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The duo of Brooks & Dunn is one of the most successful in the
history of country music. Brooks & Dunn have been regulars on the Billboard
Charts, sold albums by the millions, and earned the Vocal duo honors at the
prestigious country music awards and shows. The acknowledged kings of the
'90s' line-dancing craze, Brooks & Dunn are not only the biggest-selling duo
in country music history, and they’ve also sold more records than any other
duo period. Since their 1991 debut album Brand and New Man, which spawned
the high-energy hit “Boot Scootin, Boogie” Brooks and Dunn, held the title
of vocal duo from 1991 to 1997 by The Academy of Country Music and were
named vocal duo of the year from 1992 to 1999 by The Country Music
Association. Their debut album sold more than 6 million copies. They kept up
their winning streak with more No. 1 hits: "She Used to Be Mine," "That
Ain't No Way to Go," "She's Not the Cheatin' Kind," "Little Miss Honky Tonk"
and "You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone." From playing in bands and watching
the patterns of what people would dance to, the duo delivered exactly what
the listeners desired. In 1998, Brooks and Dunn made history with Reba
McEntire, the release of their album, If You See Her, coincided with the
release of her album, If You See Him, and both albums contained the duet
single, “If You See Him/If You See Her.” It was also a chart topper for both
artists. Having stumbled in 1999 with the lackluster Tight Rope, Kix Brooks
and Ronnie Dunn picked themselves up and dusted off their Wranglers with
2001's Steers and Stripes, an album that some listeners considered their
best. The title track
was spectacular and emotional since it was the slice of backwoods Southern
surroundings that melded with the push of the gospel along with the pull of
desire--which, for a '60s teenager, meant girls, cars, and the beer-laced
taste of freedom.
Brooks is an excitable man running up and down the stage
during the duo’s quick-pqced, high-production live shows. On the other hand
Dunn is a tall dark gentleman with a brooding personality with a penchant
for black clothing. Leon Eric “Kix” Brooks and Ronnie Gene Dunn met in 1990
when they were introduced by Tim DuBois, an Arista executive. Dunn usually
serves as the lead vocalist while Brooks plays guitar and works the stage.
they returned in a big way with "Ain't Nothing 'Bout You" in 2001. The song
spent six weeks at No. 1, and the follow-up "Only in
America" became a rallying
cry after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. It helped restore their commercial
fortunes. The following year, the duo issued their first holiday album, It
Won't Be Christmas Without You. The album Red Dirt Road arrived in 2003, and
the duo toured smaller markets to promote it in 2004. It reached top ten
status as an album and has spawned the top 40 single, “That’s What She Gets
For Loving Me”. Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn have become famous for their
high-energy stage show, media wisecracks and rollicking personalities.
They’re still the industry standard and honky tonk heavy weight champs of
the road.
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