Ardie Dean’s infectious happy-spirited charisma drives the Music Maker Revue. He is a world-class drummer who has been with Music Maker since 1991.

Born: January 29, 1955
Repertoire Summary: Acoustic Blues and Electric Blues, drums
Current Location: Huntsville, AL

More about Ardie:
Ardie Dean has been keeping blues time since 1969. He started out with Homesick James and then paid his dues on the Chitlin’ Circuit leading the band for R&B singer Chuck Strong. 20 years ago, Dean became a disciple of Winston-Salem-based bluesman, Guitar Gabriel who was instrumental to Music Maker’s founding and has been with Tim Duffy and Music Maker ever since.

Tim Duffy elected Dean to produce Music Maker records. The first record Dean produced was with Alabama harp-blower Jerry “Boogie” McCain and his latest is Albert White’s “Soul of the Blues” featuring the genius of Steve Cropper and Elvin Bishop with Taj Mahal’s best rhythm section ever, Kester Smith and Bill Rich.

Dean played at Carnegie Hall with Guitar Gabriel and Tim Duffy in the original “Brothers in the Kitchen,” then the “Limestone Correctional Facility” near his home outside of Huntsville, Alabama. Dean has played with Ernie K-Doe, Bo Diddley, Jerry McCain, Greg Allman, Taj Mahal, and Henry Grey but, “more importantly,” in his words, “I have played around the world with the best, the “Music Maker Revue.”