By Lisa Morgan
Get ready for a Rockabilly Revival at the Red Barn coming to you Sunday, September 2 through September 23, from 3 pm-6 pm. This Rockabilly Revival is being brought to you by the “Godfather,” the last living member of Denver’s underground “Juke Box Mafia,” Denny Dean, aka “Tijuana Jones.” The event, DJ’d by Dean, will be a historical as well as hysterical listening party featuring rare 50’s recordings by many of Elvis’ buddies and band mates revisiting the roots of the genre accented by the barstool confessions and X-rated comedy straight from the life experiences of its DJ. To understand the entertainment value of this event, you just have to meet Denny “Tijuana Jones” yourself.
It all started when 16 year old Denny Dean got a hold of his first Playboy and knew he was no longer destined to make a living as a chicken farmer. He set his sights on living a life the likes of his hero, Hugh Heffner. So, armed with gumption, a goal, $100 car and $300 cash, Denny headed west leaving Indiana behind forever, trading the chicks on the farm for the ones in California, or so he hoped.
Denny never quite made Heffner status, but he did live the dream in many respects, always somewhere between Colorado and California, he lived in mansions, drove Corvettes and had his share of women, but only one true love ~ music and entertainment. It was this passion that developed an ability to open up successful venues, mostly underground, one after another to support independent, up and coming artists in every category of music from early rock and roll, hippie grunge, rockabilly to blues. With everything that transpired in music between the late 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s, Denny had his hand in it, filling up the clubs that others had turned their back on. He simply had a knack for it. Without ever being a musician himself, he had an ear, a love and appreciation for it that some are just born with.
A desert dweller now since 1986, Denny Dean, “Tijuana Jones,” is returning to his fist love. Armed with a lifetime of stories and industry experience, and rare recordings, he is bringing the history of Rockabilly to the Red Barn, as well as some of his own for what should be an incredibly unique and thoroughly entertaining Sunday afternoon adventure, as colorful as he and his many pseudonyms.
Red Barn, a desert favorite and longtime supporter of music and entertainment is located at 73290 Highway 111, Palm Desert (760) 346-0191. See you there!
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