On January 11, 2007, Dean gave an over the
phone interview to Lana Sweeten Shults, Entertainment Editor for the
Times Record News. Dean performed
during the open mic nights at The Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe, on both
January 10 & 11, 2006. On January 10, 2007, Dean hitchhiked from Houston, Texas to
Galveston, Texas for his gig at The Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe located
at 413 20th St., on January 12, 2007, from 9-9:30pm. On January 9, 2007, Dean walked into
the American Federation of Musicians Local 65-699 located at 609
Chenevert, Houston, Texas 77003, and spoke with Office Assistant, Steve
Begnoche. On January 7, 2007, Dean performed as scheduled at The Last
Concert Cafe in Houston, Texas. Dean was asked back again to Houston to perform on Nights
Sounds on KPFT 90.1FM, and so he got himself booked again for May 16,
2007. David Fahl
performed also during that time on Pat & Rosie's Night Sounds on
KPFT. 90.1FM. At 2am on January 6, 2007, Dean performed, and talked about his songs,
and places he's been on the radio show "Nightsounds" with Pat &
Rosie on KPFT 90.1 FM. Dean performed his songs, "The Perfect Place",
"I Love Texas (It's My Home)", "With You Step By Step", "It Takes A
Cowboy Like Me", "Why Did Classic Country Music Have To Die?", "With A
Smile On My Face" and "Your Inspirational To Me". On December 31, 2006, Dean's story
appeared in the
Texas National Press

ABOVE: Photo of Dean Stricklad walking to the KPFT 90.1FM studio in Houston, Texas on January 6, 2007 taken by Dave Diaz
ABOVE: Photo of Dean Stricklad and David Fahl at the KPFT 90.1FM studio in Houston, Texas on January 6, 2007 taken by Dave Diaz
On December 30, 2006, Dean hitchhiked from Austin, Texas to
Houston, Texas to perform as scheduled at KPFT 90.1FM Nightsounds with
Pat and Rosie on January 6, 2007 at 2am., also at The Last Concert Cafe
on January 7, 2007 from 6-7pm. On December 28 & 29, 2006, while in Austin, Texas, Dean wrote his
song:
It Takes A Cowboy Like Me
Who am I?
I was asked recently
I'm the man you might see outside one night
Sleeping on the cold damp street
What am I thinking?
Another question posed to me
I'm so thankful for all of God's loving gifts
I've gladly and humbly received
Not everyone is cut out to do these things
To grab life by the horns
And take charge of your destiny
It takes a cowboy like me
To strike out and chase a poor man's dream
Stomping one boot heel in front of the other
Even when the weather's forecast is stormy
Riches come to me from within
When it seems I just can't win
I say let 'em love me or loath me
Everyone anyway I can't please
To live like I do
It takes a cowboy like me
©2007 Dean Strickland
Though Mr. Monahan was unavailable, he called Dean on the phone on
December 29, 2006. Dean performed as scheduled from 8-10pm. on December
29, 2006 at Geisha Sushi. On
December 27, 2006, Dean walked to the Office of the Governor Texas
Music Office in hopes of meeting Casey J. Monahan, Director, since Dean
was referred to Mr. Monahan by Mike Muniz, Director of Latin Organizing
AFM. On December 26,
2006, Dean hitchhiked to Austin, Texas for his booked show at Geisha
Sushi on 6th st. in Austin, Texas on December, 29 2006 from 8-10pm. Dean spent the 2006 Christmas Holiday in both Bowie,
Texas and Fort Worth, Texas with family and friends. Then Dean walked into the Midway Club located at 10275
State Highway 59 N in Montague, Texas and asked the owner, Lou for a
gig in the future. On December 15, 2006 while in Bowie, Texas, Dean
received an email booking him to perform at the Troubadour Saloon at
503 E 6th Street (6th and Neches) in Austin, Texas on February 9, 2007
from 8-9pm. On December 10, 2006,
Dean hitchhiked from Amarillo, Texas to Abilene, Texas to continue
filming his documentary, and Eyakem Gulilat continued filming Dean
until he hitchhiked out of Abilene, Texas on his way to Bowie, Texas on
December 12, 2006. Also on December 9, 2006,
Dean walked to the Amarillo Police Department and filed an Assault
charge against Bo Salling (case # 06-152468). On December 9, 2006, Dean recorded his song "Why Did Classic
Country Music Have To Die?" at A.M.P. recording studio in Amarillo,
Texas engineered and mixed by Drew Holder. On December 8, 2006, Dean performed as scheduled at the Golden Light Cantina in Amarillo, Texas as was written about in the December 8, 2006 issue of the Amarillo Globe News' Get Out!:: Amarillo's Entertainment Guide.
The Amarillo Globe News write up on Dean Strickland
From Abilene, Texas, Dean hitchhiked to Amarillo, Texas where
footage for his documentary was shot on December 7, 8 & 9, 2006 in
both Amarillo, Texas and Panhandle, Texas. On December 4, 2006, Dean walked into KTAB Newsclips located at 100
Chesnut, Ste. 204 in Abilene, Texas, and picked up a copy of the

(Click video still above to watch
newsclip)
ABOVE: Video still of Dean Strickland in Abilene, Texas on September 27, 2006 taken by Eyakem Gulilat
Then from San Antonio, Texas, Dean hitchhiked to
Abilene, Texas and met with photographer Eyakem Gulilat to begin
filming a documentary of Dean's hitchhiking journey to Amarillo, Texas. That same evening, Dean got himself booked to perform again at B
& D Ice House on April 28, 2007 during the King William's Fair in
San Antonio, Texas. Later that evening Dean performed as scheduled at B & D Ice House
as was written about in the December 1, 2006 issue of the San Antonio
Express-News Weekender.
The San Antonio Express-News write up on Dean Strickland
On December 1, 2006, Dean walked into
the AFM Local 23 located at 427 N. Main Avenue in San Antonio, Texas
and spoke to Danny Lopez, Vice President and Ben Westney, Secretary
Treasurer of his desire to participate in Union shows in San Antonio. On
November 29, 2006, Dean gave a telephone interview to Amarillo Globe
News reporter, Aaron Phillips. Through email on November 27, 2006, Dean got himself booked to perform at The
Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe located at 413 20th St. in Galveston, Texas
on January 12, 2007 at 9:00pm. to open for
From Bowie, Texas, Dean
hitchhiked to San Antonio, Texas to perform at B&D Ice House
located at 1004 S Alamo in San Antonio, Texas at 7:30pm. On November 21, 2006 over the phone Dean got himself
booked to perform at the Golden Light Cantina located at 2908 W 6th
Avenue in Amarillo, Texas from 9:30-10:30pm. From Austin, Texas, Dean hitchhiked to Bowie, Texas from where he
traveled to Vicksburg, Mississippi to spend the Thanksgiving holiday
with his family. On November 14, 2006, Dean made a phone
call to the Old Town Saloon in Wichita Falls, Texas and got himself
booked to perform there on January 25, 2007 from 9:30pm till closing
time. On November 12,
2006, Dean hitchhiked from Sherman, Texas to Austin, Texas to perform
at Geisha Sushi from 8-10pm. On
November 11th, Dean hitchhiked to Sherman, Texas, and walked into
Boiler Room Coffee located at 404 West Lamar Street and got himself
booked to perform there on April 6, 2007 from 8-10pm.
Thank you, Mr. and Mrs.
who I met in Paris, Texas on November 10, 2006 for putting me up for the night in the Victorian Inn.
On November 10th,
Dean walked into Dillon's Bar & Grill located at 3560 NE Loop 286,
Paris, Texas, and got himself booked to perform there on March 31, 2006
from 9:30pm.-1:30am. Then that same night, Dean
hitched a ride from Plano, Texas to Paris, Texas with Michael O'Neal of
who
performed after Dean on November, 9th, at Love & War in Texas, and
later drove through Paris, Texas on his way home. Then later, Dean caught a ride on the train from
Fort Worth, Texas to Plano, Texas for his scheduled performance at Love
& War in Texas on November 9, 2006. On November 4, 2006, Dean performed as scheduled at Sundance Square
in Fort Worth, Texas. While in
Bowie, Texas on On October 31, 2006, Dean wrote his song:
Why Did Classic Country Music Have To Die?
Growing up
I loved both Rock and Roll
And Country music
Then it was clear
To hear how the two could be
Easily distinguished
But just the other day
I heard a Heavy Metal
Guitar solo played
In one of the New
Country songs
And as much as I wanna stay
Positive
I just have to say
I think that's just plain wrong
CHORUS:
Tell me why, oh, why
Did Classic Country music
Have to die?
Where do they get off
Mixin' Country stories and singers
With Hard Rock and Pop?
Am I alone
In that at times
It makes me want to cry?
Oh, tell me why, oh, why
Did Classic Country music
Have to die?
Now, I do have my
Favorite Rock and Roll
Styled drummers
But when I hear one
Playing in a Country band
I think they should try another
I think all Country musicians
Should learn the formula
That the Classic Country heroes used
It's really not that difficult
The way that
They mixed Bluegrass up
With good old Gospel and Blues
CHORUS
©2006 Dean Strickland
Then Dean, hitchhiked to Bowie, Texas on his way to Fort Worth,
Texas to perform at Sundance Square on November 4, 2006. On October 20 & 21, 2006 Dean performed as scheduled at Geisha
Sushi on 6th st. in Austin, Texas.
ABOVE: Photo of Dean Strickland performing at Geisha Sushi & Grill in Austin, Texas in October of 2006 unknown photographer
On October 18, 2006, Dean walked into the Austin Federation of
Musicians Local 433 located at 1515 IH 35 South, Suite 100, Austin,
Texas 78741 and talked with the Office Manager, Desiree L. McBride. On October 17,
2006, Dean created a different Never Die Records logo.
ABOVE: Official Never Die Records logo ©2006 Dean Strickland
After that Dean hitchhiked his way to Austin, Texas for
his scheduled performances at Geisha Sushi & Grill located at 616
E. 6th St. on October 20 & 21, 2006 from 8-10pm. Then trough the AFM Local 72, Dean got himself booked to perform as
a Strolling musician in
downtown
Fort Worth's Entertainment & Shopping District on November 4, 2006
from 7-10pm. He met Mike Kennedy,
Administrator, Kenneth Krause, Secretary-Treasurer, and Raymond M. Hair
Jr. Then from
El Paso, Texas, Dean hitchhiked to Arlington, Texas where on October
16, 2006, Dean walked into the offices of the
located
at 1939 Stadium Oaks Court, and became a member. Then, Dean hitchhiked from Lubbock, Texas to
El Paso, Texas and got himself booked to perform at
located
at 6669 Gateway Blvd. W. from 8-9pm., on February 23, 2007. On October 4 & 5, 2006, Dean performed as scheduled at La Diosa
Cellars in Lubbock, Texas. Dean's story fed directly from the Associated Press Newswire and
appeared the first week in October 2006 in the following newspapers:
The Eagle AP wire article on Dean Strickland
and
The Laredo Morning
News AP wire article on Dean Strickland
Dean's story was published in the