Originally from Miami Beach, Florida, Dean comes from a musical family (his dad was a touring percussionist), and started out playing string bass in youth symphonies. His family moved to Southern California, where he added the electric bass. By the time he graduated high school, Dean was the regular bassist with the famed Latin percussionist/ singer Wille Bobo. A founding member of the seminal Latin-fusion band ‘Caldera,’ Dean recorded two albums with them before becoming the bassist on the Boz Skaggs World Tour.

He has since played on over 300 recording sessions, ranging from film, television, and records—including Hiroshima’s first release in 1979. Having played on virtually every Hiroshima album as a session bassist, Dean became a regular in the band during the “East (1988)” tour.