“Tennessee Whiskey: The Dean Dillon Story” is an account of the legendary BMI songwriter Dean Dillon’s influences in the country music industry. The documentary has just recently been released, and it includes footage with George Strait, Robert Earl Keen, and Kenny Chesney, to name a few.
As a fan, you’re going to want to see this. “There’s a lot of people that go to Dean for songs. But I don’t know how many of ’em have his songs on every record they ever recorded,” Strait noted in the film. Having written over 26 number one hits, most of which have been recorded by Texas’ own King of Country Music, Dillon has had an industry-wide impact that’s hard to measure or try to quantify.
Photo: Facebook/Dean Dillon
The film’s director, Cole Classen, met Dillon in Mount Crested Butte, Colorado, during the Mountain High Music Festival. “I said, ‘Dean, let’s make a movie about you. I want to tell your story.’ He hemmed-and-hawed and finally said, ‘Let’s do it.’ This is a highlight of my career and life. I appreciate Dean and Susie for letting me in their life. I am humbled to have that opportunity,” Classen explained at an exclusive industry gathering for the film. Among those in attendance were George Strait and his wife Norma, Kenny Chesney, Brandy Clark, Lee Ann Womack, and Chris Stapleton, who most recently popularized the song “Tennessee Whiskey” which was a Dean Dillon hit for George Jones, and for which the documentary was named.
Photo: Facebook/Tennessee Whiskey: The Dean Dillon Story
Regarding the documentary and the gathering to recognize its release, Dillon stated, “Never in my wildest dreams did I think anything like this would ever happen, to be quite honest. I want to thank my way-better half, Susie. And most of my kids are here tonight—that’s important to me.” Dillon is known for his musical penmanship, having songs such as “The Chair,” “Nobody in His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her,” and “Ocean Front Property” recorded by George Strait alone (and that’s only a short-list.) His effect on the industry, its singers, and their stardom is profound, to say the least. If you’re interested in watching the film, it’s now available for purchase or to rent on iTunes.
