Billy Dean life and biography

William Harold "Billy" Dean, Jr. is an American country music singer and songwriter. Billy Dean first gained national attention after appearing on the television talent competition Star Search.

Billy Dean received a basketball scholarship to attend East Central Junior College in Decatur, Miss, where he majored in physical education. However, he played the club circuit along Florida's Gulf Coast and used national talent contests as a vehicle for his music. He made the finals of the Wrangler Country Star Search in 1982, then won as a male vocalist champ on Ed McMahon's Star Search in 1988.

Dean released his debut album in 1990 with the hits "Only Here for a Little While" and the Grammy-nominated "Somewhere in My Broken Heart." His future hits included "Billy the Kid," "If There Hadn't Been You" and "We Just Disagree." Three of his albums were certified gold, and his self-titled 1991 effort earned platinum status. He also won two CMA awards for his participation in Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles. Dean's last Top 10 hit came in 1996, but he surfaced as a harmony vocalist (along with Alison Krauss) on Kenny Rogers' No. 1 hit, "Buy Me a Rose." In 2004, he climbed to the middle of the country chart with "Thank God I'm a Country Boy."

In the midst of his early recording career, Dean also dabbled in television. He contributed to commercials for Valvoline, McDonald's and Chevrolet, landed a role in the brief Elvis series on ABC-TV in 1990 and appeared in bit parts on soap operas and dramas, including Lois & Clark.

After a long absence, he released the album Let Them Be Little in 2005, with the title track reaching the Top 10.

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