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Sunday, 12 July, 2009 10:58 AM
CMA New Artist Spotlight: Dean
Brody
Photo
by David McClister
Dean
Brody
| By
Bob Doerschuk |
| ©
2009 CMA Close Up News Service |
Raised in the shadows
of the Canadian Rockies, Dean Brody grew up with an appreciation
for rural life in British Columbia. After high school graduation,
he continued to work at the local sawmill until the business slowdown
forced him to take a new job as a miner.
Brody's musical gifts
led him back into the light and down to Nashville, where he got
a publishing deal. But as he made his way into the business, the
clock on his work permit kept winding down. After two years, he
had no choice but to head back home to the mines.
Then word arrived that
Keith Stegall wanted to sign him to BBR (Broken Bow Records), and
Brody returned to cut his self-titled debut album, with Matt Rovey
producing. His gifts as a writer shine on "Brothers,"
a heartbreaking chronicle of sibling love and one of the album's
six tracks that he wrote on his own, in addition to three co-writes.
Elsewhere, the romanticism
of "Gravity" belies the title with a melody that floats
like a feather on the chorus, while "Undone" takes an
opposite approach with a thumping chorus behind lyrics that promise
adventure and love at "the only drive-in left from here to
Lincoln County."
More than a skilled writer,
Brody possesses an expressive voice and an ability to bring stories
to life through understated delivery. It's Nashville's good fortune
to have him back and on his way toward brighter days.
IN HIS OWN WORDS
MUSICAL HEROES
"Johnny Cash and Ray Charles."
CD IN YOUR STEREO
"Everything Is Fine, by Josh Turner."
BOOK ON YOUR NIGHTSTAND
"Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road, by Neal Peart."
SONG YOU WISH YOU'D
WRITTEN
"'Sinners Like Me,' by Eric Church and Jeremy Spillman."
WHAT YOU WOULD BE
IF YOU WEREN'T A MUSICAL ARTIST
"I'd be working in a sawmill or a coal mine."
SOMETHING WE'D NEVER GUESS ABOUT YOU
"I've got three titanium plates and 12 screws in my face from
a water skiing accident I had while on my radio tour last summer.
On the Web: www.deanbrody.com
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