2005

BROOKS & DUNN

I was at MCA Nashville when Brooks & Dunn came out with their first single, “Brand New Man.”

I knew immediately that they were going to be huge! I was running Universal South with Tim DuBois when B&D asked me to produce my first album with them, Hillbilly Deluxe, which went platinum.

From that album, we helped them to win their first CMA Single of the Year with “Believe” in 2006.

Following that success, I produced one more album with them, Cowboy Town, in 2007. Ronnie and Kix are two of my favorite artists that I’ve worked with and remain good pals!

“Tony was the ‘cat’ that I moved to Nashville to work with. He gravitated to artist types that were most often unique and cutting edge, but at the same time he was very much a purist and traditionalist. He didn’t try to dictate to the people that he worked with how to do what they did; he challenged them to be all that they could be. He sought, as he does today, authenticity not compliance.”

Ronnie Dunn

Recording Brooks & Dunn’s song “Building Bridges,” featuring Vince Gill and Sheryl Crow. It won the ACM Vocal Event of the Year award in 2006.

HILLBILLY DELUXE IS THE PERFECT DESCRIPTION OF BROOKS & DUNN.

Me, Ronnie Dunn, Terry McBride, and Jim Sohr at the Daytona 500. Coors was Brooks & Dunn’s tour sponsor.