DEKE DICKERSON BIO 2013
“It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it,” claims journeyman musician/singer/entertainer Deke Dickerson.As usual, Dickerson interjects dry wit into a serious proclamation of his career intent: keeping America’s roots music alive while interjecting new creativity—a blood transfusion, if you will—into genres of music that flourished decades previous.
Deke Dickerson is 44 years old and has been carrying the torch since he was 13, playing in his first rockabilly band in his hometown of Columbia, Missouri.After moving to Los Angeles at the age of 22, Dickerson carved out a niche for himself in Tinseltown.In addition to playing in his main band, Deke Dickerson and the Ecco-Fonics, as well as several side projects, Dickerson has provided rootsy music for a slew of television shows and movie projects (most recentlyJackass 3-D and the Johnny Knoxville–produced The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia).
“This music isn’t a cartoon to me, or some weird retro thing to be laughed at,” states Dickerson.“This is the great music of the American 20th century experience: rock and roll, rockabilly, western swing, rhythm and blues, surf music, garage, and punk.It’s every bit as vital and important as jazz or classical; it just hasn’t gotten its due yet.There has to be somebody out there waving the flag for this music.What’s odd to me is that wherever I go, anywhere on the planet, people love this music, yet it’s kept out of the media and the mainstream simply because it’s considered ‘old.’”
Dickerson’s new releases showcase his versatility as well as his desire to touch all bases in the roots music pantheon.His forthcoming album Echosonic Eldorado(2013) is a direct injection from the jugular vein of rockabilly at its most primal.He recently released a new EP of original songs recorded with the Trashmen (of “Surfin’ Bird” fame) and a single recorded in Memphis with the highly regarded soul-funk group The Bo-Keys.
Dickerson has also made a name for himself in other avenues.He has his own signature guitar, manufactured by the Hallmark Guitar Company of Maryland.He writes for several guitar magazines and his first book, The Strat in the Attic,is forthcoming in 2013 from Voyageur Press.Two of Dickerson’s songs are used in the newest Disneyland ride, Cars Land at Disney’s California Adventure Theme Park.
Dickerson is well known as a historian of roots music and regularly contributes liner notes to reissue projectsfor such labels as Capitol, RCA, Bear Family, and Sundazed Records.
He is booked to play dates throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and South America in 2013.The Reverend Horton Heat, who has been a major supporter of Dickerson over the years, is taking Dickerson on selected tour dates.
“To be honest, I never thought my music career would last this long,” reflects Dickerson.“But I guess I’ve carved a niche so deep that it resembles a Bobsledding track at the winter Olympics.I might as well just hang on and enjoy the ride, because there’s no stopping the sled at this point!”
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