- Cincinnati, OH
- Singing Guitarist
- $300 and up
Gene F. said
“Ellen done a great job. Everyone loved her song selections. Great entertainment. Thank you Ellen. ”
Dean Phelps
Overview
Dean Phelps combines award-winning guitar skill with a soulful vocal style. He stirs his guitar and voice into a repertoire of songs from the late 19th and 20th centuries, creating a style that is reminiscent of performers like Doc Watson, Merle Travis, and Leon Redbone. The result is music to make you smile, darn ya, smile. Or, in the words of one testimonial, "If you want that overall feeling of 'Oh gosh, I think I am happy right now,' be sure to spend time with Dean Phelps."
Reviews
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Write a reviewBooking information
Price range: $200 - $500
Languages: English
Gig length: 30 - 180 minutes
What to expect
As a solo acoustic guitarist and vocalist, Dean Phelps provides musical entertainment for a variety of settings. He plays a family friendly repertoire in an entertaining and engaging style. One reviewer said, "If you like your music wrapped around you like a comfortable sweater, that's what you'll find here. It's a real treat."
Dean's live performances have been well received in a variety of venues. He is equally at home playing in cafes, restaurants, concert venues, churches, private parties, and business gatherings. He is astute at recognizing what is required and tailoring his performance to fit the setting.
About
Part blues and part old school country, seasoned with a pinch of gospel, Kentucky-born guitarist Dean Phelps combines the toe-tapping beat of thumbpick guitar with a soulful vocal style. He folds his guitar and voice into a repertoire of songs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, creating a style that is reminiscent of performers like Merle Travis and Doc Watson with a hint of Leon Redbone.
Dean has earned both local and national recognition for his guitar playing, winning the Thumbpicking Guitar Contest at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Ark., and being named thumbpick guitar champion at the Indiana Picking and Fiddling Championship.
Additional booking notes
For most performances, I use a Bose L1 Compact system, which has a small footprint, but has proven adequate in just about every indoor and outdoor setting. If I am using the venue's sound system, I need two balanced inputs, one for a vocal mic and another for guitar. I prefer to play while seated and can bring my own folding stool.
Services offered
Set list
When people ask about my favorite music, I usually tell them it's songs that are older than me. I mix songs from the early 20th century with songs from the singer-songwriters that have influenced me. I include a few original songs as well. While this is not an exhaustive list of my repertoire, these songs would typically appear on a set list.
Ain't Misbehavin' - Fats Waller - 1929
All of Me - Seymour Simons, Gerald Marks - 1931
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Bottomless Lake - John Prine - 1984
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Crooked Road - Darrell Scott - 2010
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Dark As A Dungeon - Merle Travis - 1946
Deep River Blues - Doc Watson - 1933
Diddie Wah Diddie - Blind Blake - 1929
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Fishin’ Hole - Andy Griffith - 1960
Five Foot Two - Sam Lanin and His Orchestra - 1925
Five Pounds of Possum - Tim White - 1993
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George Gudger's Overalls - Lawrence Hammond - 1976
Georgia on My Mind - Hoagy Carmichael - 1930
Going Away Party - Bob Wills - 1973
Going Home Someday - Roy Book Binder - 1993
Good Night Irene - Leadbelly - 1933
Guitar Rag - Merle Travis
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Hard Times Come Again No More - Stephen Foster - 1854
Heart of a Hobo - Kurt Fortmeyer, Billy Phillips - 2011
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I Ain't Got Nobody - Marion Harris - 1914
I Am a Pilgrim - Trad - 1924
I'll See You in My Dreams - Ray Miller’s Orchestra - 1924
If You Come Up Empty - Dean Phelps - 2008
It's a Sin to Tell a Lie - Billy Mayhew - 1936
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Life Is Like a River - Doc Watson - 1991
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My Dog Jesus - Kurt Fortmeyer - 2008
My Grandfather's Clock - Edison Quartet - 1876
My Walking Stick - Irving Berlin - 1938
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Nine Pound Hammer - Merle Travis - 1946
Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out - Jimmie Cox - 1923
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Over the Rainbow - Judy Garland - 1938
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Play On, Pauline - Dean Phelps - 2010
Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone - Leon Redbone - 1931
Preacher and the Bear - 1904
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Ready for the Times To Get Better - Doc Watson - 1976
Road To Gundegai/Waltzing Matilda - Tommy Emmanuel - 1997
Rocking Chair - Hoagy Carmichael - 1929
Route 66 - Nat King Cole - 1946
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San Antonio Rose - Bob Wills - 1938
San Francisco Bay Blues - Jesse Fuller - 1954
Shanty in Old Shanty Town - Ted Lewis and His Band - 1932
Shine On Harvest Moon - Leon Redbone - 1908
Simple Gifts - Shaker Dance Song - 1849
Sitting on Top of the World - Walter Vinson - 1930
Smile, Darn Ya, Smile - Billy Cotton - 1931
Solid Gone - Doc Watson - 1930
Souvenirs - John Prine - 1972
Spanish Pipedream - John Prine - 1971
St. Louis Blues - William C Handy - 1916
Sweet Georgia Brown - Ben Bernie and His Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra - 1925
Sweet Sue - Mills Brothers - 1928
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The Gospel - Goose Creek Symphony - 1972
The Hobo Song - John Prine - 1978
There'll Be Some Changes Made - Ethel Waters - 1921
Till I’m Too Old to Die Young - Moe Bandy - 1987
Traveling Man - Pink Anderson - 1962
Turn Your Radio On - Lulu Belle and Scotty - 1939
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Wabash Cannonball - William Kindt - 1904
Walk On Boy - Doc Watson - 1960
Wayfaring Stranger - Traditional - 1817
When You and I Were Young - G W Johnson - 1866
Windy and Warm Hotel California - Chet Atkins - 1961
World Is Waiting for the Sunrise, The - Les Paul, Mary Ford - 1919
Worried Blues - Doc Watson - 1926
Influences and inspiration
I've played guitar since I was nine years old, and started playing professionally at 18. Over those years, I've had a number of influences, such as:
Doc Watson
Merle Travis
Leon Redbone
Chet Atkins
Pat Donahue
Etta Baker
Mississippi John Hurt
John Prine
Jason Isbell
Guy Clark
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Singing Guitarist
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