Billy Dean Poised For Big Time

Sun., June 21, 1998

Jack Hurst Tribune Media Services

Billy Dean is about to be back in high profile, it would appear.

He has signed with prominent Los Angeles manager Ken Kragen (Kenny Rogers, Travis Tritt, Trisha Yearwood) and is soon to have a promising first single - titled “Real Man” - released from an August-scheduled album that appears to have been given high priority by Capitol Nashville Records.

As to what track he plans to take with Dean, Kragen says by telephone from his Los Angeles office that he believes Dean’s image in the past hasn’t reflected the Florida-born performer’s multiplicity of talent: In addition to being “such a handsome guy” he is a “terrific writer, a great guitarist and a very fine singer.”

That’s apparently not all. Asked if he plans to play “the Hollywood card,” this manager who has put both Kenny Rogers and Travis Tritt on the big screen says Dean “wants to act” and adds that he came close to getting a substantial part in the current movie “Hope Floats.”

“He read with Sandra Bullock twice,” Kragen says.

Keep listening - and watching.

Dixie Chicks show off

A magazine called Sophisticate Hairstyle Guide will feature the Dixie Chicks showing off various hairstyles in its October (out in August) issue, and again in a “What’s Hot In The Music Industry” story in November.

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