Have you ever wondered what the net worth of Dean Dillon is? It’s safe to say that Dean Dillon is one of the most prolific singers/songwriters in Nashville’s history.
He had little success at breaking into the industry until he started writing songs for other artists. The songwriter has written songs for George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Pam Tillis, Lee Ann Womack, and Toby Keith.
Dean Dillon has done so well for himself that both the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame inducted him.
As of May 2023, Dean Dillon has a net worth of $10 million.
Table of Contents
Early Life
Although most people now refer to him as Dean Dillon, his birth name is Larry Dean Flynn. Dean Dillon came into the world on March 26, 1955, in Lake City, Tennessee.
It’s safe to say the country singer wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth. His folks and grandparents earned just enough to get by, with no room for luxuries.
At the age of seven, Dean had already known his way around the guitar well. With so much natural talent and a lot of practice, the youngster was already a skilled musician at such an early age.
When Dean Dillon was 15, he made his first television debut on a local Knoxville, TN, variety show called Jim Clayton Startime.
He decided to travel to Nashville after graduating from Oak Ridge High School in 1973, hoping to establish a music career.
Dillan went by the name Dean Rutherford when he initially recorded for the Plantation label. Soon after, he changed his name to Dean Dalton. However, the people at the record label weren’t crazy about the name.
So, when the singer/songwriter signed with RCA Records, record executive Jerry Bradley selected Dean Dillon at random from a phone book!
Songwriter
Dillon’s career started advancing when Barbara Mandrell recorded three of his songs. In 1979, Dean co-wrote “Lying In Love with You” with fellow songwriter Gary Harrison.
The number 1 hit song was later sung by Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius.
Although it took him some time to find success as a songwriter, he eventually made that happen when he wrote hits for George Strait.
His most successful songwriting collaboration with Strait was 1987’s “Ocean Front Property,” which topped the country charts and reached No. 3 on the pop charts.
He wrote many other hits for George Strait, including:
- “The Chair”
- “Nobody in His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her”
- “It Ain’t Cool to Be Crazy About You”
- “Ocean Front Property”
- “Famous Last Words of a Fool”
- “I’ve Come to Expect It from You”
- “If I Know Me”
Dean Dillon continued working with Strait and his son Bubba. The three co-wrote the songs “Living for the Night,” “Drinkin’ Man,” and “I Believe.”
You may be surprised that Dean Dillon also wrote David Allan Coe’s 1981 hit “Tennessee Whiskey.”
Recording Artist
After traveling to Music City in the early 1970s, Dean quickly got the attention of Shelby Singleton of Sun Records. The singer had a brief recording session that resulted in just one record.
Although Dillon’s future was in writing music for others, the young singer was adamant about becoming a successful recording artist.
All the determination paid off when Dillon released 12 songs under the RCA Records label. Three of these tracks made it to the Top 30 on the country charts!
As a singer, Dean Dillon recorded six studio albums and charted eight times between 1979 and 1983.
His famous hit “I’m Into The Bottle (To Get You Off My Mind)” helped the musician get into the Top 30.
Awards
Dean Dillon has won several awards and has achieved so much as a country singer.
In 2002, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inducted him. In 2020, Dillon also entered the Country Music Hall of Fame.
His music has earned him several awards over the years, including:
- Billboard Country Music Artist Of The Year Award
- Nashville Song Writers Award
- CMA Triple Play Award
- Three Time Grammy Nominee
- Lee Iacocca Award
- 26 No. 1 Records Award
Dean Dillon Net Worth 2023
As of May 2023, Dean Dillon has a net worth of $10 million. There is no reliable information on Dean Dillon’s net worth.
However, some reports suggest he has a net worth of $5 million, while others believe it’s $20 million.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Many No. 1 Songs Did Dean Dillon Write?
Dean Dillon has written or co-written a total of 55 songs for Strait. These include 19 singles, 11 of which have reached number one.
What Songs Did Dean Dillon Write for Kenny Chesney?
Dean Dillon has written and co-written these nine songs for Kenny Chesney:
1. A Chance
2. A Lot of Things Different
3. Be As You Are
4. Boats
5. Guitars and Tiki Bars
6. I’m Alive
7. She Always Says It First
8. Soul of a Sailor
9. The Angel at the Top of My Tree
Key Takeaways
It’s Okay to Start From Scratch
As we can see, Dillon wasn’t born into a wealthy family and didn’t have much growing up in Lake City, Tennessee.
Still, he packed his bags and headed to a city he’s never been to follow his longtime passion for making music.
Fall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight
When the country music songwriter first moved to Nashville, he only managed to record one song before being out on the streets again.
Nonetheless, he persisted in his efforts until he achieved success in the music industry.
Musical Talent Is Hereditary
The 67-year-old artist has a daughter named Song Dillon. Just like her father, Song is a talented singer/songwriter and plans to relocate to Nashville to pursue a career in country music.