HOW IT STARTED............
1991 CAESARS POCONO RESORTS
Billy was the keyboard player for the house band for these four honeymoon resorts. Dawn was “chick singer” #13 to perform at CAESARS in 18 months. During the slow winter season, the 5 piece band split into a trio and duo to cover 2 of the 4 resorts. Billy always had to work with the girl singer.
1993 MALL OF AMERICA BLOOMINGTON, MN
We moved to Billy’s home state of MN and joined the in-house theater company at KNOTT‘S CAMP SNOOPY, in THE MALL of AMERICA. We performed kid’s shows, melodrama dinner shows, beer garden & other convention venues while we were "working on" building our BILLY DEAN and DAWN duo.. After the most creative wedding proposal, (CLICK PIC ▶️) we got married in OCTOBER 1993, then started out on the road as a full-time duo.
1994 GRAND GENEVA RESORT LAKE GENEVA, WI
This was the old PLAYBOY CLUB. We opened this new resort. What was originally a 3 week contract, turned into us being the house band from JUNE 1994 to FEBRUARY 1996.
1996 COEUR D'ALENE RESORT COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO
We were the houseband at the SHORE LOUNGE
February 1996 - September 1997.
The owner also owned the newspapers so we got LOTS of publicity. "The Macarena" was the hottest dance that summer.
Golfers know this is the course with the world's famous FLOATING GREEN.
(It was 1st golf course Dawn ever played.....but she never hit the green. 😞)
SW FLORIDA - PART TIME 1997-98
We visited family & friends in Naples, FL and KNEW this is where we wanted to live! We got the chance to perform at the RITZ CARLTON newly renovated nightclub in OCTOBER 1997, the iconic WITCH'S BREW......and finally the country clubs.
EAGLE CREEK - 1998
Thanks to dearest friends REED & SANDY HALVORSEN, we worked out a deal to perform at EAGLE CREEK on our day off for a round of golf & dinner. Sunday night crowds went from 20 people to over 200! Management invited us back the following season ......and said they'd ACTUALLY pay us. That's how we found our niche taking the music to the country clubs. It also benefitted MANY of our musician friends as well.
GRAND GENEVA.........AGAIN 1998-99
So grateful for 2 more summer seasons as the houseband at THE GRAND GENEVA. Living in the old PLAYBOY BUNNY dorms while our home in Estero was being built. We are FOREVER THANKFUL!
FULL TIME IN FLORIDA-2025
For 25 years, Dawn & Billy Dean
Feel blessed by Jesus to be in the SWFL music scene.
From country club dances, private parties, concerts or churches,
Thousands have heard the music & poems of the talented BIRCHES.
Many of whom have become dearest friends,
Whom we love seeing again & again!
To those we've not had the pleasure to meet,
Consider us for your event to complete.
Performing many vast genre song styles,
Our paramount goal is satisfied smiles.
So before the next season has come & gone,
See a performance with "BILLY DEAN & DAWN."