Al Dean

San Antonio, Texas based singer/musician originally from Freer, Texas. He was known as Mr. Cotton Eyed Joe.

Al’s music career began in 1952 playing local dances and parties in his hometown of Freer, Texas. In 1967, in Nashville, he recorded the old folk dance fiddle tune Cotton Eyed Joe, an old folk dance fiddle tune, made famous in the 1940s and ’50s by Adolph Hofner in the San Antonio area.

Al’s version of the song became a huge Texas and regional hit and many radio stations began playing it before network news breaks. Cotton Eyed Joe was even played during breaks of the San Antonio Spurs basketball games. As well, for the last 33 years, the Cotton Eyed Joe has been played during the 7th inning stretch of the Texas Rangers home baseball games.

In 1987 the American Music Association awarded Al Dean the “Most Programmed Record” in the history of the Jukebox industry. In 1999, the Country Music Association of Texas inducted Al Dean into the Texas Hall of Fame.