The spirituality of gospel music has been set to the country and bluegrass strains of North Carolina-based vocalist Jesse Dean. Performing songs by husband-and-wife songwriting team John and Linda Tremblay, Dean inspires comparisons with such country artists as Merle Haggard, George Jones, and Willie Nelson, while clinging tightly to spiritual themes. Writing songs since the age of 12, Dean unsuccessfully sought a break in Nashville. Despite knocking on hundreds of doors, and appearing on Jerry Lewis's Labor Day Telethon, he was unable to interest either a publishing company or record label in his music. Relocating to the small southeastern North Carolina town on White Lake, Dean received encouraging support from the Tremblays, who signed him to a recording contract and released his first two albums: Gospel Gold and Country Classics. ~ Craig Harris