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Brooks & Dunn
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Brooks & Dunn are an American country music duo, consisting of Kix Brooks (born Leon Eric Brooks III, May 12, 1955 in Shreveport, Louisiana) and Ronnie Dunn (born Ronald Gene Dunn, June 1, 1953 in Coleman, Texas). Both Brooks and Dunn had worked as singer-songwriters before the duo's formation, charting singles of their own in the late 1980s.
The duo made its debut in 1991 with their first four singles all reaching the top of the U.S. Billboard country music charts.
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Encyclopedia
Brooks & Dunn are an American country music duo, consisting of Kix Brooks (born Leon Eric Brooks III, May 12, 1955 in Shreveport, Louisiana) and Ronnie Dunn (born Ronald Gene Dunn, June 1, 1953 in Coleman, Texas). Both Brooks and Dunn had worked as singer-songwriters before the duo's formation, charting singles of their own in the late 1980s.
The duo made its debut in 1991 with their first four singles all reaching the top of the U.S. Billboard country music charts. Their debut album, Brand New Man, was released the same year and was certified 6x platinum by the RIAA. Brooks & Dunn have had more than forty singles on the country music charts, twenty of which have reached number one. They have recorded ten studio albums, two greatest-hits compilations, and a Christmas album.
Brooks & Dunn also won the Country Music Association Vocal Duo of the Year award every year between 1992 and 2006, except for 2000 when Montgomery Gentry took the honor. In addition, Brooks & Dunn won the Entertainer of the Year award in 1996. Two of the duo's singles have also been named as Billboard magazine's Number One country singles of the year: "My Maria" (1996) and "Ain't Nothing 'Bout You" (2001). Since early 2006, Kix Brooks has also hosted American Country Countdown, a nationally syndicated radio program which counts down the Top 40 country singles in the United States as determined by the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
Biography
Brand New Man and Hard Workin' Man
The duo were introduced to each other by someone, and then they were signed as the duo Brooks & Dunn to Arista Nashville in 1991. Their albums include:
Their debut album was released on August 13, 1991. It's first four singles, "Brand New Man", "My Next Broken Heart", "Neon Moon", and "Boot Scootin' Boogie" reached number one. The album's last single, "Lost And Found", however, reached #6, their first single to miss the top spot, and the first to feature Kix Brooks on lead vocals. The album was certified 6x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA, and peaked at #3.
Their second album, released on February 23, 1993 charted five singles, like their previous album did. The album's first single, "Hard Workin' Man" reached #4. Following it were "We'll Burn That Bridge", which peaked at #2, "She Used to Be Mine" became their fifth number one in their career. Also came was "Rock My World (Little Country Girl)", which peaked at #2, and finally, the album's last single "That Ain't No Way to Go" became their sixth number one single. The album peaked at #2, and was certified 5x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA.
Waitin' on Sundown and Borderline
Their third album was released on September 27, 1994, and it charted five singles also. The album's lead-off single, "She's Not the Cheatin' Kind" reached #1, "I'll Never Forgive My Heart" reached #6, "Little Miss Honky Tonk" reached #1, "You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone" reached #1, and "Whiskey Under the Bridge" reached #5. The album reached #1, their first to do so, and was certified 3x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA.
Their fourth album was released on April 16, 1996, and it charted five singles also. The album's first single "My Maria" reached #1, and was the most played song of the year 1996 according to Billboard magazine. Following it was "I Am That Man", which peaked at #2, "Mama Don't Get Dressed Up for Nothing" reached #13, thus becoming their first single ever to miss the top 10, then "A Man This Lonely", which reached #1, and the last single "Why Would I Say Goodbye" reached #8. The album reached #1, and was certified 2x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA.
The Greatest Hits Collection and If You See Her
Their first greatest hits compilation was released on September 16, 1997, and it featured all their singles except for "I'll Never Forgive My Heart", "I Am That Man", "A Man This Lonely", and "Why Would I Say Goodbye", which were not included on this greatest hits collection, although that two of them would be on their second greatest hits collection. Three new singles were included, and two of them were released as singles. They were "Honky Tonk Truth", which peaked at #3, and "He's Got You" a #2. This collection peaked at #2, and was certified 4x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA.
Brooks & Dunn collaborated with Reba McEntire to perform "If You See Him/If You See Her", which was the lead-off single to both Brooks & Dunn's If You See Her, and Reba McEntire's If You See Him, and both were released on June 2, 1998. Their duet peaked at #1. Following it was "How Long Gone" and "Husbands and Wives", which both reached #1 as well. "Husbands and Wives" was originally recorded by Roger Miller, whose version peaked at #5 in 1966. The next single, "I Can't Get Over You" peaked at #5, and the album's last single "South of Santa Fe" peaked at #41, thus becoming their first single to miss the top 40, and the last to feature Kix Brooks on lead vocals, although the song's music video was quite popular. The album peaked at #4, and was certified 2x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA.
Tightrope and Steers & Stripes
The duo's sixth studio album was released on September 21, 1999. "Missing You", the album's lead-off single reached #15, and was a cover of John Waite's 1980's hit. "Beer Thirty" reached #19, and "You'll Always Be Loved By Me" reached #5, the most successful track on this album. "Goin' Under Getting over You" reached #60 from unsolicted airplay. The album reached #6, and was certified Gold by the RIAA, thus becoming their least successful album to date, and the first not to be certified Platinum.
Their seventh studio album was released on April 17, 2001. It's lead-off single, "Ain't Nothing 'Bout You" reached #1, and is their most successful single, spending six weeks at number one, and was the most played single of the year 2001 according to Billboard magazine. The next single "Only in America" reached #1, as did "The Long Goodbye", and the latter was later covered by Irish pop singer Ronan Keating in 2003. Next was "My Heart Is Lost to You", which reached #5, and finally, "Every River", which peaked at #12. The album reached #1, and was certified Platinum by the RIAA.
It Won't Be Christmas Without You and Red Dirt Road
Their Christmas album was released on October 8, 2002. The songs that charted were "Hangin' 'Round the Mistletoe", which reached #47, while "It Won't Be Christmas Without You" reached #41, and "Rockin' Little Christmas" reached #57, and finally, "Winter Wonderland" reached #57. The album reached #12, and was not certified by the RIAA.
Their eighth studio album was released on July 15, 2003. It's lead-off single "Red Dirt Road" reached #1, and "You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl" reached #3, while "That's What She Gets for Loving Me" reached #6. The album reached #1, and was certified Platinum by the RIAA.
The Greatest Hits Collection II and Hillbilly Deluxe
Their second greatest hits compilation was released on October 19, 2004. It included three new songs, and two of these were released as singles, and those were "That's What It's All About", which reached #2, and "It's Getting Better All the Time", which reached #1. "I'll Never Forgive My Heart", and "A Man This Lonely" were finally included on this greatest hits collection. This collection reached #2, and was certified Platinum by the RIAA.
Their ninth studio album, which changed names a few times, was released on August 30, 2005. It's lead-off single "Play Something Country" reached #1, and is their last number one in the United States to date. "Believe" was a #8. "Building Bridges", which featured Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill, was a #4, and the title track reached #16, thus becoming the first single to miss the top 10 since 2002's "Every River", which peaked at #12. The album reached #1, and was certified Platinum by the RIAA.
Cowboy Town
Their tenth studio album was released on October 2, 2007. It's lead-off single "Proud of the House We Built" reached #4, "God Must Be Busy" reached #11, "Put a Girl in It" reached #3, and "Cowgirls Don't Cry", their current single has reached the top 5 in the United States, and already a #1 in Canada. An alternate version of the song featuring Reba McEntire was sent to radio while the single was climbing, and she started to be credited on the charts, thus making this their second duet together after "If You See Him/If You See Her" in 1998. Reba McEntire is also featured in the music video for "Cowgirls Don't Cry", which premiered in late-2008, and was directed by directing duo Deaton-Flanigen. The album reached #4, and to date was not certified by the RIAA.
Other works
The duo have made numerous appearances on other artists' albums, both together and separately. Ronnie Dunn sang an uncredited duet vocal on Lee Roy Parnell's cover of Hank Williams' "Take These Chains from My Heart," which can be found on Parnell's 1994 album On the Road. That same year they recorded a version of Folsom Prison Blues with a voiced part by Johnny Cash for Red Hot + Country, an album for AIDS Benefit. This may be their only song to feature both Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn on lead vocals. In 1998 Brooks & Dunn collaborated with Reba McEntire on "If You See Him/If You See Her." Dunn also contributed his vocals to the song "Raise the Barn" on Keith Urban's 2006 album Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing, as well as on Ashley Monroe's 2006 single "I Don't Want To".
On the 3rd of November 2008 the duo appeared on a panel discuss entertainment law at the University of Tennessee's College of Law.
Musical style
Brooks & Dunn's music covers the full range of modern country music, and their chart-topping hits have included everything from ballads to rock-tinged up-tempos to the gospel music-influenced "Believe." Their up-tempo numbers have been described as "rocked-up honky-tonk". One of their biggest hits, "Boot Scootin' Boogie", is most emblematic of this style. Brooks & Dunn have been generally described as a group that ranges from country-pop to traditional country.
Both Kix and Ronnie are vocalists, songwriters, and guitarists; Kix plays mandolin as well. Dunn's vocal performances have tended to be released as radio singles; only one of their Number One singles, "You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone," has featured Kix on lead vocals, and he has not sung lead on any of the duo's singles since 1999's "South of Santa Fe".
On the road
Brooks & Dunn are renowned for their high-energy stage shows. In 2008, Brooks & Dunn have paired up with ZZ Top and Rodney Atkins for a tour. It is titled Cowboy Town. This concert has been shown on GAC as well. Other recent tours have featured Australian country singer Keith Urban, fellow duo Montgomery Gentry, and Gretchen Wilson. Their Deuces Wild tour of 2005 featured fellow country duo Big and Rich. In 2006, the duo opened for the Rolling Stones at their Omaha, Nebraska show. Also in 2006, they toured with country artist Sara Evans and embarked on their The Long Haul Tour, which featured artists Jack Ingram and Sugarland.
The duo's songs have been used by President George W. Bush as his official campaign songs in both his 2000 election and 2004 re-election campaigns. In 2000 then Texas Governor Bush chose the blue-collar line-dance-friending hit of the mid-1990s, "Hard Workin' Man," and in 2004 the President selected the patriotic hit, "Only in America." Brooks & Dunn both supported the President's re-election campaign, performing at a Republican rally featuring Laura Bush on the eve of the election. "Only in America" was played after President Barack Obama gave his nomination acceptance speech in 2008.
They performed a concert tour in Australia in February and March 2008.
Tours
- Neon Circus & Wild West Show (2001-2004)
- Red Dirt Road Tour (2004)
- Deuces Wild Tour (2005)
- The Long Haul Tour (2006)
- Cowboy Town (2007-2009)
Backing band
Discography
Awards
Academy of Country Music
| Year | Award |
|---|
| 2008 | Top Vocal Duo | | 2007 | Top Vocal Duo | | Vocal Event of the Year ("Building Bridges" with Vince Gill and Sheryl Crow) | | 2006 | Top Vocal Duo | | Home Depot Humanitarian Award | | 2005 | Top Vocal Duo | | Song of the Year ("Believe") | | 2004 | Top Vocal Duo | | 2003 | Top Vocal Duo | | 2002 | Top Vocal Duo | | 2001 | Entertainer of the Year | | Video of the Year ("Only in America") | | Top Vocal Duo | | 2000 | Top Vocal Duo | | 1997 | Vocal Duo or Group of the Year | | 1996 | Entertainer of the Year | | Top Vocal Duo | | 1995 | Entertainer of the Year | | Top Vocal Duo | | 1994 | Top Vocal Duo | | 1993 | Vocal Duo of the Year | | 1992 | Vocal Duo of the Year | | Album of the Year (Brand New Man) | | Single Record of the Year ("Boot Scootin Boogie") | | 1991 | Award Vocal Duo of the Year | | Top New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year |
Country Music Association
| Year | Award |
|---|
| 2006 | Single of the Year ("Believe") | | Music Video of the Year ("Believe") | | Vocal Duo of the Year | | 2005 | Vocal Duo of the Year | | 2004 | Vocal Duo of the Year | | 2003 | Vocal Duo of the Year | | 2002 | Vocal Duo of the Year | | 2001 | Vocal Duo of the Year | | 1999 | Vocal Duo of the Year | | 1998 | Vocal Duo of the Year | | 1997 | Vocal Duo of the Year | | 1996 | Entertainer of the Year | | Vocal Duo of the Year | | 1995 | Vocal Duo of the Year | | 1994 | Vocal Duo of the Year | | 1993 | Vocal Duo of the Year | | 1992 | Vocal Duo of the Year |
American Music Awards
| Year | Award |
|---|
| 2005 | Favorite Country Band, Duo, or Group | | 2004 | Favorite Country Band, Duo, or Group | | 1997 | Favorite Country Band, Duo, or Group |
Grammy Awards
| Year | Award |
|---|
| 1996 | Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals ("My Maria") | | 1993 | Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals ("Hard Workin Man") |
Billboard Music Awards
| Year | Award |
|---|
| 2005 | Favorite Country Group |
People's Choice Awards
| Year | Award |
|---|
| 2005 | Favorite Country Group |
CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards
| Year | Award |
|---|
| 2002 | Group or Duo Video of the Year ("Only in America") |
TNN/Music City News Awards
| Year | Award |
|---|
| 1999 | Vocal Group or Duo of the Year | | 1998 | Vocal Group or Duo of the Year | | 1997 | Vocal Duo of the Year | | 1996 | Vocal Duo of the Year | | 1995 | Vocal Group or Duo of the Year | | 1994 | Vocal Duo of the Year | | 1993 | Vocal Duo of the Year |
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