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Dean R. Ley, born in North
Africa, French Algeria picked up a guitar at age fifteen
and within a year started his first band. His father, a
classic conductor and violin virtuoso, realized his son's
talents could benefit from "more power" and plugged
Dean into his first electric guitar.
After moving to France in the early 1960's, Ley (bom
Alain Salvati) began touring with European vocalist
Vdronique Sanson. She was maried to Stephen Stills, (of
Crosby, Stills and Nash fame) from 1973-1979. His rela-
tionship with Sanson opened the door to writing, produc-
ing and arranging music in America and Dean spent two
years living with Stills and Sanson in Boulder, Colorado.
Dean and Veronique continued touring world-wide
and eventually hooked up with Stills in Golden Beach,
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Florida. Their address? 461 Ocean Boulevard. Sound
familiar? Yes, THAI 461 Ocean Boulevard, the same as
Eric Clapton's 1974 album. The beachfront house was
a popular celebrity rental, in close proximity to Criteria
Studios, where Stills, with his band Manassas, recorded
their first album. Ley ended up playing keyboards on a
few tracks as an unaccredited guest musician for Manas-
sas' 1973 album "Down the Road."
Not long after that release, Dean went back to Paris for
more touring and recording sessions, and
in 1980 moved to south Florida for good.
Ley knew after landing in America the
first time that "It was the country I wanted
to live in forever. I wanted to become part
of the great array of musicians here."
Dean started working as a keyboardist and
guitar player at Criteria Recording Studios
doing sessions for a host of famous afiists.
In 1986 Ley wrote the movie score for
"Master Blaster." He also got his American citizenship
that year. His girlfriend and soon-to-be wife Dorene was
by his side. "The day I became an American citizen I was
so proud and felt good to be part ofwhat I consider the
number one country in the world," said Dean.
Ley has written television and radio spots for companies
such as Sea Escape Cruises, McDonalds, Delta Airlines,
Ocean Cadillac, and WPBT Channel 2. His latest CD
single release "Due Time" was written after watching
the news on television. "I saw a segment on how hard it
was for most Americans to keep a job and make a decent
living and be in fear of what tomorrow will bring... or
not bring. That is not the American way!" he explained.
"So I decided to write a song called 'Due Time'to make
a strong statement about my feelings for my American
brothers and sisters."
After the release of "Due Time," the momentum started
to build. Dean and Dorene discussed forming a band and
writing more material. That idea became the album now
currently in the recording studio entitled "Justice For
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