Dean has been writing and performing in Nashville since the early 1980s. In 1990, he recorded his first top five hit "Only Here for A Little While." In 1991, he won the Academy of Country Music's Song of the Year with "Somewhere in My Broken Heart," a song he co-wrote with fellow Jarrard performer Leigh. His studio albums have accounted for more than 20 hit singles on the Billboard country charts, including eleven top 10 hits like "You Don't Count the Cost," "Only the Wind" and "Billy the Kid." His most recent album "Billy Dean Sings Richard Leigh" is another Dean and Leigh collaboration.
Leigh, a 1994 inductee into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, has been nominated for Grammy Awards in both the Pop and Country "Best Song" categories. He has had 14 top 10 hits and eight No. 1 singles. His hits include "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" and "I'll Get over You" by Crystal Gayle, "That's The Thing about Love" by Don Williams, "Somewhere in My Broken Heart" by Billy Dean, "Cold Day in July" by the Dixie Chicks," "The Greatest Man I Never Knew" by Reba McEntire, "Come From The Heart" by Kathy Mattea, and "Put Your Dreams Away" by Mickey Gilley. Leigh has had hit songs recorded in every decade since the 1970s.
Holmes, who has been writing songs for 25 years, has penned several songs for George Strait, including the 2008 hit "Troubadour," "I Know That She Still Loves Me" and the Top Ten "When Did You Stop Loving Me," as well as "What I Do the Best" for John Michael Montgomery and "Never Again, Again" for Lee Ann Womack. Holmes signed a deal as an artist with upstart label Bang II and issued his debut "All I Ever Wanted" in 1998. Holmes, along with seasoned road and studio players including drummer Jeff Hale, bass player Charlie Harrison, and guitarist Billy Hillman formed the Pythons. The group released "Real Thing" in 2002 to positive notices.
"We have three talented singer/songwriters who have committed to this years concert," John Jarrard Foundation Executive Director Jody Jackson said. "We are working to finalize the list of performers and bring another great concert to Gainesville."
John Jarrard was a Gainesville native and Nashville songwriter who wrote songs for performers such as Don Williams, Alabama, George Strait, Diamond Rio and Tracy Lawrence. Jarrard battled diabetes before passing away in 2001. The concert honors Jarrard and benefits local charities - the Good News Clinics, Good News at Noon, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hall County, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Georgia Chapter, and the Georgia Mountain Food Bank.
The concert is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 23 on the front lawn at Brenau University.
Tickets are $30 each and blocks of five tickets are $125. Tickets can be purchased online at www.johnjarrardfoundation.com, or at The Times, WDUN, the North Georgia Community Foundation, and BB&T's Brown's Bridge Road office.
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http://accesswdun.com/article/2010/8/231454