| Desert Dean on Roots music "I have an intense interest in old time music. I love the raw reality and the feeling and "soul" in roots music. The emotional content and realistic approach has not been masked by the hype of a marketing department, or removed by digital engineers." |
| Desert Dean Biography |
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Desert Dean was born, Larry Dean Hannah, in 1948 in Centralia, Washington, USA. He was raised in the
environment of the radio business as his father was in radio and television broadcast. One of the consequences
of the radio business in the 1950's and 1960's was living in a lot of different places, resulting in exposure to
different cultures in the United States. The creative environment of live broadcast is what brought Larry to
involvement in the music business. From his high school days on, Larry played in bands both part time and
professionally. From 1968 through 1978 Larry played in cover bands at nightclubs up and down the west coast.
In 1978 Larry moved to Nashville to pursue a career in country music. Upon the advice of
entertainer/producer, Elmer Fudpucker, Larry dropped his last name and performed under the name "Larry
Dean". While in Nashville Larry became a house entertainer at Faron Young's nightclub. He also performed at
Opryland and at clubs in the prestigious "Printer's Alley" area of Nashville where he opened for many stars of
the country music industry of the period.
In 1982 Larry met his soon to be wife, Marilyn, and moved to British Columbia, Canada. Again, he began
playing clubs. Larry played singles, duos, and bands from Alaska to Texas and Virginia to California. In 1990
Larry and Marilyn moved to Arizona and matriculated into performing at county and state fairs on the west
coast, where he would return to his folk and old time country music roots. In 1992, "Larry Dean" became
"Desert Dean".
In 2004 "Desert Dean" began tenure as a strolling cowboy singer on The Grand Canyon Railway. Desert Dean
still plays casuals and private events in various combinations with other career musicians. Most of all, he
enjoys performing on the Grand Canyon Railway.
In the course of his musical career, Desert Dean has recorded more than a dozen CD's. Most have been sold out
and are out of print. He is still actively recording.
environment of the radio business as his father was in radio and television broadcast. One of the consequences
of the radio business in the 1950's and 1960's was living in a lot of different places, resulting in exposure to
different cultures in the United States. The creative environment of live broadcast is what brought Larry to
involvement in the music business. From his high school days on, Larry played in bands both part time and
professionally. From 1968 through 1978 Larry played in cover bands at nightclubs up and down the west coast.
In 1978 Larry moved to Nashville to pursue a career in country music. Upon the advice of
entertainer/producer, Elmer Fudpucker, Larry dropped his last name and performed under the name "Larry
Dean". While in Nashville Larry became a house entertainer at Faron Young's nightclub. He also performed at
Opryland and at clubs in the prestigious "Printer's Alley" area of Nashville where he opened for many stars of
the country music industry of the period.
In 1982 Larry met his soon to be wife, Marilyn, and moved to British Columbia, Canada. Again, he began
playing clubs. Larry played singles, duos, and bands from Alaska to Texas and Virginia to California. In 1990
Larry and Marilyn moved to Arizona and matriculated into performing at county and state fairs on the west
coast, where he would return to his folk and old time country music roots. In 1992, "Larry Dean" became
"Desert Dean".
In 2004 "Desert Dean" began tenure as a strolling cowboy singer on The Grand Canyon Railway. Desert Dean
still plays casuals and private events in various combinations with other career musicians. Most of all, he
enjoys performing on the Grand Canyon Railway.
In the course of his musical career, Desert Dean has recorded more than a dozen CD's. Most have been sold out
and are out of print. He is still actively recording.
| "Desert Dean" on his moniker "I was born, Larry Dean Hannah. For years I performed as "Larry Dean". With the advent of the Internet and social networking I found that there are several entertainers using the name "Larry Dean". Since I live in Yuma, Arizona, in the Sonora desert, I adopted the name, Desert Dean about eighteen years ago." |
| Desert Dean on performing and guitar "My greatest pleasure is playing guitar and performing for folks. I am thrilled to be a performer on The Grand Canyon Railway. I meet people from all over the world." "The guitar and it's intricacies are my greatest challenge and joy. I can sit and "noodle' on the guitar for hours and then wonder where the time went. I also play hammered dulcimer and banjo occasionally." |