Flathead Valley LIVE On Stage presents Billy Dean

Live On Stage Inc. and Flathead Valley LIVE On Stage will welcome country award-winning artist Billy Dean to the Flathead Valley on Thursday, Jan. 28.

Grammy-winning country artist Dean will appear in an intimate performance at the Flathead High School Performance Hall, 644 Fourth Ave. W., in Kalispell on Thursday, Jan. 28, at 7:30 p.m.

This is a series subscription concert for Flathead Valley LIVE On Stage’s 2015-16 series; however, single tickets are available for $30 for adults and seniors, $15 for students and $75 for a family pass, available at the door or online at www.flatheadvalleyliveonstage.org.

Dean’s versatility as an entertainer has garnered him more than two decades of hits and numerous awards. Shortly after high school, a worldwide talent search landed him in Nashville in the early 1980s, where he finished in the top 10.

In 1988, Dean entered another talent show and won his first episode of Ed McMahan’s “Star Search” and received national recognition and the attention of music executives. Dean’s debut album “Young Man” was released on Capital Records in 1990, along with his single “Only Here for a Little While” which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard charts.

Dean co-authored his second single “Somewhere in my Broken Heart” with Hall of Fame songwriter Richard Leigh, which soared all the way to No. 1. “Somewhere in My Broken Heart” was nominated for a Grammy and went on to become the Academy of Country Musics’ “Song of The Year” in 1992, earning Dean his first platinum album and Country Musics’ Top New Male Vocalist of the Year award.

Dean is now considered a Nashville icon with 11 top-10 and five No. 1 hits. Lifetime awards include the Academy of Country Music’s “New Male Vocalist” and “Song of the Year,” a Grammy award and the BMI “Million Air Plays Award.” Hit songs aside, Dean is most noted for the emotional journey that he takes his audiences on during shows. He has a dynamic musicianship, vocal styling, and warm, genuine presence on and off stage.

For more information on Dean, visit www.billydean.com.

Live On Stage, Inc. provides excellent, affordable, entertainment attractions and support services to an American community of concert presenters. Our local branch, Flathead Valley LIVE On Stage, has presented acclaimed international entertainment to the community since 1939. These programs are offered to the community at family-friendly prices through the generosity of patrons, sponsors and concert-goers.

Flathead Valley LIVE On Stage was originally known as Community Concerts from 1939 to 2006. The name changed to Flathead Valley Concerts Association in 2006 and before the 2013-2014 season the organization re-branded as “Flathead Valley LIVE On Stage” to better reflect the focus on bringing in the very best live entertainment at an affordable price. The group also wanted the name to reflect its association with the LIVE on Stage booking agent based out of Nashville, Tennessee.

Community Concerts started during the Great Depression, when small, rural communities could not afford entertainment from outside the community. Many musicians also were literally starving during the Great Depression. The Community Concerts was formed to help solve both problems in 1936. The business model was to sell membership before the artists came to town, allowing the artists to be paid ahead of time as well as cover the cost of the production. This model also allowed the per-person ticket cost to come down to a reasonable price for many people, despite the Great Depression.

Flathead Valley LIVE On Stage is staffed entirely by volunteers. The organization is based out of Kalispell but its volunteers hail from all over the Flathead Valley. The organization is always looking for more volunteers (to sell memberships, manage social networking, participate on the board, update the website, set up for concerts, help with promotions, etc.) so if you’d like to give a hand, call or email.

For more information, to volunteer or to purchase tickets, visit www.flatheadvalleyliveonstage.org, or call 406-752-0605 (Kalispell); 406-862-3641 (Whitefish); 406-837-1026 (Bigfork); 406-260-0056 (Lakeside); or 406-257-7689 (Columbia Falls).