Dee Washburn

I was born Arnold D’Angelo (Dee) Washburn in Shreveport, LA but most people know me as just Dee. I was influenced by the music of the 60's and 70's and still am today. I got my first guitar at 16. At 17, when I was stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Paul Pelham taught me how to play Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” while smoking Camel cigarettes. In 1987, I moved to Colorado Springs, CO where I formed a band called Ma’s Disease. As I started writing more songs, I started listening to country music. In 1989 I won an award in the Music City Song Festival music competition. In 1998, encouraged by my song contest recognition, I packed up everything I could fit into my 1978 Volkswagen Beetle convertible and headed out to Music City. I spent my first night in Nashville sleeping in my car in a parking lot after being inspired by a live performance by Jeffrey Steele, Rob Crosby and Ray Herndon. In 2003, I grew tired of the drudgery of working in a sheet metal factory, and followed in my father’s footsteps and became an over-the-road truck driver. This career path has allowed me the opportunity to visit every state in the mainland United States while still pursuing my performing songwriter aspirations. My experiences and the places I've visited have given me new inspiration like Fairmount, IN (James Dean's home town). I finally sold my VW Beetle several months ago and bought a new Gibson guitar after years of playing--yes, you guessed it--a Washburn guitar.