Manitoba Live Music Event

About

Born in a rural farming community in Northern Alberta, Dean started playing the guitar in his early teens and at age 26 moved to Calgary for education. The culture shock of the urban environment inspired him to begin writing a series of songs exploring his new surroundings and his Aboriginal, rural roots. Influences include Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Valdy, Gordon Lightfoot and Bryan Adams. Dean Auger brings an authentic voice to the Canadian Aboriginal music scene. Dean has appeared locally in performances for Calgary's Aboriginal Awareness Week, Metis Musicians' Showcase, CBC Television's National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, CBC Radio and for Edmonton's Dreamspea-kers Native Art Festival. Complementing his career as a singer, Dean has also enjoyed several acting opportunities, including television roles on "Lonesome Dove", "North of 60" and  "Tom Stone II" In addition, Dean portrayed Louis Riel in the National Aboriginal Achievement Award nominated teleplay "The Missing Bell of Batoche".

"I've Never Been South Before" Dean's recently completed debut album, features ten original songs that blend aboriginal influences with  contemporary folk, pop and roots idioms. As a songwriter, Dean displays an evocative command of  lyrics, weaving native mythology, the rugged Alberta landscape, and eternal stories of love and loss into a solid roots-rock groove. Dean's debut CD was released in December 2001. Track 6 - "An Indian Prayer" from "I've Never Been South Before"  and “An Indian prayer” both held # 1 and 2 spots on the NCI Radio charts in Winnipeg Dean’s debut album "I've Never Been South Before" was nominated for Best folk album and Best album cover and design at the 2002 Canadian National Aboriginal Music Awards. 

Dean experienced healing from addictions through a healing program called “Living Waters” while living in Vancouver and he plans to record a gospel album in the future.