Billy Dean was a hit country music singer who was really rising to the top back in the 1990s. He had several songs that made it into the top 10 of the Billboard Country Countdown. He is also a well known songwriter. He also had some guest appearances on some TV shows and tried his hand at acting.
He grew up in Florida and moved to Nashville when he was 20 years old. He wrote songs and sang in bars at night. He was discovered when he appeared on the Ed McMahon show - Star Search. He wrote and later recorded the song, Somewhere in My Brokenheart. Randy Travis first recorded the song and was so successful with the song, Billy Dean quipped that he didn't have to work on Fridays anymore because of how well the song did.
Things began to fall apart for him in the late 1990s. His record company dropped him and the acting career tanked too. He also was in the middle of a divorce. His personal and professional life was in shambles.
In 2005, he decided to take all the money he had and record an album. He and his manager got in the car and started driving to radio stations to beg them to play cuts from the album. It worked and his music career started up again even if it wasn't to the level of success as it had been before.
This year, Billy, is the new act in Branson. I have been to a lot of concerts in the past 5 years and many have been "big name" country music stars. Billy Dean's show was every bit as good as most of those concerts. He has a great voice, his band is awesome, and his new music is right on with where country music is right now. His show started at 7:30 and wasn't over until almost 10:00. You certainly get your money's worth.
Another great thing about Billy's show is the comedian that use to be at Pierce Arrow is now with him. If you have never seen this comedian, you have missed the best comedian around. This guy is hilarious. (Look up Bro. Cecil Watkins on YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5rXuzOzplo )
If you get the chance to see Billy Dean and the Steel Horses, go. You won't be disappointed.
(I forgot my camera so I had to use my phone to take pictures. Ugh.)
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| Billy with the comedian, aka in this skit as Ima Payne.... |
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