Billy Dean

William Harold "Billy" Dean, Jr. (born April 2, 1962, in Quincy, Florida) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Billy Dean first gained national attention after appearing on the television talent competition Star Search. Active as a recording artist since 1990, he has recorded a total of eight studio albums (of which the first three have been certified gold by the RIAA) and a greatest hits package which is also certified gold. His studio albums have accounted for more than twenty hit singles on the Billboard country charts, including eleven Top Ten hits. Although he never reached the top of the Billboard country charts on his own, he reached Number One in 2000 as one of two guest vocalists on Kenny Rogers "Buy Me a Rose", and had two Number Ones on the RPM country charts in Canada. Dean made his chart debut in late 1990 with the single "Only Here for a Little While", the first release from his debut album Young Man. This song and its follow-up, "Somewhere in My Broken Heart" (previously recorded by Randy Travis on his 1989 album No Holdin' Back) were both #3 hits on the Billboard country charts. The latter was also a minor hit on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts. Although the album did not produce any other singles, Young Man was certified gold by the RIAA.
Dean's self-titled second album followed in 1991, and soon earned a gold certification as well. Four singles were released from it: "You Don't Count the Cost", "Only the Wind" and "Billy the Kid" each peaked at #4 on the country charts, while "If There Hadn't Been You" was a #3 on Billboard, and a #1 on both the former Radio & Records (now Mediabase) country charts in the U.S. and the RPM Country Tracks charts in Canada. Dean also toured with The Judds on their farewell tour in 1991, as well on tours with Wynonna Judd and Clint Black. He also wrote and recorded the theme song to the ABC animated television series Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa, and hosted a Top 21 countdown on VH1. By 1992, he had also earned the Top New Male Vocalist award from the Academy of Country Music.
Fire in the Dark was the title of Dean's third album. Issued in 1993, it was also his third straight gold-certified album, earning that certification from both the RIAA and CRIA. Lead-off single "Tryin' to Hide a Fire in the Dark" peaked at #6 in the United States and became his second #1 in Canada. Following it were "I Wanna Take Care of You", "I'm Not Built That Way", and a cover of Dave Mason's 1977 pop hit "We Just Disagree". Also in 1993, Dean had an opening slot on Alan Jackson's tour.
Following his first three studio albums was a greatest hits album in 1994. This album reprised his first nine singles, as well as a new song, "Once in a While", which Dean wrote and recorded for the soundtrack to the 1994 film 8 Seconds. This song peaked at #53 based on unsolicited airplay.
Men'll Be Boys, his final release for SBK/Liberty, came later in 1994. This album was not as successful in sales or chart performance, producing the #24 "Cowboy Band" and #60 title track. After this album, Dean placed his career on hiatus to raise his family, which at that point consisted of his wife, Cathy, and their son, William Eli Dean. Dean returned to the recording studio in 1996 for his fifth album, It's What I Do, on Capitol Records Nashville. This album returned him to the Top Ten with its title track and "That Girl's Been Spyin' on Me", which reached #5 and #4, respectively. The final single, "I Wouldn't Be a Man", fell short of Top 40.

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