No.43 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1999.
On Tuesday 21 September 1999, Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn) saw the release of ‘Tightrope’ (Arista Records, 1999), which was produced by Kix Brooks, Don Cook, Ronnie Dunn and Byron Gallimore, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Missing You’ (written by John Waite, Mark Leonard and Charles Sandford) (No.15, 1999) / this track was a cover of John Waite‘s international pop music hit single from 1984 / John Waite’s album, ‘No Brakes’ (EMI America, 1984), resulted in international attention and was a Billboard Top 10 album in the United States, as a result of the hit single, ‘Missing You’ (written by John Waite, Mark Leonard and Charles Sandford), which climbed to No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1984
Alison Krauss recorded ‘Missing You’ (written by John Waite, Mark Leonard and Charles Sandford) as a duet with John Waite; the track, which was included on ‘A Hundred Miles Or More: A Collection’ (Rounder Records, 2007), reached No.34 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in 2007.
Alison Krauss’ ‘A Hundred Miles Or More: A Collection’ (Rounder Records, 2007), which featured duets with Sting, Brad Paisley, John Waite and James Taylor, reached No.10 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2007, No.3 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2007, and No.38 on the United Kingdom Albums Chart in 2007.
‘Beer Thirty’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride) (No.19, 1999)
‘You’ll Always Be Loved By Me’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride) (No.5, 2000)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Tightrope’ (Arista Records, 1999) also included the following tracks:
‘Goin’ Under Gettin’ Over You’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride) / this track reached No.60 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart as a result of unsolicited play as an album cut
‘Temptation No.9’ (written by Kix Brooks and Bob DiPiero)
‘Hurt Train’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride)
‘Can’t Stop My Heart’ (written by Kix Brooks, Chris Waters and Tom Shapiro)
‘Too Far This Time’ (written by Ronnie Dunn)
‘I Love You More’ (written by Kix Brooks and Bob DiPiero)
‘Don’t Look Back Now’ (written by Kix Brooks and Don Cook)
‘All Out of Love’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride)
‘The Trouble With Angels’ (written by Kix Brooks and Bob DiPiero)
‘Texas & Norma Jean’ (written by Kix Brooks and Lewis Anderson)
Personnel involved in the recording of Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Tightrope’ (Arista Records, 1999) included the following:
Brooks & Dunn
Ronnie Dunn (lead vocals, background vocals)
Kix Brooks (lead vocals, background vocals)
Other Musicians
Robert Bailey, Kim Fleming, Vicki Hampton, John Wesley Ryles, Dennis Wilson and Curtis Young (background vocals)
Bruce C. Bouton (lap steel guitar, pedal steel guitar)
Mike Brignardello and Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
Larry Byrom and Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar)
Larry Franklin and Aubrey Haynie (fiddle)
Paul Franklin (pedal steel guitar, lap steel guitar)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle, ‘assorted hoedown tools’)
John Barlow Jarvis (piano, keyboards, B-3 organ)
B. James Lowry and Brent Mason (electric guitar)
Steve Nathan (keyboards)
Lonnie Wilson (drums, percussion)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Tightrope’ (Arista Records, 1999) reached No.6 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1999 and was certified ‘Gold’ by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Tightrope’ (Arista Records, 1999) also reached No.31 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1999, and No.6 on the Canadian RPM Country Albums Chart in 1999.
On Tuesday 24 August 1999, Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) saw the release of ‘For The Record: 43 Legendary Hits’ (BNA Records, 1999), a two-CD, forty-three song collection of Merle Haggard‘s greatest hits.
Merle Haggard‘s ‘For The Record: 43 Legendary Hits’ (BNA Records, 1999) featured Merle Haggard‘s re-recordings of his own previously released songs; guest artists on the album included Willie Nelson, Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn) and Alabama; Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn) sang with Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) on the track ‘Movin’ On’ (written by Merle Haggard).
Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) & The Strangers recorded the original version of ‘Movin’ On’ (written by Merle Haggard) and included the track on ‘Keep Movin’ On’ (Capitol Records, 1975); Merle Haggard & The Strangers’ version of the track was No.1 on the Billbooard country music singles chart for one week in July 1975.
On Tuesday 17 April 2001, Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn) saw the release of ‘Steers & Stripes’ (Arista Records, 2001), which was produced by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Mark Wright, and included five tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You’ (written by Tom Shapiro and Rivers Rutherford) (No.1 for six weeks in April / May / June 2001) / this track was the most played single of the year on American country music radio in 2001, according to Billboard magazine / this track also reached No.25 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 2001
‘Only In America’ (written by Kix Brooks, Don Cook and Ronnie Rogers) (No.1 for one week in October / November 2001)
‘The Long Goodbye’ (written by Paul Brady and Ronan Keating) (No.1 for one week in March 2002)
‘My Heart Is Lost To You’ (written by Brett Beavers and Connie Harrington) (No.5, 1992)
‘Every River’ (written by Kim Richey, Angelo Petraglia and Tom Littlefield) (No.12, 1992)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Steers & Stripes’ (Arista Records, 2001) also included the following tracks:
‘The Last Thing I Do’, which was written by David Lee Murphy and Kim Chadwick Tribble (passed away on Wednesday 25 August 2021)
‘Go West’ (written by Kix Brooks and Bob DiPiero)
‘Good Girls Go To Heaven’ (written by Ronnie Dunn, Terry McBride and Shawn Camp)
‘When She’s Gone, She’s Gone’, which was written by Tom Douglas and Wayland D. Holyfield (Sunday 15 March 1942 – Monday 6 May 2024)
‘Unloved’ (written by Steve Diamond and Keith Follesé)
‘Deny, Deny, Deny’ (written by Kix Brooks and Bob DiPiero)
‘Lucky Me, Lonely You’ (written by Ronnie Dunn, Terry McBride and Shawn Camp)
‘I Fall’ (written by Kix Brooks and Don Cook)
‘See Jane Dance’ (written by Charlie Crowe)
Personnel involved in the recording of Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Steers & Stripes’ (Arista Records, 2001) included the following:
Bob Bailey, Kim Fleming, Vicki Hampton, Gene Miller, Kim Richey, Chris Rodriguez, John Wesley Ryles, Harry Stinson and Trisha Yearwood (background vocals)
Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks (lead vocals, background vocals)
J.T. Corenflos (Wednesday 6 November 1963 – Saturday 24 October 2020) and Kenny Greenberg (electric guitar)
Eric Darken (percussion)
Greg Davis (banjo)
Dan Dugmore (acoustic guitar, steel guitar)
Shannon Forrest (drums)
Paul Franklin (steel guitar, Dobro)
Aubrey Haynie (fiddle)
B. James Lowry (acoustic guitar)
Brent Mason (electric guitar, gut string guitar)
Mindi Abair (saxophone)
Steve Nathan (keyboards, synthesizer, piano, B3 organ)
Michael Rhodes (Wednesday 16 September 1953 – Saturday 4 March 2023) (bass guitar)
Brent Rowan (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
The Nashville String Machine (strings arranged and conducted by David Campbell)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Steers & Stripes’ (Arista Records, 2001) reached No.1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2001, and was certified ‘Platinum’ by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Steers & Stripes’ (Arista Records, 2001) reached No.4 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2001.
On Tuesday 8 October 2002, Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn) saw the release of ‘It Won’t Be Christmas Without You’ (Arista Records, 2002), which was produced by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn, Mark Wright and Greg Droman, and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Hangin’ ‘Round The Mistletoe’ (written by Kostas) (No.47, 2002)
‘It Won’t Be Christmas Without You’ (written by Steven Busch, Ronnie Dunn and Jerry Lynn Williams) (No.41, 2002)
‘Rockin’ Little Christmas’ (written by Deborah Allen and Bruce Channel) (No.57, 2003)
‘Winter Wonderland’ (written by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith) (No.57, 2003)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘It Won’t Be Christmas Without You’ (Arista Records, 2002) also included the following tracks:
‘Blue Christmas’ (written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson)
‘Santa’s Coming Over To Your House’ (written by Kix Brooks and Don Cook)
‘The Christmas Song’ (written by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells)
‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’, which was written by John Frederick Coots (2 May 1897 – Monday 8 April 1985) and James Lamont ‘Haven’ Gillespie (6 February 1888 – Friday 14 March 1975)
‘Who Says There Ain’t No Santa’ (written by Kix Brooks, Larry Boone and Paul Nelson)
‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’, which was written by Kim Gannon, Walter Kent and Buck Ram (Thursday 21 November 1907 – Tuesday 1 January 1991)
‘White Christmas’, which was written by Irving Berlin (11 May 1888 – Friday 22 September 1989)
Personnel involved in the recording of Brooks & Dunn’s ‘It Won’t Be Christmas Without You’ (Arista Records, 2002) included the following:
Brooks & Dunn
Ronnie Dunn (lead vocals, background vocals)
Kix Brooks (lead vocals, background vocals)
Additional Musicians
Deborah Allen, Bekka Bramlett, Bruce Channel, Lisa Cochran, John Wesley Ryles and Harry Stinson (background vocals)
David Campbell (string arrangements, conductor)
Eric Darken (percussion)
Dan Dugmore (steel guitar)
Shannon Forrest (drums)
Paul Franklin (steel guitar)
Barry Green (trombone)
Kenny Greenberg, Brent Mason and Brent Rowan (electric guitar)
Mike Haynes and Steve Patrick (trumpet)
Aubrey Haynie (fiddle, mandolin)
Jim Horn (baritone saxophone)
B. James Lowry (acoustic guitar)
The Nashville String Machine (strings)
Steve Nathan (keyboards, Hammond organ, piano)
Michael Rhodes (Wednesday 16 September 1953 – Saturday 4 March 2023) (bass guitar)
Denis Solee (tenor saxophone)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘It Won’t Be Christmas Without You’ (Arista Records, 2002) reached No.12 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2002, No.81 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2002, and No.7 on the Billboard Top Holiday Albums Chart in 2002.
On Tuesday 15 July 2003, Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn) saw the release of ‘Red Dirt Road’ (Arista Records, 2003), which was produced by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Mark Wright, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Red Dirt Road’ (written by Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn) (No.1 for one week in August 2003)
‘You Can’t Take The Honky Tonk Out of The Girl’ (written by Bob DiPiero and Bart Allmand) (No.3, 2004)
‘That’s What She Gets For Loving Me’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride) (No.6, 2004)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Red Dirt Road’ (Arista Records, 2003) also included the following tracks:
‘Caroline’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Charlie Crowe)
‘When We Were Kings’ (written by Kix Brooks and Gary Nicholson)
‘Feels Good Don’t It’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride)
‘I Used To Know This Song By Heart’ (written by Jerry Lynn Williams)
‘Believer’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Craig Wiseman)
‘Memory Town’ (written by Kix Brooks and Rafe Van Hoy)
‘She Was Born To Run’, which was written by Ronnie Dunn, Terry McBride and Kenny Beard (Thursday 26 February 1959 – Sunday 1 October 2017)
‘Til My Dyin’ Day’ (written by Kix Brooks and Paul Nelson)
‘My Baby’s Everything I Love’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook)
‘Good Day to be Me’ (written by Kix Brooks and Bob DiPiero)
‘Good Cowboy’ (written by Nile Rodgers and Jimmie Vaughan)
‘Holy War’ (written by Ronnie Dunn)
Personnel involved in the recording of Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Red Dirt Road’ (Arista Records, 2003) included the following:
Brooks & Dunn
Ronnie Dunn (lead vocals, background vocals, tambourine)
Kix Brooks (lead vocals, background vocals)
Additional Musicians
Robert Bailey, Bekka Bramlett, Perry Coleman, Vicki Hampton, Wes Hightower, John Wesley Ryles, Harry Stinson, Crystal Taliefero, Russell Terrell, Dan Tyminski, Christopher Willis and Dennis Wilson (background vocals)
Pat Buchanan and John Jorgenson (electric guitar)
Mark Casstevens and B. James Lowry (acoustic guitar)
J.T. Corenflos (Wednesday 6 November 1963 – Saturday 24 October 2020), Charlie Crowe, Brent Mason and Lou Toomey (electric guitar)
Eric Darken (percussion)
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Dan Dugmore (acoustic guitar, steel guitar, Dobro)
Shannon Forrest (drums)
Paul Franklin (steel guitar)
Kenny Greenberg (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Aubrey Haynie (fiddle)
Jim Hoke (harmonica, accordion)
Clayton Ivey (piano)
Bill Kenner (mandola)
Steve Nathan (piano, keyboard, Wurlitzer, Mellotron, Hammond B-3 organ)
Michael Rhodes (Wednesday 16 September 1953 – Saturday 4 March 2023) and Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, National guitar)
Mark Wright (tambourine, background vocals)
Reese Wynans (Hammond B-3 organ)
Jeff Coffin, Jim Horn, Samuel Levine and Steve Patrick (horns performance)
Jim Horn (horns arrangement)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Red Dirt Road’ (Arista Records, 2003) reached No.1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2003 and was certified ‘Platinum’ by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Red Dirt Road’ (Arista Records, 2003) also reached No.4 on the included the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2003.
On Tuesday 19 October 2004, Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn) saw the release of ‘The Greatest Hits Collection II’ (Arista Nashville Records, 2004), which included the following tracks:
‘That’s What It’s All About’ (written by Craig Wiseman and Steve McEwan) (No.2, 2004) / this track was one of three newly recorded tracks
‘How Long Gone’ (written by Shawn Camp and John Scott Sherrill) (No.1 for two weeks in September 1998)
‘Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You’ (written by Tom Shapiro and Rivers Rutherford) (No.1 for six weeks in April / May / June 2001) / this track was the most played single of the year on American country music radio in 2001, according to Billboard magazine / this track also reached No.25 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 2001
‘The Long Goodbye’ (written by Paul Brady and Ronan Keating) (No.1 for one week in March 2002)
‘My Heart Is Lost To You’ (written by Brett Beavers and Connie Harrington) (No.5, 1992)
‘I Can’t Get Over You’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride) (No.5, 1999)
‘Red Dirt Road’ (written by Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn) (No.1 for one week in August 2003)
‘Husbands & Wives’, which was written by Roger Miller (Thursday 2 January 1936 – Sunday 25 October 1992) (No.1 for one week in December 1998) / the track also reached No.36 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1998 / the original version of this track was recorded by Roger Miller (Thursday 2 January 1936 – Sunday 25 October 1992), who included it on ‘Words & Music’ (Smash Records, 1966); Roger Miller’s version of the track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1966
‘That’s What She Gets For Loving Me’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride) (No.6, 2004)
‘You Can’t Take The Honky Tonk Out of The Girl’ (written by Bob DiPiero and Bart Allmand) (No.3, 2004)
‘It’s Getting Better All The Time’ (written by Don Cook and Ronnie Bowman) (No.1 for one week in January 2005) / this track was one of three newly recorded tracks
‘Only In America’ (written by Kix Brooks, Don Cook and Ronnie Rogers) (No.1 for one week in October / November 2001)
‘A Man This Lonely’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Tommy Lee James) (No.1 for one week in February 1997)
‘Independent Trucker’ (written by Jeffrey Steele and Chris Stapleton) / this track was one of three newly recorded tracks
‘I’ll Never Forgive My Heart’ (written by Ronnie Dunn, Janine Dunn and Dean Dillon) (No.6, 1994)
‘If You See Him / If You See Her’ (written by Terry McBride, Tommy Lee James and Jennifer Kimball) (No.1 for two weeks in June / July 1998) / this track was a duet with Reba McEntire
‘South of Santa Fe’ (written by Larry Boone, Paul Nelson and Kix Brooks) (No.4, 1999) / this track was the last single which featured Kix Brooks on lead vocals
Personnel involved in the recording of ‘That’s What It’s All About’ (written by Craig Wiseman and Steve McEwan), ‘It’s Getting Better All The Time’ (written by Don Cook and Ronnie Bowman) and ‘Independent Trucker’ (written by Jeffrey Steele and Chris Stapleton), included the following:
Brooks & Dunn
Kix Brooks (lead vocals, background vocals)
Ronnie Dunn (lead vocals, background vocals)
Additional musicians involved in the recording of ‘That’s What It’s All About’ (written by Craig Wiseman and Steve McEwan), ‘It’s Getting Better All The Time’ (written by Don Cook and Ronnie Bowman) and ‘Independent Trucker’ (written by Jeffrey Steele and Chris Stapleton), included the following:
David Angell (violin)
Bekka Bramlett, Perry Coleman, Kim Fleming, Wes Hightower, John Wesley Ryles and Crystal Taliefero (background vocals)
Mike Brignardello (bass guitar)
J.T. Corenflos (Wednesday 6 November 1963 – Saturday 24 October 2020) and Kenny Greenberg (electric guitar)
Chad Cromwell (drums)
Eric Darken (percussion)
David Davidson (violin)
Dan Dugmore (steel guitar)
Larry Franklin (fiddle, mandolin)
Anthony LaMarchina and Sarighandi D. Reist (cello)
Steve Nathan (piano)
Kristin Wilkinson (string arrangements, viola)
John Willis (acoustic guitar, mandolin)
Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
Reese Wynans (Hammond organ, piano)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘The Greatest Hits Collection II’ (Arista Nashville Records, 2004) reached No.2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2004, and No.7 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2004.
On Tuesday 30 August 2005, Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn) saw the release of ‘Hillbilly Deluxe’ (Arista Records, 2005), which was produced by Kix Brooks, Tony Brown, Bob DiPiero, Ronnie Dunn, Tom Shapiro and Mark Wright, and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
‘Play Something Country’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride) (No.1 for one week in September 2005) / this track was Brooks & Dunn’s last No.1 single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart
‘Believe’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Craig Wiseman) (No.8, 2005)
‘Building Bridges’, which was written by Hank DeVito and Larry Willoughby (1947 – Friday 15 January 2021) (No.4, 2006) / this track featured background vocals from Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill
‘Hillbilly Deluxe’ (written by Brad Crisler and Craig Wiseman) (No.16, 2007)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Hillbilly Deluxe’ (Arista Records, 2005) also included the following tracks:
‘She’s About As Lonely As I’m Going To Let Her Get’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride)
‘My Heart’s Not A Hotel’ (written by Rob Crosby and Allen Shamblin)
‘Whiskey, Do My Talkin’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride)
‘One More Roll of The Dice’ (written by Kix Brooks and Tom Shapiro)
‘Just Another Neon Night’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride)
‘Her West Was Wilder’ (written by Kix Brooks and Bob DiPiero)
‘I May Never Get Over You’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride)
‘She Likes To Get Out of Town’ (written by Kix Brooks and Bob DiPiero)
‘Again’ (written by Darrell Brown and Radney Foster)
Personnel involved in the recording of Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Hillbilly Deluxe’ (Arista Records, 2005) included the following:
Eddie Bayers, Shannon Forrest and Scott Williamson (drums)
Larry Beaird, Tom Bukovac and Bob DiPiero (acoustic guitar)
Mike Brignardello, Steve Bryant, Duncan Mullins, Michael Rhodes (Wednesday 16 September 1953 – Saturday 4 March 2023) and Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn (lead vocals, background vocals, harmonica)
Lisa Cochran, Perry Coleman, Chip Davis, Wes Hightower, Kim Keyes, Kim Parent and John Wesley Ryles (background vocals)
J.T. Corenflos (Wednesday 6 November 1963 – Saturday 24 October 2020) (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill (background vocals on ‘Building Bridges’)
Eric Darken (percussion)
Dan Dugmore (acoustic guitar, steel guitar)
Stuart Duncan and Larry Franklin (mandolin)
Kenny Greenberg (electric guitar, National guitar)
David Grissom, Troy Lancaster and Brent Mason (electric guitar)
Tony Harrell (piano, keyboards)
Steve Herrmann (trumpet)
John A. Hobbs (Saturday 11 February 1928 – Wednesday 12 June 2019) and Bill Payne (piano)
Jim Horn (baritone saxophone)
Terry McBride (acoustic guitar, background vocals)
Greg Morrow (drums, percussion)
Gordon Mote (Hammond B-3 organ)
Russ Pahl and Scotty Sanders (steel guitar)
Charles Rose (trombone)
Hank Singer (fiddle)
Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin)
Harvey Thompson (tenor saxophone)
Reese Wynans (piano, keyboards, Hammond B-3 organ)
Jovan E. Bender, Ashley Cromartie, Delva Dwana, DaJuana R. Elder, Danyelle Haley, Moiro Konchella, Erika Rowell, Meshia Sandifer, Chris Smith, Andre Trice and Raymond Williams (choir on ‘Believe’ and ‘Again’)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Hillbilly Deluxe’ (Arista Records, 2005) reached No.1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2005 and was certified ‘Platinum’ by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA); the album also reached No.3 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2005.
Since January 2006, Kix Brooks has hosted ‘American Country Countdown’, a syndicated radio countdown show based on Mediabase (originally Billboard between 2006 and August 2009) country music charts; Kix Brooks succeeded the show’s former host, Bob Kingsley (Sunday 19 March 1939 – Thursday 17 October 2019).
Kix Brooks is also co-owner, with winemaker Kip Summers and businessmen John Russell, of Arrington Vineyards, a winery located outside of Nashville, at 6211 Patton Road, in Arrington, Tennessee.
Arrington Vineyards opened its doors on Sunday 1 July 2007. Since then, Arrington Vineyards have been providing a ‘wine country experience’ of award-winning wines set among the picturesque rolling hills of middle Tennessee.
Owned by country music artist Kix Brooks, winemaker Kip Summers, and entrepreneur John Russell, Arrington Vineyards has truly become ‘Nashville’s Wine Country’.
The vineyards were originally established in 2003, when Kip and a fellow wine enthusiast and their families purchased a 25-acre hog farm and began clearing the property and planting grapevines. In 2004, Kix Brooks purchased the farm adjacent to the original vineyards, which included the farmhouse that eventually became the winery tasting room.
Together, they began creating a first class winery with the working name of Firefly Vineyards. This name was later changed to reflect the local community of Arrington, Tennessee.
On Tuesday 2 October 2007, Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks & and Ronnie Dunn) saw the release of ‘Cowboy Town’ (Arista Records, 2007), their final album, which was produced by Kix Brooks, Tony Brown and Ronnie Dunn, and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
‘Proud of The House We Built’ (written by Ronnie Dunn, Marv Green and Terry McBride) (No.4, 2007)
‘God Must Be Busy’ (written by Clint Daniels and Michael P. Heeney) (No.11, 2007)
‘Put A Girl In It’ (written by Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip) (No.3, 2008)
‘Cowgirls Don’t Cry’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride) (No.2, 2008) / this track also reached No.1 on the Canadian RPM Country Chart in 2007 / an alternate version of this track, which featured Reba McEntire, was sent to American country music radio while the single was climbing the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart and she started to be credited on the charts, thus making this their second duet together after ‘If You See Him / If You See Her’ in 1998 / Reba McEntire was also featured in the music video for ‘Cowgirls Don’t Cry’, which premiered in late 2008
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Cowboy Town’ (Arista Records, 2007) also included the following tracks:
‘Cowboy Town’ (written by Ronnie Dunn, Larry Boone and Paul Nelson)
‘Johnny Cash Junkie (Buck Owens Freak)’ (written by Ronnie Dunn, Larry Boone and Paul Nelson)
‘The Ballad of Jerry Jeff Walker’ (written by Kix Brooks and Bob DiPiero) / this track featured guest vocals from Jerry Jeff Walker (Monday 16 March 1942 – Friday 24 October 2020)
‘Tequila’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride)
‘Drop In The Bucket’ (written by Kix Brooks and Bob DiPiero)
‘Drunk On Love’ (written by Darrell Brown and Radney Foster)
‘Chance of A Lifetime’ (written by Kix Brooks and Bob DiPiero)
‘American Dreamer’ (written by Kix Brooks, Brett Beavers and Don Cook)
Personnel involved in the recording of Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Cowboy Town’ (Arista Records, 2007) included the following:
Brooks & Dunn
Ronnie Dunn (lead vocals, background vocals)
Kix Brooks (lead vocals, background vocals)
Additional Musicians
Robert Bailey, Haley Dunn, Kim Fleming, Vicki Hampton, Wes Hightower, Jeff Kersey, Wendy Moten, Kim Parent, Pat Peterson, John Wesley Ryles, Harry Stinson, Crystal Taliefero and Russell Terrell (background vocals)
Eddie Bayers and Paul Scholton (drums)
Larry Beaird and Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar)
Mike Brignardello, Larry Paxton, Alison Prestwood, Michael Rhodes (Wednesday 16 September 1953 – Saturday 4 March 2023), Jimmie Lee Sloas and Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
Tom Bukovac and Kenny Greenberg (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
J.T. Corenflos (Wednesday 6 November 1963 – Saturday 24 October 2020), Brent Mason, Jerry McPherson, James Mitchell and Lou Toomey (electric guitar)
Chad Cromwell, Owen Hale and Chris McHugh (drums)
Eric Darken (percussion)
Dan Dugmore, Paul Franklin, Gary Morse and Russ Pahl (steel guitar, lap steel guitar)
Rob Hajacos, Aubrey Haynie and Hank Singer (fiddle)
Tony Harrell (keyboards, Hammond organ, piano)
John Barlow Jarvis (piano)
Terry McBride (bass guitar, background vocals)
Reba McEntire (vocals on ‘Cowgirls Don’t Cry’)
Greg Morrow (drums, percussion)
Jimmy Nichols (Fender Rhodes, keyboards, Hammond organ, piano)
Rex Schnelle (electric guitar, percussion)
Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar, mandolin)
Ilya Toshinsky (banjo, acoustic guitar)
Jerry Jeff Walker (Monday 16 March 1942 – Friday 24 October 2020) (vocals on ‘The Ballad of Jerry Jeff Walker’)
John Willis (banjo)
Reese Wynans (Hammond organ, piano)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Cowboy Town’ (Arista Records, 2007) reached No.4 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2007, No.13 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2007, No.23 on the Australian ARIA Charts in 2007, No.1 on the Australian Top Country Albums Chart in 2007.
Luke Olson recorded Kix Brooks’ ‘Don’t Look Back Now’ (co-written with Don Cook) and included the track on ‘Red River Blue’ (Sustain Records, 2008).
On Tuesday 2 December 2008, Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks & and Ronnie Dunn) saw the release of ‘Playlist: The Very Best of Brooks & Dunn’ (Arista Nashville Records, 2008), which included the following tracks:
‘Boot Scootin’ Boogie’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) (No.1 for three weeks in August 1992)
‘Lost & Found’ (written by Kix Brooks and Don Cook) (No.6, 1992) / this track was the first Brooks & Dunn single to featured Kix Brooks on lead vocals
‘Hard Workin’ Man’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) (No.4, 1993)
‘Best of My Love’, which was written by Glenn Frey (Saturday 6 November 1948 – Tuesday 19 January 2016), Don Henley and John David Souther / this track was originally included on ‘Common Thread: The Songs of The Eagles’ (Giant Records, 1993) / the original version of this track was recorded by The Eagles, who included it on ‘On The Border’ (Asylum Records, 1974); The Eagles’ version of this track, with Don Henley singing lead vocals, was the band’s first No.1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart, in March 1975 / The Eagles’ version of the track also reached No.1 on the Billboard Easy Listening/Adult Contemporary Chart for one week in February 1975
‘That Ain’t No Way To Go’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook) (No.1 for week in June 1994)
‘You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook) (No.1 for one week in August 1995)
‘My Maria’, which was written by Daniel Moore and B.W. Stevenson (Wednesday 5 October 1949 – Thursday 28 April 1988) (No.1 for two weeks in May / June 1996) / this track was, according to Billboard magazine, the most played song of the year on American country music radio in 1996
‘Against The Wind’ (written by Bob Seger) / this track was originally included on the ‘King of The Hill’ (Asylum Records, 1999) soundtrack album / the original version of this track was recorded by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, who included it on ‘Against The Wind’ (Capitol Records, 1980); Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band’s version of the track reached No.5 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1980
‘Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You’ (written by Tom Shapiro and Rivers Rutherford) (No.1 for six weeks in April / May / June 2001) / this track was, according to Billboard magazine, the most played single of the year on American country music radio in 2001 / this track also reached No.25 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 2001
‘My Heart Is Lost To You’ (written by Brett Beavers and Connie Harrington) (No.5, 1992)
‘I Ain’t Living Long Like This’ (written by Rodney Crowell) / this track was originally included on ‘I’ve Always Been Crazy: A Tribute To Waylon Jennings’ (RCA Records, 2003)
• this track was also recorded by Gary Stewart (Sunday 28 May 1944 – Tuesday 16 December 2003), who included it on ‘Your Place Or Mine’ (RCA Victor Records, 1977); Gary Stewart’s version featured Rodney Crowell and Nicolette Larson (Thursday 17 July 1952 – Tuesday 16 December 1997) on backing vocals
• this track was also recorded by Emmylou Harris, who included it on ‘Quarter Moon In A Ten Cent Town’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1978)
• this track was also recorded by Rodney Crowell, who included it on his debut album, ‘Ain’t Living Long Like This’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1978)
• this track was also recorded by Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 – Wednesday 13 February 2002), who included it on ‘What Goes Around Comes Around’ (RCA Victor Records, 1979); Waylon Jennings’ version of this track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in March 1980
‘You Can’t Take The Honky Tonk Out of The Girl’ (written by Bob DiPiero and Bart Allmand) (No.3, 2004)
‘Only In America’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Rogers and Don Cook) / this track was a ‘live’ performance recorded at Farm Aid 2003 / the original version of this track, which was included on Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Steers & Stripes’ (Arista Records, 2001), wasNo.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart for one week in October / November 2001
‘The Fightin’ Side of Me’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) / this track was previously unissued / the original version of this track was recorded by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016), who included it on ‘The Fightin’ Side of Me’ (Capitol Records, 1970); Merle Haggard‘s version of this track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for three weeks in March / April 1970
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Playlist: The Very Best of Brooks & Dunn’ (Arista Nashville Records, 2008) reached No.48 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart during the week of Saturday 24 January 2009.
In August 2009, at the time of the acquisition of a Gene Watson Peer’s Quote from Ronnie Dunn, Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Indian Summer’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Bob DiPiero) was being promoted at American country music radio. The single was later featured on the duo’s greatest hits album; ‘No.1s…& Then Some’ (Arista Records, 2009, which was released on Saturday 8 September 2009, and featured twenty-eight past hit singles and two new recordings on a two-disc CD:
Disc 1
‘Honky Tonk Stomp’ (written by Ronnie Dunn, Terry McBride and Bobby Pinson) (No.16, October 2009) / this track featured ZZ Top lead singer Billy Gibbons
‘Brand New Man’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook) (No.1 for one week in September 1991)
‘Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You’ (written by Tom Shapiro and Rivers Rutherford) (No.1 for six weeks in April / May / June 2001) / this track was, according to Billboard magazine, the most played single of the year on American country music radio in 2001 / this track also reached No.25 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 2001
‘Hillbilly Deluxe’ (written by Brad Crisler and Craig Wiseman) (No.16, 2007)
‘How Long Gone’ (written by Shawn Camp and John Scott Sherrill) (No.1 for two weeks in September 1998)
‘She’s Not The Cheatin’ Kind’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) (No.1 for one week in October 1994)
‘A Man This Lonely’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Tommy Lee James) (No.1 for one week in February 1997)
‘Rock My World (Little Country Girl)’ (written by Bill LaBounty and Steve O’Brien) (No.2, 1993)
‘Red Dirt Road’ (written by Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn) (No.1 for one week in August 2003)
‘The Long Goodbye’ (written by Paul Brady and Ronan Keating) (No.1 for one week in March 2002)
‘You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook) (No.1 for one week in August 1995)
‘If You See Him / If You See Her’ (written by Terry McBride, Tommy Lee James and Jennifer Kimball) (No.1 for two weeks in June / July 1998) / this track was a duet with Reba McEntire
‘She Used To Be Mine’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) (No.1 for one week in November 1993)
‘That Ain’t No Way To Go’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook) (No.1 for week in June 1994)
‘Boot Scootin’ Boogie’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) (No.1 for three weeks in August 1992)
Disc 2
‘Indian Summer’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Bob DiPiero) (No.16, 2009)
‘Play Something Country’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride) (No.1 for one week in September 2005) / this track was Brooks & Dunn’s last No.1 single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart
‘My Next Broken Heart’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook) (No.1 for one week in December 1991)
‘Cowgirls Don’t Cry’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride) (No.2, 2008) / this track also reached No.1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 2007 / an alternate version of this track, which featured Reba McEntire, was sent to American country music radio while the single was climbing the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart and she started to be credited on the charts, thus making this their second duet together after ‘If You See Him / If You See Her’ in 1998 / Reba McEntire was also featured in the music video for ‘Cowgirls Don’t Cry’, which premiered in late 2008
‘Lost & Found’ (written by Kix Brooks and Don Cook) (No.6, 1992) / this track was the first Brooks & Dunn single which featured Kix Brooks on lead vocals
‘Little Miss Honky Tonk’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) (No.1 for one week in April / May 1995)
‘It’s Getting Better All The Time’ (written by Don Cook and Ronnie Bowman) (No.1 for one week in January 2005)
‘We’ll Burn That Bridge’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Don Cook) (No.2, 1993)
‘He’s Got You’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride) / this track, which reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1997, was included as an exclusive track on Brooks & Dunn’s ‘The Greatest Hits Collection’ (Arista Records, 1997)
‘Only In America’ (written by Kix Brooks, Don Cook and Ronnie Rogers) (No.1 for one week in October / November 2001)
‘I Am That Man’ (written by Terry McBride and Monty Powell) (No.2, 1996)
‘Husbands & Wives’, which was written by Roger Miller (Thursday 2 January 1936 – Sunday 25 October 1992) (No.1 for one week in December 1998) / the track also reached No.36 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1998 / the original version of this track was recorded by Roger Miller (Thursday 2 January 1936 – Sunday 25 October 1992), who included it on ‘Words & Music’ (Smash Records, 1966); Roger Miller’s version of the track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1966
‘Neon Moon’ (written by Ronnie Dunn) (No.1 for one week in May 1992)
‘My Maria’, which was written by Daniel Moore and B.W. Stevenson (Wednesday 5 October 1949 – Thursday 28 April 1988) (No.1 for two weeks in May / June 1996) / this track was, according to Billboard magazine, the most played song of the year on American country music radio in 1996
‘Believe’ (written by Ronnie Dunn and Craig Wiseman) (No.8, 2005)
Personnel involved in the recording of (the new tracks), ‘Honky Tonk Stomp’ (written by Ronnie Dunn, Terry McBride and Bobby Pinson) and ‘Indian Summer’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Bob DiPiero), included the following:
Brooks & Dunn
Kix Brooks (background vocals)
Ronnie Dunn (lead vocals)
Additional musicians involved in the recording of (the new tracks), ‘Honky Tonk Stomp’ (written by Ronnie Dunn, Terry McBride and Bobby Pinson) and ‘Indian Summer’ (written by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Bob DiPiero), included the following:
Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar)
J.T. Corenflos (Wednesday 6 November 1963 – Saturday 24 October 2020), Kenny Greenberg and Bryan Sutton (electric guitar)
Shawn Fichter and Lonnie Wilson (drums)
Billy Gibbons (electric guitar, background vocals on ‘Honky Tonk Stomp’)
Wes Hightower (background vocals)
Tim Lauer (keyboards)
Gary Morse (steel guitar)
Larry Paxton and Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
Brooks & Dunn’s ‘No.1s…& Then Some’ (Arista Records, 2009) reached No.1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2009, No.5 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2009, and No.10 on the Canadian Albums Chart Chart in 2009.
On Tuesday 17 April 2012, Brooks & Dunn’s ‘No.1s…& Then Some’ (Arista Records, 2009) was re-released and re-packaged as ‘The Essential Brooks & Dunn’ (Arista Records, 2012), which reached No.59 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart for the the week of Saturday 12 May 2012.
On Monday 10 August 2009, Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks & and Ronnie Dunn) announced to their fans, through their official website, that they intended to disband after twenty years of touring. According to the short statement, Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn) intended to release a greatest hits album, tour throughout the rest of 2009, and have a farewell tour in 2010.
(photo courtesy of Sarah Brosmer, Lytle Management,
Brentwood, Tennessee)
In 2012, Kix Brooks resumed his solo career and saw the release, on Tuesday 11 September 2012, of ‘New To This Town’ (Arista Nashville Records, 2012), which was produced by Kix Brooks and Jay DeMarcus, and included five tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
‘New To This Town’ (written by Kix Brooks, Marv Green and Terry McBride) (No.31, 2012) / this track featured guest vocals from Joe Walsh
‘Bring It On Home’ (written by Kix Brooks, Rhett Akins and Dallas Davidson) (No.39, 2012)
‘Moonshine Road’ (written by Kix Brooks and Leslie Satcher) (No.42, 2012)
‘Complete 360’ (written by Kix Brooks and Rafe Van Hoy) / this track was released as a single in 2013, but it did not chart
‘There’s The Sun’ (written by Trent Summar and Brandon Kinney) / this track was released as a single in 2013, but it did not chart
Kix Brooks’ ‘New To This Town’ (Arista Nashville Records, 2012) also included the following tracks:
‘My Baby’ (written by Brian White and Bruce Wallace)
‘Tattoo’, which was written by Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016), Kix Brooks and Rafe Van Hoy
‘In The Right Place’ (written by Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip)
‘Next To That Woman’ (written by Kix Brooks and Rivers Rutherford)
‘Let’s Do This Thing’ (written by Kix Brooks and Leslie Satcher)
‘Closin’ Time At Home’ (written by Bob DiPiero, Kix Brooks and David Lee Murphy)
‘She Knew I Was A Cowboy’ (written by Kix Brooks, Tony Lane aand David Lee Murphy)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kix Brooks’ ‘New To This Town’ (Arista Nashville Records, 2012) included the following:
Eli Beaird, Mark Hill and Michael Rhodes (Wednesday 16 September 1953 – Saturday 4 March 2023) (bass guitar)
Larry Beaird and Ilya Toshinsky (acoustic guitar)
Kix Brooks (lead vocals)
Jim ‘Moose’ Brown (piano)
Dennis Burnside (keyboards)
Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar)
Perry Coleman, Kim Parent and Russell Terrell (background vocals)
J.T. Corenflos (Wednesday 6 November 1963 – Saturday 24 October 2020) and Kenny Greenberg (electric guitar)
Chad Cromwell, Greg Morrow, Dan Needham, Scott Williamson and Lonnie Wilson (drums)
Howard Duck (piano, Wurlitzer)
Dan Dugmore and Gary Morse (steel guitar)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
John Barlow Jarvis (piano)
Troy Lancaster (electric guitar)
Tania Smith (organ)
Joe Walsh (slide guitar on ‘New To This Town’)
Jonathan Yudkin (fiddle, Dobro, bouzouki, acoustic guitar, harmonica, mandolin)
Kix Brooks’ ‘New To This Town’ (Arista Nashville Records, 2012) reached No.10 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2012, and No.53 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2012.
On Saturday 13 July 2013, during his performance at Paragon Casino in Marksville, Louisana, Kix Brooks was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
It was also in 2013 when Kix Brooks launched a film company, Team Two Entertainment, along with Eric Brooks; the company makes independent films which Kix produces and occasionally appears as an actor in.
On Monday 18 March 2019, at 10:00am Central, Bill Cody of Nashville’s WSM 650AM announced the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum inductees for 2019, Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn) (Modern Era), Jerry Bradley (Non Performer) and Ray Stevens (Veteran Era).
• Visit Kix Brooks’ official site at kixbrooks.com