Brooks & Dunn, indisputably the most successful country duo in history, made their breakthrough debut in 1991 and have since delivered numerous hits such as “Boot Scootin’ Boogie”, “She Used to Be Mine”, “She’s Not the Cheatin’ Kind”, “
My Maria”, and “
Red Dirt Road” to name a few. From 1992 to 2005 they earned the Country Music
Association Vocal Duo Award every year with the exception of 2000. Although both from different backgrounds, together members Leon Eric “Kix” Brooks (born May 12, 1955 in Shreveport, LA) and Ronnie Gene Dunn (born June 1, 1953 in Colem
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an, TX) have secured the catchy country pop sound they are greatly admired for.
Prior to the formation of Brooks & Dunn, Kix had been performing in clubs in Alaska and Maine until he moved to Nashville where he found success as a songwriter. Despite his thriving career, his aspirations of becoming a recording artist still persisted. Meanwhile, Ronnie was studying to become a Baptist minister, however eventually moved to Tulsa where he performed in a local house band. In 1988 he was sent to Nashville for a recording session after winning the prize in a songwriting contest. Ronnie’s studio work impressed producer
Scott Hendricks who immediately sent his material to Arista Records executive Tim DuBois. Upon hearing the recordings, DuBois immediately had the idea of pairing Brooks and Dunn together as a duo. In 1990, the two were signed to Arista Records.
Their debut single “Brand New Man” skyrocketed to the first spot on the country charts while the subsequent singles “My Next Broken Heart”, “Neon Moon”, and “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” also became chart topping number one hits. Brand New Man proved to be a major commercial success with more than six million copies sold. Hard Workin’ Man appeared in 1993 featuring the hit singles “We’ll Burn That Bridge”, “She Used to Be Mine”, “Rock My World (Little Country Girl), and “That Ain’t No Way to Go”. The pair continued to dominate the charts with the release of their third album Waitin’ on Sundown the following year which spawned the smash singles “
Little Miss Honky Tonk”, “She’s Not the Cheatin’ Kind”, and “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone”. The albums that followed, Borderline in 1996 and If You See Her in 1998 proved to be their last major hits of the 1990s as Tight Rope in 1999 failed to meet expectations. Nevertheless, the 2001 platinum comeback Steers and Stripes spawned the number one singles “
Only in America”, “
The Long Goodbye”, and “Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You”. With their commercial fame restored, they issued the rock-influenced Red Dirt Road in 2003 which is considered one of their greatest albums. Brooks & Dunn’s most recent release Hillbilly Deluxe peaked at number one on the Top Country Albums chart as well as on the Billboard 200 proving the duo’s continuous ability to generate top charting hits. The album features the number one single “Play Something Country”.
