By 1994, Garth Brooks was dominating the charts and Dean set his sights on building an act to pay tribute to this modern country music icon. After studying concert footage, not only could he mimic Garth’s music, but he was also able to emulate his mannerisms; the walk, the talk, the laugh, and most importantly, the ability to engage and connect with an audience. He moved to Las Vegas in 1995 to try and make this act a success.
In ‘96, producer John Stuart discovered and hired him to perform in the world famous "Legends in Concert" in Las Vegas, as well as Myrtle Beach, Atlantic City, and several tours and one-night performances throughout the USA and Canada. Dean then produced his own 90-minute show based on Garth's live concerts, and became known as “The Garth Guy.” In 2014, Dean's "GarthGuy" show was featured on the national television show, "World's Greatest Tribute Bands" on AXS TV. He has done national tours of Australia in 2017 and 2023. Dean’s online performance videos have accumulated well over one million views.
Dean has 5000+ live performances over 28 years under his belt, making him the busiest and most experienced Garth Brooks tribute artist in the world. He never tires of giving audiences across the globe a live Garth Brooks experience that is performed with respect and amazing accuracy. The Garth Guy Show isa real sincere tribute Garth Brooks - the man, and his music.
Dean's grandfather, country music legend Buddy Simmons