In a varied career over fifty years, Dean has worked with the Giddens Sisters, Alabama Slim, Homesick James, Little Freddie King, Lee Gates, Ernie K-Doe, Bo Diddley, Gregg Allman, Sweet Betty, Guitar Gabriel, Adolphus Bell, Jerry McCain, Macavine Hayes, Beverly Watkins, Lightnin' Wells, Taj Mahal, Cootie Stark, Sam Frazier Jr., Ironing Board Sam, Captain Luke, Cool John Ferguson, and Robert Lee Coleman, among others.
From that humble beginning, Dean and Lindsey joined with John Callahan and Mark Flanagan to form their first band named Blue Condition.
[6] His musical journey expended in to record production and Dean has mastered albums for Big Ron Hunter, Jerry McCain, Sweet Betty, Alabama Slim, and Little Freddie King among others.
Etta Baker, Macavine Hayes, Robert Lee Coleman, and Pat "Mother Blues" Cohen have all benefited from having the Revue as their backing band.
Albert White (guitar), Nashid Abdul (bass), and Lil' Joe Burton (trombone) form the other semi-permanent members of the ensemble.
Other work took place with Ernie K-Doe, Bo Diddley, Jerry McCain, Gregg Allman, Taj Mahal, and Henry Grey.
[10] In 2018, upon hearing about his forthcoming Iowa Blues Hall of Fame induction and that he was required to perform at the ceremony, Dean assembled his former high school bandmates — Berka, Porter and Brandsgard.