MusicRowPics: Branch & Dean

Branch & Dean Artist Visit

Branch & Dean, a duo comprised of Steve Branch and Marlon Dean Scallan, recently stopped by the MusicRow offices to perform songs from their self-titled project. Both Branch and Scallan grew up in the north Florida area, and each supported the others’ solo musical careers before they later merged ambitions to form a duo.

The duo’s single, “The Dash,” has made a fine showing across MusicRow‘s reporting stations in the past several months, currently sitting at No. 15 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart. The song is a heartbreaking and frank tribute to Theron Branch (son of Steve Branch), who lost his battle with Cystic Fibrosis in March of this year. Theron was 23.

“We are blessed that out of a tragedy, the silver lining is that you can reach people in such a meaningful way,” said Branch before the duo performed the ballad.  “Before he passed, my son told me, ‘Nobody’s going to remember me.’ I told him, ‘People will remember  you.’ That’s how I make it through this song every time I sing it. I can make it through it because of my son and because of how this song reaches people.”

The duo’s career hit another milestone when they signed with the Erv Woolsey company for management earlier this year. “Erv made the agreement on a handshake, and said, ‘This is how me and George did it,'” says Scallan. That puts the duo in good company alongside other artists that the Erv Woolsey company represents, including George Strait and Lee Ann Womack.

They also performed their signature tune, “Your Ol’ Lady’s Gone,” featuring a bluegrass-inspired yodel from Branch, as well as “Glad She’s Not An Angel,” both from their self-titled album.

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