American Cowboy Magazine write up on Dean Strickland
On July 27, 2008, Dean's story and photo was published online at
ABOVE: Photo of Dean Strickland performing at The Handley Baptist Church in Handley, Texas on June 28, 2008 taken by Wayne Ludwig
On July 20, 2008, Dean received a phone call from his friend and SASS member S. Parker Lamb AKA Perilous Parker who asked him to perform and then booked Dean to perform on Oct 10, 11 &12, 2008 at Bar H Dude Ranch Weekend Roundup in Clarendon, Texas. After that, Dean hitchhiked to Fort Worth, Texas from Beaumont, Texas for a gig a gig as a Strolling musician in downtown Fort Worth at Sundance Square at 7pm. Dean sold a "Hitchhiking
Guitarman" CD to the following people while hitchhiking and with whom
he hitched a ride from Beaumont, Texas to Fort Worth, Texas:
Sam Lyles, Brittney Bufkin and Rachel Johnson
Then, Dean hitchhiked to Beaumont, Texas from Bandera, Texas where on July 16, 2008, he walked into Evelyn's Club House located at 7050 College St., and spoke to the owner, Matt Christopher and got himself booked to perform there on December 20, 2008 at 7pm. Dean sold a "Hitchhiking Guitarman" CD to the following people while hitchhiking and with whom he hitched a ride from Bandera, Texas to Beaumont, Texas:
Dale Hardy and David Payne
On the evening of July 12, 2008, Dean hitchhiked from Bandera, Texas to Johnson City Texas to pick up a copy of the July 10, 2008 Johnson City Record Courier which has a photograph in it of Dean performing at the July 4th Spange Dangle. On the Morning of July 13, 2008, Dean was hitchhiking to Beaumont, Texas on Hwy. 290 in Johnson City, Texas and Dale Hardy saw Dean invited him to attend church. That morning Dean performed for the congregation his songs "The Perfect Place", "The Life Of Our Lord And Savior Jesus Christ", and "With You Step By Step" at the
Johnson City First United Methodist Church
A photograph of Dean performing at the 6th Annual July 4th Spange Dangle in Johnson City Texas taken by Leon Rivers ran in the July 10, 2008 issue of the Johnson City Record Courier. On July 12, 2008, Dean performed as scheduled at the Bandera Saloon in Bandera, Texas. Dean's photograph was published in the July 10, 2008 Johnson City Record Courier.
Dean Strickland's photo published in the Johnson City Record Courier
While hitchhiking in San Antonio, Texas to Bandera, Texas on July 9, 2008, and while in Bandera on July 10, 2008, Dean wrote his song:
Out On The Run
©2008 Dean Strickland
Thank you, Will Weiss of San Antonio, Texas for returning to me my travel bag on July 7, 2008 that I had accidentally left in the trunk of your car after you dropped off there in San Antonio on July 8, 2008. I hope you enjoy the "Hitchhiking Guitarman" CD I gave you as a gift to show my appreciation.
Through email, on July 7, 2008, Dean was booked to perform at the Nashville Cowboy Church in Nashville, Tennessee on August 31, 2008. On July 7, 2008, Dean hitchhiked to Bandera from Bowie, Texas, Texas to perform at The Bandera Saloon on July 12, 2008 from noon to 4pm, and he made it as far a San Marcos, Texas where at The San Marcos Daily Record he picked up copies of the June 27, 2008 newspaper in which his story and photograph was published. Dean sold a "Hitchhiking Guitarman" CD to the following people while hitchhiking and with whom he hitched a ride from Bowie, Texas to Bandera, Texas: Ken McCutcheon, Bob Habingreither, Chris Serna, Robert Rubio, Ray Tidwell, Marti & Leanne Bruton & Belle Meeks
Then from Handley, Texas, Dean caught a few rides to his mother's house in Bowie, Texas from where she drove him to his gig at the VFW in Fredericksburg, Texas where he performed as scheduled on July 3, 2008, and the next day to his gig where he performed as scheduled at the 6th Annual July 4th Spange Dangle in Johnson City, Texas, at which he was photographed during his performance by Jimmy Jacks ("Leon Rivers") of the Johnson City Record Courier. On the afternoon of June 28, 2008, upon arrival at the Greyhound bus station in downtown Fort Worth, Dean met with Marti & Wayne Ludwig with whom he rode to the Handley Baptist Church where later that evening he gave and interview to Wayne Ludwig, contributing writer for the Handley Herald. Dean also performed as a guest artist at The First Annual Handley Ideal, and was photographed by Wayne Ludwig during his performance. On the morning of June 28, 2008, Dean took a Greyhound Bus from San Marcos, Texas to Fort Worth, Texas to judge at talent contest at
The First Annual Handley's Ideal
On June 27, 2008, Dean performed as scheduled at the Gray Horse Saloon in San Marcos, Texas. Then, to perform at the Gray Horse Saloon on June 27, 2008, Dean hitchhiked to San Marcos, Texas from Huntsville, Texas where on June 26, 2007 where he walked into The San Marcos Daily Record and picked up copies of the June 12, 2008 newspaper in which his story and photograph was published. Dean sold a "Hitchhiking Guitarman" CD to the following people while hitchhiking and with whom he hitched a ride from Huntsville, Texas to San Marcos, Texas: John Burmester, Jim Latta, Mike Costello, David Maciel, Linda Springfield and Frank & Norma Parrott
On June 19, 2008, Dean was interviewed and photographed by Kristin Edwards, reporter for
ABOVE: Photo of Dean Strickland performing at Luckenbach, Texas on June 16, 2008 taken by Danny Terry
Afterward, Dean was booked to be on the show again on December 13, 2008 at 1am. On June 14, 2008, Dean performed as scheduled LIVE his songs "Beautiful Memories", "What Used To Be", "My Daddy's Son", "Heaven's Highway Stories", "All The Means We'd Need", "The Perfect Place", "My Angel's Sweet Sweet Touch", and "Something To You I Just Wanted To Tell" on Nightsounds with Pat & Rosie on KPFT 90.1FM. Dean's photograph and story was published in the
Then, Dean hitchhiked to Houston, Texas from Bowie, Texas to perform on the Pat & Rosie Show on KPFT 90.1 FM. Dean sold a "Hitchhiking Guitarman" CD to the following people while hitchhiking and with whom he hitched a ride from Bowie, Texas to Houston, Texas: Mike Harris, Steve McKey , David West, Mike Cox, Jesse James Wallace Sr., Jack Faulkner and Pablo Davila
On June 5, 2008, Dean received a telephone call from Dale Hardy, President of the Johnson City Lions Club, who ask due to high recommendation if Dean would like to perform at the
On June 1, 2008, while in Bowie, Texas, Dean wrote his song:
I remember when MTV in the '80s
Used to play rock n roll
And real country was on CMT
But what's there now I don't really know
It looks as though it's a mixture
Of classic rock and picture perfect models
It seems the older I get the more I wish
What used to be would be tomorrow
Back when I was old enough
To purchase my first pickup truck I remember
That what it cost to fill 'er up
Was just barely fifteen bucks but those days are over
Now I love the USA and when I see
The children play I feel sorrow
It seems the older I get the more I wish
What used to be would be tomorrow
CHORUS:
I've heard I need to change with the times
But I disagree
I'll stand firm in my old state of mind
It's right where I want to be
There are towns like Luckenbach
And Bandera where I feel at home
It seems the older I get the more I wish
What used to be would be tomorrow
Before my traveling days are over
And I'm still strong enough to keep up
With new generations I'll preach that they're out of luck
Without God's love to deliver them from temptations
Now I love the USA and when I see
The children play I feel sorrow
It seems the older I get the more I wish
What used to be would be tomorrow
CHORUS
On May 27, 2008, Dean performed as scheduled at Norm's River Roadhouse in Nashville, Tennessee.
On May 25, 2008, Dean performed as scheduled at the Nashville Cowboy Church at the Ernest Tubb Texas Troubadour Theatre in Nashville, Tennessee, and was broadcast LIVE on
On May 8, 2008, Dean received a telephone call from Marti Ludwig of the Handley Herald, and was asked, plus offered a Greyhound bus ticket as transportation to participate as a judge of a talent show, and perform on June 28, 2008 at 7pm at the
Then from the Hill Country, Dean traveled to Amarillo, Texas to perform at the Route 66 Roadhouse on May 7, 2008.
Then from Denton, Texas, Dean traveled south to pick up a copy of Hill Country Happenings and walked into
Then, Dean traveled from Bowie, Texas to Denton, Texas where on April 26th he performed as scheduled at the
On April 25, 2008, Dean received press and was quoted in the
Heaven's Highway Stories
Nothing had much meaning for I was blind
Then with hard work and a choice of believing
Out of that rut I was sinking in I was able to climb
The Majestic Heaven's Highway
Now for a while's been going my way
And in my mind's eye I can clearly see
That since God who loves me is in my life there are endless possibilities
CHORUS:
Heaven's Highway stories oh, I've got plenty
But because my song would be too long I can't share many
The tales I could tell you may or may not believe
About how Jesus has been walking with me
Once in Dallas while walkin'
Down the highway to Austin praying for a ride
A stranger pulled over and offered one problem was
He wanted what I had and pulled a gun
Afraid I told that desperate man
I wouldn't give up my guitar then fortunately
My Lord intervened and graciously from that car
Delivered me and I lived to sing
CHORUS
©2008 Dean Strickland
Then, Dean traveled to Fort Worth, Texas where he performed as scheduled at the Main Street Arts Festival on April 19 & 20, 2008.
On April 18, 2008, Dean performed as scheduled at the Longbranch Saloon in Boerne, Texas. Also on April 18, 2008, Dean ran a 1/4 page ad in the May 2008 issue of
Later that night, Dean performed as scheduled at the VFW Post 7105 in Fredericksburg, Texas. Afterward, Dean got himself booked to perform their again on July 3, 2008 from 9pm-midnight.
On April 12, 2008, Dean performed as scheduled at the Hill Country Crawfish Festival at Camp Ben McCullough in Driftwood, Texas. On April 9, 2008, Dean performed during open mic night at
On April 7, 2008, Dean did an online interview with Elaine Maltsberger (Elena Tucker), writer for the
Dean began contributing gas money while traveling with Carmen Pasch of Nashville, Tennessee. On April 1, 2008, Dean performed at the
