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Barry Dean
Songwriter

Barry Dean

The basics

Quick Facts

Intro
Songwriter
Work field
Gender
Male
Place of birth
Kansas, USA
Age
57 years
The details (from wikipedia)

Biography

Barry Dean (born c. 1967) is an American country and pop music songwriter based out of Nashville, Tennessee. He has written three No. 1 singles with “Pontoon” (Little Big Town), “Day Drinking” (Little Big Town) and "Think a Little Less" (Michael Ray), along with a Top 40 hit with “Girls Chase Boys” (Ingrid Michaelson). He has been nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Song on Tim McGraw's "Diamond Rings and Old Barstools."

Early life

Dean was born in Okmulgee, OK and grew up in rural Pittsburg, KS. He wrote songs and played in bands throughout high school and during his time at Pittsburg State University. Dean briefly pursued songwriting in Los Angeles but abandoned that in his 20s.

Dean returned to Pittsburg and worked as Creative Director for Pitsco Incorporated. He was involved in the education business for several years with a focus on marketing and media technology. In his mid-30s, Dean’s wife encouraged him to pursue songwriting again and signed him up for a cruise held by the Nashville Songwriter’s Association International for aspiring songwriters. The NSAI subsequently invited Dean to a song camp in Nashville. He considers this camp a formative experience where he learned how to write professionally and began to co-write with other Nashville writers.

Songwriting career

For his first years as a songwriter Dean continued to live in Kansas and would commute into Nashville to co-write. He eventually moved to Nashville and signed with BMG in his mid-30s. His first songwriting cut was Reba McEntire playing “Moving Oleta,” a personal song Dean wrote based on his grandfather’s love for his spouse as she went through Alzheimer’s Disease. His first single, Matrina McBride’s “God’s Will,” was also personal, written in response to his daughter’s premature birth and slow recovery. Rolling Stone included “God’s Will” on its list of the “Saddest Country Songs of All Time.”

Dean has had two No. 1 hits with Little Big Town, his first with “Pontoon” and again with “Day Drinking.” “Pontoon” has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Dean also reached No. 1 with “Think a Little Less” recorded by Michael Ray. Dean has co-written many hit radio singles including Jason Aldean’s “1994,” Brothers Osborne’s “Rum,” Hunter Hayes’ “Tattoo,” Toby Keith’s “Drinks After Work," Ashley Monroe's "On to Something Good," and Allison Krauss & Union Station's "My Love Follows You Where You Go." In addition to country, Dean's “Girls Chase Boys,” co-written and performed byIngrid Michaelson, appeared on multiple radio charts, won a BMI Pop Award, and has been certified platinum by the RIAA.

In the past decade, Dean has had songs recorded by Jason Aldean, Charlotte Church, Billy Currington, Brett Eldredge, Hunter Hayes, Toby Keith, Alison Krauss, Reba McEntire, Jake Owen, Thomas Rhett, LeAnn Rimes, Carrie Underwood, Jon Pardi, Brothers Osbourne, Lori McKenna, and Maren Morris, among others.

“Pontoon,” co-written with Luke Laird and Natalie Hemby, went on to be nominated for a number of Country Music Awards. Tim McGraw’s “Diamond Rings and Barstools,” which Dean co-wrote with Luke Laird and Jonathan Singleton, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Song. His music has appeared in movies, such as Act of Valour, and TV shows, such as Nashville and NCIS.

Dean is primarily a co-writer, often working with songwriters Luke Laird, Lori McKenna, and Natalie Hemby. Dean left Universal Music to join Creative Nation with Beth and Luke Laird.

In appreciation for providing him a place to stay after his first child’s premature birth, Dean has been an outspoken advocate and organized a benefit for the Ronald McDonald House of the Four States.

Songwriting Discography[10]

YearArtistAlbumSongCo-written with
2003Martina McBrideMartina"God's Will"Tom Douglas
Reba McEntireRoom To Breathe"Moving Oleta"
2006HeartlandI Loved Her First"Judge A Man"Don Poythress
John CorbettJohn Corbett"Judge A Man"Don Poythress
2007Carrie UnderwoodCarnival Ride"Crazy Dreams"Troy Verges
Lewis, Scruggs & LongLifetimes"James White"Don Poythress, Brian White
2008HushBackroads"Hush"Gerlach, Hartmann
Chris EatonDare To Dream"Alright"Don Poythress, Chris Eaton
Phil StaceyPhil Stacey"No Way Around A River"Harrington
2009Karen Peck and New RiverNo Worries"The Hour I First Believed"Tony Wood, Don Poythress
2010Bill AndersonSongwriter"One Bad Memory"Bill Anderson, Tim Nichols
Laura Bell BundyAchin' and Shakin'"Boyfriend"Luke Laird, Laura Bell Bundy
Adam BrandIt's Gonna Be Ok"Kiss You Back"Adam Brand, Travis Meadows
Don Poythress feat. Ricky ScaggsWash Away" Faithful Love Of Jesus"Don Poythress, Karyn Rochelle
Clay WalkerShe Won't Be Lonely Long"People In Planes"Luke Laird
Lori McKennaChristmas Release"Wishlist"Mary Steenburgen, Troy Verges, Lori McKenna
Whitney DuncaniTunes EP"Getting Off Now"Luke Laird, Whitney Duncan
Katharine McPheeUnbroken"Last Letter"Luke Laird, Katharine McPhee
"Anybody's Heart"Luke Laird, Katharine McPhee
Guy PenrodBreathe Deep"Breathe Deep"Don Poythress, Tony Wood
2011Neal McCoyXII"A-OK"Luke Laird, Brett Eldredge
Alison KraussPaper Airplane"My Love Follows Where You Go"Lori McKenna, Liz Rose
Hunter HayesStorm Warning"Cry With You"Hunter Hayes
"Faith To Fall Back On"Hunter Hayes
"Can't Say Love"Hunter Hayes
Sara EvansStronger"Life Without Losing"Luke Laird, Sara Evans, Andrew Dorff
Lori McKennaLorraine"American Revolver"Lori McKenna
"The Most"Lori McKenna
"Still Down Here"Lori McKenna
"Rocket Science"Lori McKenna
Meat Loaf, John Rich, Lil Jon, Mark McGrathFeat. on Celebrity Apprentice"Stand In The Storm"Troy Verges
Martina McBrideEleven"Ask The Boy"Troy Verges
Charlotte ChurchBack to Scratch"The Story Of Us"Luke Laird, Charlotte Church
"Suitcase"Luke Laird, Charlotte Church
"Unraveling"Luke Laird, Charlotte Church
2012Little Big TownTornadoPontoonLuke Laird, Natalie Hemby
Kellie Pickler100 Proof"Rockaway"Kellie Pickler, Brent Cobb
Hunter HayesAct of Valor: The Album"Where We Left Off"Hunter Hayes
Jay Sean, Jewel, Owl CityConAgra Child Hunger Campaign"Here's Hope"Luke Laird, Hunter Hayes
Montgomery GentryAct of Valor: The Album"What It Takes"Troy Verges, Andrew Dorff
Neil McCoyXII"Judge A Man"Donald Poythress
Marlee ScottBeautiful Maybe"Rhinestone in the Rough"Lesley Roy, Desmond Child
Trent DabbsFuture Like Snow"Better Off Now"Trent Dabbs
"Hoping For Home"Trent Dabbs, Luke Laird, Mary Steenburgen
"Future Like Snow"Trent Dabbs, Lori McKenna
Brandon HeathBlue Mountain"Blue Mountain"Luke Laird, Brandon Heath
2013Jason AldeanNight Train"1994"Luke Laird, Thomas Rhett
Toby KeithDrinks After Work"Drinks After Work"Luke Laird, Natalie Hemby
Ronnie DunnI Wish I Still Smoked Cigarettes"I Wish I Still Smoked Cigarettes"Luke Laird, Lori McKenna
Jake OwenDays of Gold"Tall Glass Of Something"Luke Laird, Jaren Johnston
Thomas RhettIt Goes Like This"Sorry For Partyin'"Jimmy Robbins, Thomas Rhett
Billy CurringtonWe Are Tonight"Another Day Without You"Andrew Dorff, Shane McAnally
Brett EldredgeBring You Back"Gotta Get There"Luke Laird, Brett Eldredge
2014Little Big TownPain Killer"Day Drinking"Troy Verges, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, Phillip Sweet
Brothers OsborneBrothers Osborne"Rum"John Osborne, T. J. Osborne
Hunter HayesStoryline"Tattoo"Troy Verges, Hunter Hayes
Ingrid MichaelsonLights Out"Girls Chase Boys"Ingrid Michaelson, Trent Dabbs
Blake SheltonBringing Back the Sunshine"Anyone Else"Luke Laird, Natalie Hemby
Hunter HayesStoryline"Flashlight"Troy Verges, Hunter Hayes
"Wild Card"Luke Laird, Hunter Hayes
Steve MoaklerWide Open"Crooked Heart"Steve Moakler
Angaleena PresleyAmerican Middle Class"Surrender"Luke Laird, Angaleena Presley
2015Tim McGrawSundown Heaven Town"Diamond Rings and Old Barstools"Luke Laird, Jonathan Singleton
Ashley MonroeBlade"On To Something Good"Luke Laird, Ashley Monroe
Hunter HayesThe 21 Project"Saint or a Sinner"Hunter Hayes, Lori McKenna
2016Hunter HayesTBA"Yesterday's Song"Hunter Hayes, Martin Johnson
Michael RayMichael Ray"Think a Little Less"John Nite, Jimmy Robbins, Thomas Rhett
Lori McKennaThe Bird & the Rifle"Halfway Home"Lori McKenna
"Old Men, Young Women"Luke Laird, Lori McKenna
LeAnn RimesRemnants"How to Kiss a Boy"LeAnn Rimes
2017Brothers OsbornePawn Shop"Dirt Rich"John Osborne, T. J. Osborne
"Rum"John Osborne, T. J. Osborne
The Steel WoolsStraw in the Wind"The Well"Brent Cobb
Little Big TownThe Breaker"Free"Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird, Lori McKenna
Steve MoaklerSteel Town"Siddle's Saloon"Steve Moakler
2018Devin DawsonDark Horse"Dip"Devin Dawson, Luke Laird
BØRNSBlue Madonna"We Don't Care"BØRNS

Production Discography

YearArtistAlbumDetails
2011Lori McKennaLorraineProducer
Travis MeadowsKillin' Uncle BuzzyProducer
2012Sugar and the Hi LowsHigh RollerProducer

Awards and nominations

2012

  • Country Music Association Single of the Year Winner for Little Big Town's "Pontoon"

2013

  • MusicRow’s Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year Nominee
  • CMA Song of the Year Nominee for Little Big Town’s “Pontoon”
  • ACA Song of the Year Nominee for Little Big Town’s “Pontoon”
  • NSAI Songs I Wish I'd Written Award for Little Big Town’s “Pontoon”

2015

  • NSAI Songs I Wish I'd Written Award for Tim McGraw's "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools"
  • BMI Pop Award for Ingrid Michaelson's "Girls Chase Boys"

2016

  • 58th Annual Grammy Awards Best Country Song Nominee for Tim McGraw's "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools"
The contents of this page are sourced from Wikipedia article. The contents are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
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