Visit:  (Click video still above to watch TV interview/performance) ABOVE: Video still of Patricio and Dean Strickland on The Patricio International Variety Show on CATV-19 in Nashville, Tennessee on August 23, 2008 As seen on CMT's Gone Country Episodes 1 & 2  The Hitchhiking Guitarman CDs are available now at Dean Strickland’s live shows. Also available in stores at the following locations: Lone Star Music 1243 Gruene Road Gruene, Texas 78130 Cactus Jack's Hampe House 1706 Hunter Road Gruene, Texas 78130 Surf Club Records 309 A North Water Street Corpus Christi, Texas 78401 Denton Recycled Books Records CDs 200 N Locust St. Denton, Texas 76201 Also available for purchase online at:  MP3s for the Hitchhiking Guitarman CD are available for purchase at the following online stores:     For contact information and concert dates go to  (Click video still above to watch interview) ABOVE: Video still of Dean Strickland on CMT's Gone Country Episode 2  (Click video still above to watch interview) ABOVE: Video still of Dean Strickland on Gone Country on VH1 on January 31, 2008  (Click video still above to watch interview) ABOVE: Video still of Dean Strickland on CMT's Gone Country on January 25, 2008  (Click video still above to watch interview/performance clip) ABOVE: Video still of Dean Strickland at KPFT 90.1 FM in Houston, Texas on November 10, 2007 taken by Carmen Pasch  (Click video still above to watch performance) ABOVE: Video still of Dean Strickland on Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee on October 31, 2007 taken by Carmen Pasch    (Click photos and video icons above to watch performance) ABOVE: Photos of Dean Strickland at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee on October 1, 2007 taken by Samuel M. Simpkins  (Click video still and video icons above to watch performance) ABOVE: Video still of Dean Strickland on Broadway Street in Nashville, Tennessee on September 26, 2007 taken by Nick Jones   (Click photo and MP3 icons above to hear radio performance) ABOVE: Photo of Dean Strickland in the green room at KXYL 96.9FM in Brownwood, Texas on September 14, 2007 taken by Mike Cope   (Click video stills above to watch interview) ABOVE: Video stills of The Howard Payne Half Hour Entertainment Host, Justin Harper, and Dean Strickland on KHPU-TV in Brownwood, Texas on September 13, 2007 unknown cameraman  (Click video still above to watch interview/performance) ABOVE: Video still of Central Texas Spotlight Host, Michael Westbrook, and Dean Strickland on KHPU-TV in Brownwood, Texas on September 13, 2007 unknown cameraman  (Click video still above to watch performance) ABOVE: Video still of Dean Strickland at Luckenbach Texas on August 29, 2007 taken by Adam Romo   (Click photo and video icons above to watch TV performance) ABOVE: Photo of Richard Bowden, Dean Strickland, and Mark Vidito on the set of East Texas Live at KETK NBC 56 - News on August 3, 2007 taken by Meteorologist, Robert Thornton   (Click video stills above to watch newsclip) ABOVE: Video stills of Dean Strickland in Sherman, Texas on April 5, 2007 taken by Rick Springer  (Click video still above to watch performance) ABOVE: Video still of Dean Strickland at SKKY Bar & Lounge in South Padre Island, Texas on February 2, 2007 taken by Theresa Najera  (Click video still above to watch newsclip) ABOVE: Video still of Dean Strickland in Abilene, Texas on September 27, 2006 taken by Eyakem Gulilat MP3s available for streaming at: Dean Strickland's Discography/Journal from 2000 thru August 2006   Read Dean's book: If you're in Denton County, Texas you can listen to Dean's music provided through DTV on cable channel 26 - the City Government Channel for Denton, Texas, or listen online at:    ABOVE: Photo of Dean Strickland from his days at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California in the Fall of 2002  ABOVE: Dean's story as told by the Musicians Institute Music Business Program in Hollywood, California in the Spring of 2003   Starving for one thing - to play his music, in 2002 Dean Strickland made the long journey all the way to Hollywood, California from his home in Ft. Worth, Texas. Dean has proven he is ready to shift into full gear. He is full of ambition and a yearning to be heard. Dean attended the University of North Texas from 1997 until 2000 where he studied Classical guitar and voice as well as Jazz. Dean graduated from the Recording Artist Program in 2002, the Vocal Institute of Technology in 2003, and the Guitar Institute of Technology in 2004 at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California. Some Girls To Blame is a 24 track CD released on Dean's Never Die Records label. (Click links below to read "Some Girls To Blame" CD reviews) Dean's song "Bassist And Drummer Wanted" is featured on the Musicians Institute MI Volume IV compilation CD   Dean's song "I've Learned" is featured on the RIKKS PIKKS VOLUME 1 indie compilation CD     (Click video stills above to watch performance) ABOVE: Video stills of Dean Strickland performing his song "F-ck All Those A & R Guys" live at Musicians Institute in 2003 unknown camera man 4GIVNESS is a punk rock band that Dean Strickland formed with Jasmin Guevara on drums and Michael Dwyer on bass in January 2004 at Musicians Institute. The self titled CD is for sale online at   (Click links below to read 4GIVNESS CD reviews)     (Click video stills above to watch performance) ABOVE: Video stills of Dean Strickland and 4GIVNESS performing at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California on March 17, 2004 camera man unknown In August of 2004 Dean Strickland joined forces with Rocket Ride and successfully toured the country with their band Victims Of The Carousel. Read about their World Wide Love Ride Tour and other press clippings about Dean Strickland at the  Victims Of The Carousel advanced CD  ABOVE: Photo of a sidewalk in Hollywood, California with a Dean Strickland and VOTC tag painted by the Dean Strickland street team taken by Tomi Knuutila
 ABOVE: Photo of a sidewalk in Hollywood, California with a Dean Strickland and VOTC tag painted by the Dean Strickland street team taken by Clinton Steeds      ABOVE: The SKRATCH mp3 sampler VOL. 26 featuring Dean Strickland and 4GIVNESS hit the streets the third week of October 2005.  The Harder Beat Magazine advertisement for Dean Strickland and 4GIVNESS On August 14, 2005 Dean's song "Bassist and Drummer Wanted" received radio airplay on On September 16, 2005 Dean began performing live in Deep Ellum in Dallas, Texas on Fridays and Saturdays from 8-9pm. at Dean performed as scheduled for the first time in Austin, Texas on October 11, 2005 from 10-11pm. at Mojo's Daily Grind located at 2714 Guadalupe St. Thank you to Jonathan, owner and builder of the Website for picking me up in Italy, Texas early Sunday morning on October 9th when I was walking south on I-35 on my way to my gig at Mojo's in Austin from Deep Ellum in Dallas, and driving me to Waco, and then extending his courtesy in that he paid for me a Greyhound bus ticket from Waco to Austin. Dean performed as scheduled in Bryan, Texas on October 18, 2005 from 8-9:30pm. at the Thank you to John Margetis, from Midlothian, Texas for stopping to offer me a ride on Sunday morning, October 16th, and then buying me a Greyhound bus ticket to Bryan, Texas after hearing my story of how that earlier that morning, after my show, the night before, I had been walking south on I-35 on my way to Bryan, Texas to play my show on Tuesday, and a silver sports car that was driving north on I-35 had honked at me, and the next thing I knew that same car was a little ways in front of me, and pulled over heading south. A man had stepped out of the car and asked me if I needed a ride, and I said yes, though against my better judgment. The man had the trunk of his car already open, and said that I could throw my guitar and my bag in the trunk, so I did. Then I got in the back seat of his car. A woman was in the drivers seat, and the man told her to move over to the passengers seat, so that he could drive. I asked the man if he had just before honked at me, and was headed north, and he said "Yeah." I told him I thought that was odd. Then we started riding down the interstate and briefly introduced ourselves to each other. The man said that they were from Houston, and I told them I was headed to Waco were I planned then take highway 6 to Bryan. He told me he could take me almost all the way to Waco, but that he was on empty, and asked me if I had gas money. I told him no, I didn't have money, and he said he would have to drop me off then. I said it was cool and that I found it to be strange, since I saw him going north before. Then he pulled over on the side of the interstate, and I waited a few seconds for him to open the trunk. He said to me, "The trunk will pop open," and when I saw the trunk open I got out of the car and hurried to get my stuff. As soon as I made it to the back of the car he took off. I grabbed the back of the car and held on to it as the car dragged me about thirty yards. I managed to jump into the trunk of the car. Then we drove about two miles south on the interstate at a high rate of speed before he pulled off the road and into a gas station parking lot where people were, and I quickly jumped out of the trunk with my guitar case and my bag in my hands. The man then got out of his car and approached me, and I said to him, "I can't let you do it, this is my life." He just nodded his head, and got back in his car and drove away. I noticed that my forehead had a couple of cuts, as well as my ear, above my eye, and my hand. But I was OK, and I still had my stuff. Dean traveled on a Greyhound bus, and did a second performance at Revolution in Bryan, Texas, which consisted of an all original song set on November, 1, 2005 from 8-9:30pm. After hitching a ride to play his show at Cafe Brazil in Deep Ellum in Dallas on Saturday, November 5th, Dean hitchhiked to Denton, Texas and booked himself a gig at Cool Bean's
located at 1210 W Hickory St. for December 13, 2005 from 10:30p.m. 'till late. Then he hitchhiked from Denton, Texas to Lubbock, Texas and booked himself a gig at located at 901 17th St. for January 10, 2006 from 7:30-8:30p.m. When I was making my way to west Texas, and then through the panhandle I never imagined all of the good things that came my way in Amarillo, Texas. Thanks to my new friend S. Parker Lamb from Panhandle, Texas. I thought that because I had become acquainted with Stephen Lamb by way of the World Wide Web a few years back when he reviewed my CD "Some Girls To Blame" on his Website that at best I would book myself a gig in Amarillo and then call him on the phone and ask him to post a review of the show for me on the Internet in hopes that he would say okay and give me a decent review. So much more than that happened though. Hitchhiking from Lubbock to Amarillo I made my way to the downtown Amarillo public library at approximately 5:30p.m. on Friday, November 11, 2005 where I purchased an Internet library card and checked my email until the library closed at 6p.m. After that, not knowing my way around Amarillo, since I had never been there before, I began seeking a venue where I could play my music in the downtown area and stumbled upon a place that looked at first to me like a coffee shop. I walked into the place and immediately a rainbow of colors openly being displayed along with a lot of gay literature on the walls, tables, and shelves. Since I had already made my way into the establishment, I chose to go ahead and speak to the people rather than rudely walk out. The woman I spoke to first about the possibility of playing music asked me if I minded that they were gays and lesbians. I then remembered that back when I was attending the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California I was once looking for a place to play music and read an ad on the Internet that a gay bar called Trunks in West Hollywood was having an open mic night. I remembered asking Kenny Kerner, the Music Business Program Director at Musicians Institute did he think that if I played music at the gay bar Trunks I would ruin my name, since I'm not a gay musician. I remember he responded to me that gays like music too, and that he didn't believe it would ruin my name, so I did play a thirty minute set of cover tunes with a couple of my originals thrown in for the gay and lesbian organization at and told them that I myself am not gay. Trunks in West Hollywood by the way had cancelled it's open mic night and I never played there. To say the least I was a bit discouraged with Amarillo at this point, since some of the other downtown night clubs that were not gay bars would allow me to book a show in the future, but didn't have a house PA system, so being that they were loud places, and I was walking to my gigs I had to respectfully decline. To a man named David K. Kelly who I met at the Outstanding organization where I played music that night I told of my hitchhiking story and he offered to let me stay at his place. He asked me if I thought that I could trust a gay man enough to accept the offer. I explained to him that I understand that the music business is made up of millions of people who chose different life styles than me. I told him I am strong willed and will reiterate to him that I am not gay if I have to. So I'd like to thank Mr. Kelley for his hospitality. Early the next morning I called and spoke to Stephen and Rebecca Lamb and the good times finally began to roll after I had just about given up all hope of booking a decent gig for myself in Amarillo, Texas. Steve accepted my early morning call and offered to pick me up at the downtown library at noon and let me stay with them for the remainder of my visit to Amarillo. They took me to their Texas Sharp Shooters Photography Studio in Panhandle, Texas and we took probably a couple of dozen publicity shots, which I think look great, and before I knew it Steve had arranged for me to do a ten minute interview and play my song "Something To You I Just Wanted To Tell" on Brock Matthews' Amarillo Nights radio show on 95.7 FM KARX the KAR. For me that is the stuff dreams are made of, but that was just the beginning of what Steve did for me. Steve arranged for me to open a show for at the that night, and Brock promoted it on the radio. I did quite a bit of hanging out the following week at Steve and Rebecca's place, and we discussed plans to record at the AMP recording studio in Amarillo. On November 17, 2005 Steve took me to the AMP recording studio to record my originals songs "Something To You I Just Wanted To Tell", "Total F--cking Jerk", "Robin", and "My Angel's Sweet Sweet Touch" before buying me a Greyhound bus ticket to Dallas, so that I could perform at the Cafe Brazil in Deep Ellum the following Friday and Saturday night. I want to thank Steve, Rebecca and Brock for all of their efforts in promoting my image and my music. If more of the same is what I have to look forward to in Amarillo, I can't wait to go back.
It was just like dejavu but different. I left my gig at Cafe Brazil in Deep Ellum in Dallas on November 19, 2005 on my way to Austin, Texas to play my gig at Mojo's daily grind. In an effort to avoid walking through Dallas' Oak Cliff area on Interstate 35 I bought a day pass for the DART buses earlier that day. I got off the DART train a few stops too soon and ended up in the middle of Oak Cliff at approximately 10:45p.m. and the train stopped running at 11:00p.m. I walked through that neighborhood to get to the Interstate 35 and then began walking south. I was thinking quite a bit, since my last experience in that area was not good, that it didn't seem possible that I would experience another dangerous hitchhiking incident, but I found out that anything is possible. My intended bus stop that I missed by a few stops was the Ledbetter train station, but as I mentioned I got off the train too soon at the Morrell train station, and found myself waking down Morrell Avenue. From Morrell Avenue I walked for quite a few miles and near Interstate 35 and Ann Arbor Avenue a silver car drove near where I was and stopped in the middle of and entrance ramp. It was about 1:30a.m. and there wasn't any traffic that would require the man to move his car. I walked up to the car and the man pops his trunk open and told me to throw my stuff in it. I said, "I don't want to throw my stuff in the trunk." He said okay and said for me to get in the back seat with my stuff and I did. A woman was in the passengers seat and asked me where I was walking to, and she acted as though she couldn't believe it when I told her I was walking to Austin to play my gig. I asked where they were from and she said, "Houston." I looked at their gas gage and saw that it was on empty. I asked them how far down the road they were going and thanked them for giving me a lift saying to them that every little bit helps. Then the man told the woman to take the steering wheel as he began reaching under the car seat. She said to him, "Don't do it." He began saying to her that he was going to kill me. He said to me, " I'm going to drop you off, and you're going to leave something for me or I'm going to shoot you and leave you a bloody mess on the side of the road." I said, "I can't leave you my guitar it's my life." She began saying to him over and over, "Don't do it, it's his life." He slowed down on the side of the freeway and said to me I had better not get out or he would shoot me. That's when he showed me his gun. It had a long barrel, so I thought it to be a 45 revolver. Then I asked him, "Are you going to shoot me?" He told me again as I was opening the car door that I had better not get out, and that I had better leave him something. I opened the car door saying to him, "I don't have anything, I can't leave you my guitar. It's my life." I got out of the car, and he and I struggled for my things. I got them, but not without breaking the shoulder strap of my back pack. Then he drove away. I continued walking south on I-35 to De Soto, and called my friend, Lee to tell him what had happened. It was weird that I called him from the same pay phone at approximately the same time as I did the last time I was walking south on I-35 to my gig in Bryan, Texas at Revolution. Lee told me he wondered could it have been the same people. I can't remember the faces good enough to say for sure, but any thing's possible. The next morning I continued walking though DeSoto and caught a ride into Waco, Texas. After that I continued walking south on I-35 and saw a clean white piece of cardboard about 20" X 20" square on the side of the freeway. With a black Crayola marker I wrote on it in bold letters "Austin or Bust" and hung it over my guitar case. I'd say that in less than five minutes of walking down the freeway with that sign a truck was pulled over in front of me, and it was two nice women who told me they were going to Austin and offered me a ride. Dean performed the following set of his original songs at Mojo's Daily Grind in Austin, Texas on November 22, 2005 from 9-10pm., and was told afterwards by the bookers that they think his music is too dark and aggressive. A fan in the audience commented saying Dean's song "My Death Wish" sounded gothic and scary.
1. My Death Wish 2. The Devil's Got Me 3. Conflicting Interest 4. You're Inspirational To Me 5. Suicide Note (I'm Doing This) 6. Total F*cking Jerk 7. So Much Hatred (GOD Heal Me Please) 8. If I Believe 9. I'll Get Out Of This Town 10. F*ck All Those A & R Guys 11. Who Needs You? 12. Stop It 13. You're Almost Dead 14. I Hate You 15. I Don't Like You Either So he walked to the Troubadour Saloon located at 500-A East 6th st. Austin, Texas, and got himself booked for December 23, 2005. After that he hitchhiked to San Marcos, Texas, and got himself booked for December 21, 2005 at 6:00pm. at From there he hitchhiked to San Antonio, Texas, and got himself booked for December 26 & 27, 2005 from 7-10pm. at Then he continued on hitchhiking to Corpus Christi, Texas, and got himself booked for February 3, 2006 from 5-7pm. at the Lizard Lounge. From there he hitchhiked to Houston, Texas, and then to Bryan, Texas to perform his gig at Revolution on December 6, 2005. Dean got himself booked to perform again at Revolution in Bryan, Texas on January 24, 2006 from 8-9pm. Then from Bryan, Texas he hitchhiked to Dallas, Texas and performed at Cafe Brazil on December 9, & 10, 2005. On December 13, 2005 Dean walked into where he did a live auditon for Josh Baish, RGRS Owner, and pre-scheduled his performance for BIG ASS BEER NIGHT January 17, 2006. Thank you Anita, Owner of Cool Bean's in Denton, Texas for paying me top dollar($200.00) on December 13, 2005. It's nice to be appreciated. I look forward to performing there again in the future.
Thank you to Linda Hollar of Harder Beat Magazine for the write up in the December 2005/January 2006 issue.  The Harder Beat Magazine write up on Dean Strickland After hitchhiking to Denton, Texas and then Dallas, Texas, Dean hitchhiked by way of San Marcos, Texas to Austin, Texas to perform at the Troubadour Saloon where he played his original set of songs. He got himself booked to perform there again on January 27, 2006 from 8-9pm. Only because I had previously scheduled my performance at the Cheatham St. Warehouse for December 21, 2005 did I hitchhike to San Marcos, Texas. I left Arlington, Texas, after a short visit with a friend of mine, at about noon on December 20, 2005 and arrived in San Marcos about fourteen hours later. I think that during that trip I must have walked twenty miles or more, so I was very tired to say the least. With no place to go I stayed up all night, did laundry the next morning, and that afternoon rested underneath an awning at a church near my gig for a few hours of much needed sleep. I walked in the Cheatham St. ned to the goon that I was scheduled to be there and perform and obviouWarehouse at about 5:45pm., and no one was in the place except for a female bartender who said she could not acknowledge my gig, and she told me to return at 7:30pm. or 8:00pm. for the songwriters night. I then left the place and returned there again about a hour and a half later. At that time there was a lot of people there ready to play onstage, and a different female bartender was working; she was the person of whom almost a month before, when I hitchhiked there on the day before Thanksgiving, had scheduled me to perform on December 21, 2005 and told me I should get there by 6:00pm. I sat down at the bar and she and I talked for a little while. She told me she was sorry she was late. Then her father, Kent, who owns the place walked in, and she introduced me to him as "the famous hitchhiker". I told him I had hitchhiked across Texas to be there, and that I was looking forward to playing my music. He didn't have much to say it seemed. Then I noticed a sign-up sheet on the bar, which was filled with names, so I signed it under a section listed for "one song" performances. I then started thinking that they were disrespecting me, since no one at the place acknowledged my scheduled performance, nor did anyone tell me I had to sign in to perform, which left me waiting and wondering if I would even get to perform. I walked up to Kent, and began explaining to him how I was unsure of what to make of what appeared to me to be a blatant disrespect for the scheduled performance I had worked so hard to make. Kent told me that I was not booked, since his daughter does not book the the artists. I told him that if I hadn't been scheduled to perform there that night that I would never have hitchhiked back to San Marcos, and since his daughter and I had discussed my return to perform on December 21, 2005 almost a month earlier that I wrote it down on my calendar and that that according to my calendar books me. All he said to me was, "Sorry" before again telling me I was not booked. He then motioned to someone that appeared to me to be a goon to take care of me since he didn't like how I was talking to him. I explaisly disrespected. The goon said to me that I was wrong to raise my voice at the owner of such a legendary place. I told the goon, "I don't kiss nobody's ass." From Austin, Texas, Dean hitchhiked to San Antonio, Texas and performed as scheduled at Rita's On The River on December 26 & 27, 2005. He got himself booked to perform there again on January 16, 30, & 31, 2006. After that, Dean began hitchhiking from San Antonio, Texas to Amarillo, Texas to work on promotions with the folks at Texas Sharp Shooters, and while walking north on I-35 he wrote his song: I Love Texas (It's My Home) You I can still see Kathy As you were younger And just as beautiful Don't you worry now 'Cause you'll soon reach 44 I wanna say I think Kathy You look fine And me being in my prime Means to me I gotta go I'll see you next time I'm in San Antone CHORUS: I'm gonna hitchhike my way to Amarillo-(Fill in any city in Texas here) 'Cause I got a show There'll be thousands, and thousands of trucks rollin' down that Texas highway And with my guitar I'll proudly walk alone Waitin' for that next ride With a yearning heart Longing For the other side Of Texas My home You see, Kathy I love Texas It's my home You say beware of danger Ahead And how there's lots of bad folks out there And I could end up dead But I won't worry 'bout the journey I've started on the road I wanna say I believe you Kathy And I'll be fine And being on a roll now, and in my prime Means to me I gotta go I'll see you next time I'm in San Antone CHORUS ©2006 Dean Strickland He stopped on the way in Dallas, Texas and performed December 30 & 31, 2005 at Cafe Brazil in Deep Ellum. After that he continued hitchhiking and opened for at the Golden Light Cantina, in Amarillo, Texas on January 3, 2006. Dean recorded "I Love Texas (It's My Home)" at AMP Recording Studios in Amarillo, Texas on January 5, 2006.    CD cover and grafix by Texas Sharp Shooters  ABOVE: Photo of Dean Strickland in Panhandle, Texas on November 12, 2005 taken by Rebecca Lamb Photo by Texas Sharp Shooters On January 06, 2006, Dean received the following email regarding his scheduled gig at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studio in Denton, Texas for January 17, 2006: "Dean, We've decided to cancel this date. I've read and talked with people about your antics, Dean, and I don't want someone who is particularly dangerous to himself and others (not to mention my sound equipment) playing here. Do not come to Rubber Gloves." Josh Baish RGRS On the evening of January 7, 2006, Dean gave an on-air interview and played his song "Something To You I Just Wanted To Tell" live on Brock Matthews' Amarillo Nights radio show on 95.7 FM KARX the KAR, and Brock gave Dean's song "I Love Texas (It's My Home)" a spin. Then from the Redneck Ranch, in a red pickup truck from the Redneck Motor Division in Amarillo, Texas on January 10, 2006, Dean, Ryan Skobel, and Vietnam Veteran Green Beret, Randy Phillips took a road trip. First to Lubbock, Texas where Dean performed as scheduled at La Diosa Cellars located at 901 17th St. Dean got himself booked to perform again at La Diosa on March 28, & 29, 2006 from 5:30-7pm. Then from there they drove to the Fastlane bar at 721 S. 1st St. in Abilene, Texas and Dean, got himself booked to perform there on March 24, 2006 from 7-8pm. After that they drove through Waco, Texas and Dean left his "I Love Texas (It's My Home)" CD, and business card for Cory, General Manager of Treff's Bar & Grill at 520 Austin Ave. in downtown Waco, Texas. And on their way back to Amarillo, Texas, Ryan and Randy dropped Dean off on I-20 in Arlington, Texas. On Friday the 13th of January, 2006, Dean was out seeking more radio airplay for his song "I Love Texas (It's my Home)", walking the streets of Dallas, Texas, and taking more rides from complete strangers. Then on that afternoon Dean walked into the KERA radio station at 3000 Harry Hines Boulevard, and at the front desk left a copy of his CD "I Love Texas (It's My Home)" for On Air personality, Paul Slavens. Then immediately after that, Dean walked on over to the KNON radio station at 5353 Maple Avenue, and hand delivered four of his "I Love Texas (It's my home)" CDs to four of the country music disc jockeys there, one of which took Dean's photograph as a momento. Later that evening Dean performed as scheduled at the Cafe Brazil in Deep Ellum. The next morning Dean, walked to Paperbacks Plus at 6115 La Vista and did some networking making his "I Love Texas (It's My Home)" CD available there. And he performed later that Saturday evening as scheduled at the Cafe Brazil in Deep Ellum. Then Dean, caught a Greyhound bus from Fort Worth, Texas going to San Antonio, Texas on Monday morning to perform as scheduled at Rita's on the River on the World Famous San Antonio River Walk on January 16, 2006. Dean scheduled additional bookings at Rita's on the River for February, 6th, 7th, 14th, and 15th, 2006. After that, on January 17, 2006, he traveled by way of the Greyhound bus to downtown Dallas, Texas, and from there he hitched a ride to the KHYI radio station at 660 Central Expressway in Plano, Texas and hand delivered his "I Love Texas (It's My Home)" CD to On Air personality, Natalie. On January 18, 2006, Dean arrived in Denton, Texas on a Greyhound bus, and from there he walked into Recycled Books and Records at 200 N Locust Street, and he networked with the folks there making his "I Love Texas (It's My Home)" CD available there just before walking over to Charter Communications, Public Access Channel 25 at 205 Industrial as scheduled at 3:00pm. where he gave an interview and performed his song "I Love Texas (It's My Home)" on "Denton Perspectives" with Linnie McAdams. Dean gave another interview and performed his songs "I Love Texas (It's My Home)" and "Conflicting Interest" on "That Denton Show" with Eli Gemini. The Dean Strickland interview on "Denton Perspectives" was televised everyday in February of 2006 four times a day at 7:00a.m., 12:00p.m., 5:00p.m., and 10:00p.m.; and the Dean Strickland interview on "That Denton Show" was televised every Friday and Saturday in February of 2006 at 6:00p.m. Charter Cable Public Access channel 25 is televised on Charter Communications reaching the Texas cities of Corinth, Denton, Hickory Creek, and Lake Dallas   (Click video stills above to watch TV interview/performance) ABOVE: Video stills from That Denton Show with Dean Strickland and Eli Gemini on That Denton Show on January 18, 2006 taken by Robert Kam After that, Dean hitchhiked from Denton, Texas to Dallas, Texas even accepting a ride for a while on a motor cycle to perform as scheduled at the Cafe Brazil in Deep Ellum on January 20 & 21, 2006. Then from Dallas, Texas, Dean hitchhiked to Bryan, Texas where he came down with bronchitis on January 22, 2006, but still he walked to the community radio station KEOS 89.1 FM at 207 E. Carson St. and hand delivered his "I Love Texas (It's My Home)" CD to on-air personality Nancy of the radio show Twin City Confidential. On January 24, 2006, Dean performed as scheduled at Revolution in downtown Bryan, and afterward the owner of Revolution gave Dean networking information for the Bryan-College Station newspaper The Eagle, which Dean followed up on, and arranged it so that he'd give a telephone interview in regards to his travels and scheduled performance at Revolution on February 28, 2006 from 8-9p.m. Dean hitchhiked from Bryan, Texas to Austin, Texas and performed as scheduled at the Troubadour Saloon, located at 503 E. 6th St. in Austin, Texas on January 27, 2006, and after his show he was offered an opportunity to perform again at the Troubadour Saloon, on February 25, 2006, which he accepted, in association with Then from Austin, Texas, Dean hitchhiked to San Antonio, Texas for his January 30 & 31, 2006 shows at Rita's on the River at the world famous riverwalk. Upon his arrival he hand delivered a copy of his "I Love Texas (It's My Home)" CD to Kathy for whom he wrote the song. At about noon on February 1, 2006, Dean hitchhiking from San Antonio, Texas actually still walking south along Interstate 37 headed for Corpus Christi to perform on February 3, 2006 at the Lizard Lounge, gave a telephone interview to Student writer, Kristi Hsu of The Daily Texan. Later that evening, Dean received a second call from the Daily Texan writer while he was kickin' back on the Corpus Christi coast. On February 2, 2006, Dean made a phone call to Darrel Kinard, someone with whom he became acquainted with just north of Selma, Texas on December 30, 2005 while hitchhiking from San Antonio, Texas to Amarillo, Texas, because Darrel spoke of radio connections in Corpus Christi and gave an invitation to call him while in Corpus Christi. On February 2, 2006, Dean, spoke to Darrel on the phone and received an invitation to give an interview on Friday morning, February 3, 2006 on Dean walked to the KBSO 94.7 Texas Radio station on Thursday afternoon and hand delivered a copy of his "I Love Texas (It's My Home)" CD to radio personality Colton Cruse. There Dean, also met who was there giving a live interview on Colton Cruser's radio show, and then after his interview, by request, Dean gave Brandon a copy of his "I Love Texas (It's My Home)" CD. On Friday morning, February 3, 2006, Dean walked to, and arrived early at the KBSO Texas Radio 94.7 FM studio looking forward to his scheduled interview. Dean gave an interview for approximately thirty minutes on radio personality, Lito 3's show. During the interview, Dean performed live his original songs "I Love Texas (It's My Home)", "Something To You I Just Wanted To Tell", "With You With Me", and he also performed the Lynyrd Skynyrd song "Simple Man". Lito 3 told Dean that the next time he was in Corpus Christi to play a show that he would be glad to have him back on radio. Later that evening, Dean performed as scheduled at the Lizard Lounge in downtown Corpus Christi, and afterwards he got himself booked to play there again on March 10, 2006. Dean hitchhiked from Corpus Christi to San Antonio to play his gigs at Rita's on the River on February 6 & 7, 2006. After that he hitchhiked to Dallas, Texas to play his gigs at Cafe Brazil in Deep Ellum on February, 10 & 11, 2006. On February 12, 2006 Dean's song "I Love Texas (It's My Home)" got radio play on That same night, Dean had made his way to Denton, Texas to rehearse with his newly formed rock and roll outfit Days Gone By formerly known as and practiced classic rock n roll songs. From Denton Texas, Dean hitched a ride into the city of Waco, Texas before noon on February 13, 2006 where he made a decision to stay a while to see if he could book a show and then take the Greyhound bus to San Antonio, Texas to play his gig at Rita's on the River on Valentines Day and the following Wednesday. He walked into the Common Ground coffee shop in Waco near Baylor University, and left his business card with the Booker. After that he walked to the Greyhound bus station in downtown Waco and purchased a ticket to ride to San Antonio scheduled to leave at 8:00 a.m. the next morning. At around 10:00 p.m. that same night a Greyhound employee suggested to Dean that he take the ten o'clock bus to San Antonio that had just arrived in Waco. Dean then showed his ticket to the Greyhound clerk from which had bought it, and Dean told the clerk that he was going to San Antonio and wished to board the 10:00 p.m. bus. The clerk told Dean to hurry and get on the bus before it left, for it was its last call, so with his ticket in his hand Dean boarded the bus. Then the bus driver walked onto the bus behind Dean, and called Dean out of the bus to check his ticket while saying to Dean that he had not shown anyone his ticket before getting on the bus. Dean then told the bus driver that he had shown his ticket to the clerk from which he had bought it before getting on the bus. The bus driver then began arguing with Dean while following him back on the bus after taking his ticket saying again that he did not show his ticket to anyone before boarding the bus. Dean then turned his head to the bus driver and spoke to him asking should he agree with him? As Dean moved toward the back of the bus to get seated the bus driver poked Dean's back several times with his finger. Dean then turned to the bus driver and said to him that he did not need him poking him in his back. After that the bus driver got seated and began driving the bus as Dean got situated in a seat near the middle of the bus with his bags and his guitar. Dean held his guitar close to him standing up in the isle as he had done many times before during his travels with the Greyhound bus line. After the bus driver began driving the bus he said to Dean, "Put the guitar upstairs." Figuring that his guitar case would not fit in the upstairs compartment, Dean then made no response to the bus drivers order and stayed seated. The driver then stopped the bus and very rudely expressed to Dean that he did not like the guitar in the isle. Dean said to the bus driver, "During my previous rides with Greyhound I've held my guitar next to me in the isle and weather or not it was okay depended on the asshole bus driver." The bus driver then turned the bus around and parked it back in the bus terminal and then took one of Dean's bags from the upstairs compartment and placed it outside of the bus. The bus driver then stood in the stairwell of the bus and said to Dean, "Come on." Dean asked, "Why?" Without answering the bus driver again said to Dean, "Come on." Again Dean asked, "Why?" A third time the bus driver said to Dean, "Come on." After Dean asked why a third time the bus driver answered, "Because you cussed at me." Dean then began gathering his things to get off the bus. After Dean had stepped completely off the bus, the bus driver, waiting outside of the bus said to him, "I'm going to kick your ass!" and proceeded to swing on Dean, punching him in the face with both fists. Dean then threw his hands in the air and asked the bus driver, "What are you doing?" knowing it would be wrong to fight the bus driver back, and that by fighting the man back he could potentially receive a ticket for assault, go to jail, and lose his guitar along with his bags. The bus driver then tackled Dean to the driveway, grabbed Dean's head started twisting it, and yelled at Dean again, "I'm going to kick your ass!" After the bus driver stopped beating on Dean they both stood up. The bus driver then began saying to Dean that he would call the police and that Dean would be going to jail. Dean told the bus driver and the people watching, "I did not hit you. I did not hit him." The people watching, which included the Greyhound clerks, and passengers claimed to have not seen anything. Someone had called the police, and when the police arrived, Dean told them that he did not fight the man back. Then two police officers asked Dean what he wanted to do and Dean answered them saying that that he did not want to go to jail, but did not think it was right for the bus driver to have attacked him and did not want to see him get by with it. The police told Dean that if they were going to throw him in jail that he would already been on his way and that they would give the bus driver a ticket for assault, but that they would have to give him a ticket also. Dean received a ticket for disorderly conduct for bad language. Afterward, the following afternoon, Dean went to the emergency room at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Waco were he was diagnosed with a neck injury for which he received a doctors prescription. Afterward, Dean also made a formal complaint to Greyhound Lines, Inc. for which he received the reference #1085208. On Valentines day of 2006, Dean made a phone call to Rita's On The River in San Antonio, Texas to cancel his gig he had booked there for that night due to the fact that the Greyhound bus he caught from Waco after his visit to the emergency room would not make it to San Antonio in time for his scheduled 7:00 p.m. performance. Dean did perform as scheduled at Rita's On The River on the world famous River Walk on Wednesday, February 15, 2006. On February 16, 2006, Dean rode the Greyhound from San Antonio, Texas to Dallas, Texas where he performed at the Cafe Brazil in Deep Ellum the evenings of Friday, and Saturday, February 17 & 18, 2006. The next day Dean was in Denton, Texas again rehearsing with Days Gone By. From Denton, Texas Dean hitchhiked to Bryan, Texas to pick up an article about his travels and upcoming show which was published in the  The Eagle Newspaper write up on Dean Strickland Then from Bryan, Texas, Dean hitchhiked to Austin, Texas to perform as scheduled during Mardi Gra at the      ABOVE: Dean Strickland performing onstage, during a Texas Independent Musicians showcase at the Troubadour Saloon on 6th St. in Austin, Texas on February 25, 2006 unknown photographer On February 24, 2006 an article including a photograph of Dean's "I Love Texas (It's My Home)" CD cover artwork was published in  The Daily Texan write up on Dean Strickland In Austin, Texas on the morning of February 25, 2006 Dean wrote his song: Texas Like everyone I started out small Not really knowing much at all But I had my big dream And I followed my well thought out scheme Now when you come to meet me I'm much bigger now you're gonna see Everyday I meet new exes As I waltz across Texas I'm still following my same old dream To keep playing my guitar and sing Looks like what's gone to my head is I'm big as Texas I'm higher than those plains in Panhandle I'm hotter than the deserts near Mexico I'm way far out like El Paso My hearts in Texas like there in Waco Now when you come to meet me I'm much bigger now you're gonna see Everyday I meet new exes As I waltz across Texas I'm still following my same old dream To keep playing my guitar and sing Looks like what's gone to my head is I'm big as Texas ©2006 Dean Strickland In Austin, Texas, Dean bought a Greyhound bus ticket to Bryan, Texas to play his February 28, 2006 gig at Revolution from 8-9pm. On his way to Bryan, Texas, Dean's bus ride had a two hour layover in Waco, Texas and there in Waco, Dean walked to Treff's Bar & Grill located at 520 Austin Ave. and got himself booked to perform on March 17, 2006 from 5-8pm. While at Revolution in Bryan, Texas on February 28, 2006, Dean was offered an opportunity to perform in the future from 10pm. until late, so he got himself scheduled to play there again on March 14, 2006 and April 18, 2006. Thank you to Olga Romero, an employee of the United States Post Office located at 210 West WM. J Bryan Pkwy. in Downtown Bryan, Texas 77803-9998. I was mailing my song "Texas" to the Copyright Office in Washington D.C. on March 1, 2006, and Olga, while on her lunch break, asked me where I was going and I replied, 'Dallas'. She then asked me if I was taking the bus and I answered her saying I was going to hitchhike. I showed her a copy of the write-up about me in the Eagle newspaper dated February 23, 2006 that I carry in my press kit. She then very kindly offered me money so that I could take the Greyhound bus which I accepted. On Friday and Saturday, March 3 & 4, 2006, Dean performed at Cafe Brazil in Deep Ellum in Dallas, Texas. Then from Dallas, Texas, Dean hitchhiked to Corpus Christi, Texas where on March 9, 2006 he gave a live radio interview on Texas Radio KBSO 94.7FM with on-air personalities Lito 3 and Carla. The interview included, Dean performing his songs "Texas", and "I Love Texas (It's My Home)", also by request of Lito 3, Dean performed his rendition of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Simple Man". Dean also performed "Ring Of Fire" by Johnny Cash and told stories of his travels. On March 10, 2006, Dean performed at the Lizard Lounge in Corpus Christi, Texas. He got himself booked to play there again on May 5, 2006. During that visit to Corpus Christi, Dean received an email booking him to perform at the Troubadour Saloon at 503 E. 6th Street (6th and Neches) in Austin, Texas on April 29, 2006 from 7-8pm. On March 11, 2006, Dean began hitchhiking from Corpus Christi, Texas to Bryan, Texas, and on his way, walking north on hwy. 77 in Lee County, a sheriff offered him a ride for about ten miles to where Lee County and Burleson County meet at hwy. 21, which Dean accepted. On March 14, 2006, Dean performed as scheduled at Revolution in Bryan, Texas. On March 15, 2006, Dean hitchhiked from Bryan, Texas to Waco, Texas to perform at Treff's on St. Patrick's Day from 5-8pm. After Dean's performance at Treff's on March 17, 2006 he was offered an opportunity to perform there on Friday nights during happy hour. Facing a busy schedule, Dean got himself booked to play again at Treff's on April 21, & 28, 2006, also on May 12, & 19, 2006. From Waco, Texas, Dean hitchhiked to Dallas, Texas, and on March 18, 2006 performed at Cafe Brazil in Deep Ellum. From Dallas, Texas, Dean made his way to Denton, Texas for his Days Gone By band rehearsal. Then from Denton, Texas, Dean hitchhiked to Abilene, Texas to perform at The Fastlane Bar located at 721 S 1st St., on March 24, 2006, from 7-8pm. On March 22, 2006, Dean walked into the studios at and gave an interview, and performed his song "Texas" on That interview with Host/Producer, D. Grant Smith, aired Saturday night, March 25, 2006. On the telephone, on March 23, 2006, Dean spoke with S. Parker Lamb, of Panhandle, Texas, and was told to be in Amarillo by April 1, 2006, for a third radio interview on Amarillo Nights Radio with Brock Matthews on 95.7FM the KAR, also that per Dean's request he had gotten him booked to play at the Golden Light Cantina at 2908 W 6th Ave. in Amarillo, Texas on April 5, 2006, plus he had lined up a band with which to record his new song "Texas". On March 24, 2006, Dean opened for Marshall Street at The Fastlane bar in Abilene, Texas. While in Abilene, Dean came down with bronchitis. From Abilene, Texas, Dean hitchhiked to Lubbock, Texas to perform at the La Diosa Cellars at 901 17th St., on March 28, & 29, 2006, from 5:30-7pm. On March 27, 2006, Dean walked into the newsroom of the Student newspaper of Texas Tech University in Lubbock The Daily Toreador, and gave an interview to Features Writer, Jeremy Reynolds. That same day photographs of Dean were also taken by David Johnson of the Daily Toreador. Then immediately afterward, Dean walked into the studio at and gave a live on-air interview on a show hosted by radio personalties 99lbs. Of Fury and Cowboy Dan. Dean told stories of his travels and performed his songs "I Love Texas (It's My Home)" and "Texas". On March 28, 2006 Linc Armes, Photo Editor for the Texas Tech University newspaper The Daily Toreador took photos of Dean as he played at La Diosa Cellars. Dean's story along with two colors photographs appeared on the front page of the  The Daily Toreador write up on Dean Strickland After performing at La Diosa Cellars on March 29, 2006, Dean got himself booked to play there again on June 20, & 21, 2006 from 5:30-7pm. Then from Lubbock, Texas on March 30, 2006, Dean hitchhiked to Amarillo, Texas. After making his way to Amarillo, Texas he was photographed while sleeping waiting for a ride by S. Parker and Rebecca Lamb of Texas Sharp Shooters.  ABOVE: Photo of Dean Strickland sleeping in Amarillo, Texas on March 30, 2006 taken by Rebecca Lamb On the evening of March 31, 2006, Dean gave an interview on Brock Matthews' Amarillo Nights radio show on 95.7 FM KARX the KAR which was pre-recorded for the show on April 1, 2006. Also included in the interview was S. Parker Lamb, Vince Hopkins, Phil Morris, and Kyle Johnson.  Photo by Texas Sharp Shooters ABOVE: Photographed during a March 31, 2006 interview on "Amarillo Nights" at KARX 95.7FM from left to right are: Dean Strickland, Vince Hopkins, Phil Morris, Brock Matthews, and Kyle Johnson taken by Rebecca Lamb On April 1, 2006, Dean was invited to play during the breaks of a Vince Hopkins and the Texas Brigade show at the Stockyard Saloon located at 1003 E. 8th St. in Dalhart, Texas. At 7pm. that Saturday evening in the parking lot of the Stockyard Saloon in Dalhart, Texas, Dean, Vince, Phil, and Kyle listened on the radio in Vince's van, to their interview on Brock Matthews' Amarillo Nights radio show on 95.7 FM KARX the KAR. On the evening of April 4, 2006, Dean recorded his song "Texas" at AMP Recording Studio in Amarillo, Texas, with Vince Hopkins on lead guitar, Phil Morris on drums, and Kyle Johnson on bass, engineered by Drew Holder. On April 5, 2006, Dean performed as scheduled at the Golden Light Cantina in Amarillo, Texas alongside Vince Hopkins and the Texas Brigade. On April 8, 2006, Dean received an email stating he was penciled in to perform at Cool Bean's at 1210 W. Hickory St. in Denton, Texas on April 25, 2006. Then from Amarillo, Texas, Dean hitchhiked to Dallas, Texas to perform at Cafe Brazil in Deep Ellum on Friday and Saturday, April 14, & 15, 2006. From Dallas, Texas, Dean hitchhiked to Bryan, Texas to perform at Revolution on April 18, 2006 from 10pm. until late. On April 19, 2006, Dean walked into the radio station at 207 E. Carson in Bryan, Texas and gave an interview in which he talked about his education, his travel experiences, and performed his songs "I Love Texas (It's My Home)", "Something To You I Just Wanted To Tell", and "Texas" on the "Bluebonnet Trail" show with host, Jimmy Roberts. Then from Bryan, Texas, Dean hitchhiked to Waco, Texas to perform at Treff's on April 21, 2006. On April 20, 2006, Dean walked into the newsroom of the and did an interview with student reporter/writer, Gretchen Blackburn. Then immediately afterward walked into the studio of KWBU 103.3FM and did an and talked about his stories of the road, along with performing his songs "I Love Texas (It's My Home)", "Texas", and "Something To You I Just Wanted to Tell", plus, Dean left copies of his CDs "I Love Texas (It's My Home)", and "Texas" with the npr station.  ABOVE: Photo of Dean Strickland walking on campus at Baylor University on April 20, 2006 taken by Michael Hagerty On April 21, 2006, Dean walked into Christian talk radio and gave a ten minute interview with host, Jeremy Beutel, during which, Dean told him he walks in faith and prays in Jesus' name while walking from city to city to perform and book shows. Later that day, Dean performed at Treff's Bar & Grill, and Gretchen Blackburn went to Dean's show with some of her friends, and they took photographs for The Baylor Lariat.  ABOVE: Dean Strickland performing onstage at at Treff's Bar & Grill on April 21, 2006 in Waco, Texas unknown photographer Then the next morning, from Waco, Texas, Dean hitchhiked to Dallas, Texas and performed at Cafe Brazil in Deep Ellum on the evening of April 20, 2006. The next day, April 21, 2006, Dean took a Greyhound bus to Denton, Texas to rehearse with his band Days Gone By. On April 25, 2006, Dean performed at Cool Bean's in Denton, Texas as scheduled. Dean's interview with Jeremy Beutel on KBBW 1010 AM aired April 26,2006 at 10:00am. On April 26, 2006, Dean received a write up in Pegasus News with the headline The next day, from Fort Worth, Texas, while walking south on I-35W, Dean using his cellular phone called the and spoke to Christian Jones, Marketing Director, and scheduled himself an interview for May 2, 2006. Dean then continued to hitchhike to Waco, Texas, and when he got there he walked to Baylor University and read the story about himself in the entertainment section of the  The Baylor Lariat write up on Dean Strickland That evening, Dean came down with bronchitis. On April 28, 2006, Dean performed at Treff's in Waco, Texas, and got himself booked to perform again at Treff's, during happy hour from 5-9pm. on June 2, 2006, June 9, 2006, July 7, 2006. Then next morning, Dean took the Greyhound bus to Austin, Texas to perform at the Troubadour Saloon on Sixth street on April 29, 2006 from 7-8pm. After his show, Dean got himself booked to play there again on June 3, 2006 from 2:00-3:30pm, during the Republic of Texas Bikers Rally. On Sunday morning, April 30, 2006, Dean wrote his song: With You Step By Step I keep calling on You To help me get through I can't do it alone And Your love makes me strong Our relationship Is one I won't quit You are a dear friend I'll stay with till the end CHORUS: With You step by step I find peace of mind Each step's a new start Toward all I strive for with my heart I'll move on ahead With faith in myself 'Cause I love the Lord And I can't stand hell Each day is anew But I don't have a clue What tomorrow will bring So in my heart I sing Won't You keep me safe Just in case There's cause for alarm And someone tries to do me harm CHORUS Now this song I pray Each and every day So I don't end up Down a lost highway I feel safe and secure Knowing You're there for sure Of that I have no doubt So I sing out loud CHORUS Yeah, I love the Lord Step by step ©2006 Dean Strickland Then from Austin, Texas, Dean hitchhiked to San Antonio, Texas. In San Antonio, Texas on May 2, 2006, Dean walked to the studio of "The Cowboy" Bobby Lopez, the Award Winning Radio Host for the CD-TEX RADIO SHOW, and winner of the prestigious Billboard/Monitor Magazine Music-Program Director of the Year Award. There, Dean gave a pre-recorded interview in which he answered questions regarding his hitchhiking across Texas, and performed live his song "With You Step By Step". During the interview, Dean also told his stories about what inspired his recorded songs "I Love Texas (It's My Home)", "Texas", and "Something To You I Just Wanted To Tell" from his Some Girls To Blame CD. Immediately afterward, Dean hitchhiked his way to Corpus Christi to perform at the Lizard Lounge located at 601 N Chaparral St. from 5-7pm on May 5, 2006. On May 6, 2006, Dean walked to the the KBSO 94.7FM radio station, and gave a live interview with on-air personality, Nico, and performed his song "With You Step By Step" and Elvis Presley's "Return To Sender". After that, Dean hitchhiked to Houston, Texas, and on May 7, 2006 he walked in the located in the downtown warehouse district at 103 Nance, and performed between sets of After that, Dean got himself booked at the Last Concert Cafe on August 13, 2006 from 6-7pm. opening for FAHL & FOLK. Then from Houston, Texas, Dean hitchhiked to Waco, Texas, and on May 10, 2006 walked into and performed his song "With You Step By Step", and did an interview with Johnnie Bradshaw and Bryan Thomas on the show "Bryan's Barn" which aired Sund |