Dean began his music career at age five, learning to play the piano from his father. While attending a concert by his cousins the Osborne Brothers, Dean fell in love with Bluegrass music. At age fourteen he got his first banjo, a Hondo II. Dean has shared the stage with some of the most well-known names in the Bluegrass world, including the Osborne Brothers, J.D. Crowe and Ralph Stanley. He has also recorded as a guest artist with Richard Bennett and appears on Rebel Records first "Live" video featuring Richard and Wanda Bennett, Randall Barnes and Phil Leadbetter. In his spare time, Dean enjoys training Tennessee Walking Horses, collecting antiques, instruments, vinyl records and bluegrass memorabilia.