Billy Dean photo courtesy of billydean.com.

When Billy Dean first appeared in country music in 1990, he made his mark with an easy delivery and a handsome visage on his way to winning a pair of trophies at the Academy of Country Music Awards. He was, in essence, country’s version of the boy next door, but he’s now decided to put on a black suit and spiff up his sound a bit.

He quietly released an album this year titled Billy Dean Sings Richard Leigh, and it endeavored to add supper-club sophistication to Billy’s act through the invention of “Hank Sinatra.” Billy brings a big band to Florida for a New Year’s Eve show this week, and it marks only the second time he’s appeared in the Sinatra format, according to The Tallahassee Democrat.

“There are no crooners in country music anymore like Ray Price or Eddy Arnold, and my voice fits that crooning style,” Billy told The Democrat. “Richard Leigh writes that style of music, and his songs fit my voice perfectly — like a good pair of shoes. The music is real romantic and easy listening but with a little country. It’s part Hank Williams, and it’s part Frank Sinatra. That’s how we came up with the name Hank Sinatra.”

Billy and Richard have a history. They shared the ACM Song of the Year award in 1992 as co-writers of Billy’s signature ballad “Somewhere In My Broken Heart.” Richard also authored Billy’s first hit, “Only Here For A Little While.”

But Billy also has a history with the Tallahassee area. He grew up in Quincy, Fla., about 25 miles northwest of the Florida capital, and he experienced many a New Year’s Eve at a bait shop his uncle owned, making his suit-and-tie performance an appropriate way to slide into a new decade.

“Fireworks weren’t supposed to be sold in Florida but he had them hidden in the back,” Billy recalled. “On New Year’s Eve, the adults would play a little poker and sip a little whisky while us kids would blow up firecrackers. We had our own fireworks display right there on the front porch across from Luten’s on Highway 90.”

This year’s version won’t be anything like that. Billy will likely take the stage in a tailor-made Manuel suit as he puts a soft touch on the celebration at a local club.

“The Moon has the feeling of an old show room — like an old Vegas show room — so I thought it would be a good place for this type of show,” Billy said. “It’s also nice to be with a hometown crowd, a forgiving crowd. At least that’s what I hope. We’re going to test it out and see how it goes.”

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