Dean Bird is an accomplished Australian singer songwriter, music producer/arranger who continues to perform a generous blend of originals along with a vast repertoire of popular soft rock, country and folk from a variety of artists including Creedence Clearwater Revival, Eagles, Dr. Hook, Beatles, BeeGees, Buddy Holly along with other rock vintage golden oldies.
Throughout his varied career spanning an amazing fifty something years, Dean has performed as a support act and toured with "The Fureys, Foster and Allen, Finbar Furey, Gerry and The Pacemakers, Freddie and the Dreamers, Slim Dusty, Judith Durham and many other Australian artists.
Festival appearances have included The Riverland Country Music Awards, Tamworth Country Music Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Wirrina Bluegrass Festival and The Fleurieu Folk Festival along with festivals and performances in the U.K. and Europe.
Dean has dedicated a lifetime to performing as a vocalist/guitarist in various popular dance bands, as a rythym guitarist vocalist, and a solo performer on the Australian live music circuit.
He also performs a unique one man show dedicated to the early career of the legendary BEE GEES. The show traces the very early songs and insight of the "Brothers Gibb" throughout their Australian years along with snippets of the latter parts of their astonishing career and global success. Raw and intimate, the show is a professional dedicated presentation which is performed at selected venues.
There's also a quirky side to certain Dean Bird performances when he introduces his alter ego "BLUEY DIPSTICK". Every song is either original ( comedy and politically incorrect) or purely Australian content from nothing else but Australian. Dressed in his red and blue footy outfits , beany and or battered straw hat, it's the ideal performance for Australia Day Celebrations and selected shows at selected venues.
As well as performing Celtic music with his wife Lynda in THE DOOLINNERS, Dean's also the lead vocalist/guitarist with his beloved band of many years, THE WICKED PARROTS.
His introduction to the world of musical performance began as an eight year old in the late 1950's by his Grandfather who taught him a few old time tunes on the harmonica.
As a ten year old, Dean was introduced to his first acoustic guitar which was an old battered instrument with only four worn strings. That old guitar became his pride and joy and was enough to kick start his inspiration. By twelve years of age, he was fortunate enough to pick up another guitar which served well enough to lock himself away night after night by a record player to learn chords and words from a smorgasbord of 1950's and early 60's popular recording artists as well as watching his beloved music show BANDSTAND where he was influenced by the likes of Col Joye (who actually taught Dean how to play his first bar chord on guitar) along with Lonnie Lee, Johnny O'Keefe and a host of early other early influences including Adelaides' own Barrie McAskill.
Along came the teen years which saw him embrace the music of Col Joye, the early Bee Gees
( Dean became good friends with the late Maurice Gibb for several years ) The Delltones, Lonnie Lee, Roy Orbison, Cliff Richard and the Shadows, The Beatles, The Hollies along with all Australian recording artists of the era. This began the journey into joining and forming three and four piece bands as a vocalist/guitarist at local dances, parties and assorted Adelaide venues including The Scene, The Beat Basement, Big Daddy's, Sgt. Pepper's, The Twenty Plus Club and several more.
He started off a high school dance band called the MO HILL REJECTS during the early sixties followed by THE TRISONICS, DETOUR, LONGBEACH and JUKE BOX JIVE in the late 70s'and 80s'. He remained mainly as a soloist for several years after then formed the ROCK SALAD BAND which became a busy outfit on the Adelaide circuit (now known as THE WICKED PARROTS).
His first break into solo performance occurred in 1968 when he performed one of his early original songs on a television talent show called "Showcase Auditions" where he became the runner up receiving an encouragement award.
This first television experience became the launching pad for further appearances on Australian variety programs such as "In Time, Adelaide Tonight, The Country Hour, Happening 70/71, Hey Hey It's Saturday and childrens TV shows including The Channel Niner's, The Curiosity Show and Here's Humphrey".
" MYPONGA 71 "
A new collection of Deans' songs to be released on album in April 2019
Other cd albums include
LADY OF THE VALLEY
SANDS OF TIME
CORRUGATIONS AND BITUMEN
WE SHALL RISE
CRICKLEWOOD ROAD
THE ROSES (featuring the hit folk song...The Roses)
A versatile entertainer available to perform for a multitude of events and venues Australia wide
Weddings ceremonies, Hotels, Parties, Wineries, Restaurants, Clubs,
Cruises, Concerts, Corporate and Community Events,Festivals
You may wish to visit Dean on facebook at either
Dean Bird or Dean Bird Music
For bookings please phone 0411 887 437 or email
"Music has been my life and I've been fortunate to travel a wonderous
journey. Without my beautiful family, none of this would be possible."
I also give thanks to my dear friends The Fureys
for their friendship and support throughout the years.
PROUDLY SUPPORTING LIVE MUSIC VENUES IN AUSTRALIA
MEMBER OF A.P.R.A./A.M.C.O.S. SUPPORT ACT AUSTRALIA
MEMBER FOLK ALLIANCE AUSTRALIA