From Warrenton, VA, Dean grew up playing electric bass and early on formed and lead Dino & The Grinders, playing the club circuit in the Northern Virginia region. In the mid 1990’s he became a member of and toured with the Daryl Davis Band working with such notables as Johnnie Johnson, Ron Holloway and Bill Kirchen. Later, in 2000, he toured with Southern Persuasion and played on the band's recording. After a 12 year hiatus, Dean returned to the stage in 2017 making his mark as bass player in his own right and continues working with the best in the business, including, Daryl Davis (Chuck Berry), Mark Wenner and Mark Stutso of the legendary Nighthawks, Linwood Taylor (Joe Lewis Walker), Vince Henry (Tom Waits and Hugh Laurie) and Paul Johnson (Waxing Poetics and The Master Plan). Dean is the driving force backing up many bands and solo artists, including his own band, Dino & The Grinder’s.