Biography

Ardie Dean’s infectious happy-spirited charisma drives the Music Maker Revue. He is a world-class drummer who has been with Music Maker since 1991.

Quotes from Ardie Dean about playing with the Music Maker Blues Revue:

“Today’s Internet knowledge based culture is pathetic compared to the wisdom of an authentic master bluesman. Jobs and Gates could never imagine going to prison unjustly or getting ran out of town at sunset or be beat within an inch of their life and then have to apologize….”

“Riding the bus with the Music Maker Blues Revue is like taking boxing lessons from Ali, physic class from Einstein and music theory from Beethoven, all delivered as gospel”.

“On stage to witness the truth laid bare night after night fathers profound joy deep in ones soul.”

How We Helped:
Ardie Dean has served as the Musical Director of Music Maker Blues Revue since 1991. In addition, he has recorded with Guitar Gabriel and produced a wide array of records for Music Maker, including Big Ron Hunter, Jerry McCain, Sweet Betty, Alabama Swim, Little Freddie King, and others.

Ardie Dean has been keeping blues time since 1969. He started out with Homesick James and then paid his dues on the Chitlin’ Circuit leading the band for R&B singer Chuck Strong. 20 years ago, Dean became a disciple of Winston-Salem-based bluesman, Guitar Gabriel who was instrumental to Music Maker’s founding and has been with Tim Duffy and Music Maker ever since.

Tim Duffy elected Dean to produce Music Maker records. The first record Dean produced was with Alabama harp-blower Jerry “Boogie” McCain and his latest is Albert White’s “Soul of the Blues” featuring the genius of Steve Cropper and Elvin Bishop with Taj Mahal’s best rhythm section ever, Kester Smith and Bill Rich.

Dean played at Carnegie Hall with Guitar Gabriel and Tim Duffy in the original “Brothers in the Kitchen,” then the “Limestone Correctional Facility” near his home outside of Huntsville, Alabama. Dean has played with Ernie K-Doe, Bo Diddley, Jerry McCain, Greg Allman, Taj Mahal, and Henry Grey but, “more importantly,” in his words, “I have played around the world with the best, the “Music Maker Revue.”