Ronnie Dunn

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Ronnie Dunn
Ronnie Dunn (left) and Kix Brooks (right).
Ronnie Dunn (left) and Kix Brooks (right).
Background information
Birth name Ronald Gene Dunn
Born June 1, 1953 (1953-06-01) (age 55)
Origin Coleman, Texas, USA
Genre(s) Country
Occupation(s) singer-songwriter
Years active 1983-present
Label(s) MCA/Churchill
Arista Nashville
Associated acts Kix Brooks
Website www.brooksanddunn.com/

Ronnie Dunn (born Ronald Gene Dunn, June 1, 1953 in Coleman, Texas, USA) is an American country music singer-songwriter. He is currently one half of the multi-award winning, American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. Ronnie Dunn & Kix Brooks live down the street from each other in Brentwood, Tennessee, an upscale suburb of Nashville.

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[edit] Early Life

A son of a "rambling, free spirited oil field worker" and a grounded, conservative Baptist mother, he attended 13 schools in his first 12 years of school. He began school in Blanca, New Mexico and finished his formal education at Abilene Christian University in 1974 as a psychology major. When Ronnie began playing bass guitar and singing with bands in clubs in the Abilene, Texas area, the university gave him the choice of either quitting the band or the university. He chose to leave the university and moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma.

[edit] Musical Career

Ronnie began his musical career as a solo artist. He charted two minor singles on Churchill/MCA Records in 1983 -- "It's Written All Over Your Face" and "She Put the Sad in All His Songs". In 1991 he and Kix Brooks formed Brooks & Dunn. They released their first album Brand New Man during the same year. Brooks & Dunn have released 11 albums & have spawned 2 Greatest Hits albums. Dunn also charted again in 2006 as a duet partner on Ashley Monroe's single "I Don't Want To".

[edit] Awards

Ronnie Dunn has won over 20 Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) awards, including Country Music Songwriter of the Year twice. He was Billboard Magazine's Country Songwriter of the Year for 1996. He is a member of both the Oklahoma and Arkansas Music Halls Of Fame.

Brooks and Dunn have won more Country Music Association awards and Academy of Country Music awards than any act in the history of country music. They have taken out the Vocal Duo Of The Year award every year since their debut in 1991 except in 2000 when the honor went to Montgomery Gentry. They have sold over 30 million records and continue to be one of the most consistently successful touring acts on the concert circuit. They opened for the Rolling Stones in 2006.

[edit] Personal Life

Dunn has been married for 17 years to his wife, Janine, and has three children: Whitney, Jesse and Haley.

[edit] Singles

Year Title US Country Album
1983 "It's Written All Over Your Face" 59 unreleased album
"She Put the Sad in All His Songs" 59
2007 "I Don't Want To" (with Ashley Monroe) 37 Satisfied (Ashley Monroe album)