Ira Dean Releases His New Album ‘I Got Roads' - Featuring Some Of His Famous Friends
Credit: David McClister Photography, LLC.
After many years as a singer, songwriter, and musician, Ira Dean's new album perfectly blends all of those talents. And he had the added satisfaction of doing it with some of his closest musician friends and fellow songwriters.
'I Got Roads' offers a collection of songs, most of which Dean co-wrote, looking back on his rich and vibrant life, and extraordinary career.
As a musician he broke through as a bass player for Tanya Tucker, as an artist, he co-founded the successful country music trio, One Trick Pony, and he's had cuts as a songwriter for Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts, Aaron Lewis, and others. (Dean co-wrote Aaron Lewis' No. 1 hit 'Am I the Only One?)
He's played back-up for any and everybody, forged close friendship with legends like Johnny Cash and others, and for a long time, had a reputation for 'partying too hard" on the road.
'My life has been extremely colorful, and there's been light and dark,' Dean says. 'And I wanted to put it all out there. These songs are chapters in my life, the good, the bad, and the ugly.'
Songs like the reflective 'Missin' How It Used to Be' honoring his late mother, 'WWCD (What Would Charlie Daniels Do') which pays tribute to his friend and mentor, and '1 to Hank,' a nod to Dean's wild and crazy drinking days before he finally got sober."
When he decided to make the album, Dean called on some of his friends to join him. There are collaborations with Ronnie Dunn, Ted Nugent, David Lee Murphy, Uncle Kracker, and more.
'The making of this album has been amazing,' Dean says. 'I don't think I got a single 'no' when I started calling friends to record it. It's been very humbling. The whole experience has been great.'
Several of those friends like guitar virtuosos Vince Gill, Brent Mason, and John Osborne came together for a dynamic, fast-paced, electrifying homage to the iconic Telecaster. The song is called 'Tele-Man.'
'I've always wanted to do an all-star band, and I've tried and tried before, but it always included Vince Gill, and it never worked out with his schedule," Dean says. "I think getting everyone together for this song made music history because there have been many vocal collaborations with different artists, but nobody's ever done the Traveling Wilburys of country music. We finally did it.'
Not only did each of those master guitarists contribute to the song, they made time to appear in the music video.
'Tele-Man,' has something else you don't often see in country songs - lots of guitar solos. Dean says, as a songwriter, he can't count how many times he's been told to 'get rid of the solos.'
'They always tell you to cut the solo and make it a straight verse. But as a player, I care about the guitar solo. So, in this song everybody gets to shine. And Ronnie Dunn sings his tail off.'
Another track on the album called 'Everything' features Gretchen Wilson and serves as a tribute to Dean's wife, Jennifer.
He also honors friends and mentors, Johnny Cash and Charlie Daniels. Charlie has an entire song dedicated to him, while, if you listen, you'll hear Johnny mentioned in some of the lyrics elsewhere.
'I wouldn't be here today without those guys,' Dean says. 'They were driving themselves to gigs long before there was big money in it. And they went out of their way to help me. They didn't have to give me their heart or their time. So, it's the least I can do to let people know they meant a lot to me.'
Ira Dean
Credit: David McClister Photography, LLC.
Johnny and Charlie also cared enough to warn Dean decades ago, about his problem with drugs and alcohol, and encourage him to do something about it. When Dean eventually hit rock bottom, their words came to mind and helped guide him to make a much needed change. Today, he celebrates 12 years of sobriety, he's married, and says he's happier than he's ever been.
And, after a lot of hard work and determination, he's gotten to a comfortable place where he can play music without all of the partying.
'It was hard at first because drinking and perscription drugs were my go-to habit. But I know that stuff isn't the problem, it's me. I've got a lot of great friends that still get hammered and now I just laugh with them. It's like, man, you have fun, and I'm going to have fun on this diet coke. We're going to make great music and have some great laughs.'
Here Dean stops, laughs, then adds, 'And I'm going to remind you of some of the stuff you said…in the morning.'
He's also fallen in love with music all over again. So much so, at the same time he's releasing and promoting his own album as a singer/songwriter, he's out on the road playing bass guitar for Brooks & Dunn.
'Ronnie asked me, and I was honored,' Dean says. 'I checked my schedule and had all but one date open. So, I've been out doing arenas and stadiums. I get to sing harmonies with my favorite country singer, Ronnie Dunn, and play with a great band!'
He's excited for people to hear his new album and says he only hopes they'll listen to the old-fashioned way.
'An album is a body of work. Growing up we'd listen to a whole album, and you got to know the artist that way. I'm hoping people will start my album at the beginning and go along for the journey. It's a train ride, so don't get off mid-stop.'
He says the songs reflect a life well-lived with many lessons along the way.
'For the first half of my life I was the example of what not to do. This second half I want to be an example that it ain't over until it's over.'
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