Daily Inspiration: Meet Steve Dean

Today we’d like to introduce you to Steve Dean.

Hi Steve, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, and started writing songs at the age of 10, after seeing The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964. From that point forward, music has been my main interest. I wrote songs for and played in bands all through my school years. After earning a degree in Advertising from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, I packed my suitcase and loaded my guitar in my Toyota SR5, and moved to Nashville to become a songwriter.

After working in the retail industry during my first year in Nashville, to pay the bills, I was signed to Tom Collins Music Publishing Co in 1982, where my songwriting journey began, and spanned the first 16 years of my career. During those years, I co-wrote 5 #1 hits and had many Billboard Top 40 hits as well. I signed two other separate publishing deals, one in 1998-2000, and the other in 2006-2009. I have been independent the rest of the way. I co-wrote the most performed song on Country Radio in 2007, “Watching You”, performed by Rodney Atkins, which was #1 for multiple weeks on The Billboard Country Chart. I have earned 8 BMI Songwriter Achievement Awards and 2 BMI Publisher Achievement Awards. Artists who have had #1 hits with my songs include…Alabama, George Strait, Reba McEntire, The Oak Ridge Boys, Lee Greenwood & Rodney Atkins.

Other artists who have had hits with my songs include Conway Twitty, Barbara Mandrell, Joe Nichols, and Steve Wariner. Other Artists who have covered my songs include…Sister Hazel, Waylon Jennings, David Allen Coe, Gene Watson, Billy Dean, Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers, and others. Today you can find me in writing rooms with artists and other songwriters, in the studio, recording demos, and working on sync projects. I co-founded Freedom Sings USA in May 2015, a non-profit organization that pairs Professional Songwriters with Veterans of all conflicts, as well as First Responders and Gold Star Families. They tell us their story and we write it into a song.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been a roller coaster ride, to say the least. Some years are diamonds, some years are coal. But somehow I have managed to make it work. I am thankful for each day I have been given to pursue this never-ending dream of songwriting… Providing for my family has always been my number one priority.

I have learned to live like a farmer, and when I would have a bumper crop, I put a large percentage back to have money to fall back on in harder times. The writing part of songwriting is the easy part. Making a living part of songwriting can be challenging.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a singer/songwriter. I specialize in co-writing with other writers and artists. It’s been my gig for nearly 40 years. I am known for my songs and singer/songwriter performances. I am a co-founder of the trio “Hits & Grins. We perform all over the country in Theaters and Performing Arts Auditoriums. It’s an all-original music platform, which includes Hit songs and Comedy.

Victoria Venier and Hall of Fame Country Radio Broadcaster, Bill Whyte and I have been entertaining audiences for the last 10 years, and still going strong. I am most proud of the song “Watching You”, a song co-written with Rodney Atkins and Brian White. It was the most performed song on Country Radio in 2007. Longevity and work ethic.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Thank you! I appreciate all of you that have tuned in to this interview. I like to encourage people to follow their passions in life. Whatever it is.

Some start early, like in my case, I knew what path I was taking at a very young age. I have met others who have had a whole other career but decided to try something else, something they always wanted to do in life. We only go around once.

Contact Info:

• Website: stevedeanmusic.com
• Instagram: @stevedeanmusic
• Facebook: Steve Dean@facebook