Multi-faceted Dickerson brings own brand of American music to Temecula

By: Scott McDonald - For The Californian | Wednesday, October 31, 2007 12:35 PM PDT ∞

One night when Deke Dickerson was 13 years old, he witnessed something that would change his life forever.

"I was watching TV and saw Chuck Berry," said Dickerson from his Los Angeles home. "I knew immediately that was what I wanted to do. I knew I had to play guitar and duck-walk across the stage. And remarkably enough, I've been doing it ever since and have never changed that vision."

A Columbia, Mo., native, Dickerson was playing in bands at 14, and by 17, had formed the acclaimed surf/garage outfit The Untamed Youth. Despite touring nationally, releasing a handful of albums and garnering a strong following in the Midwest, Dickerson left the band in 1991 and headed west to Los Angeles.

It was there that he met follow Missourian Dave Stuckey, and the two formed the seminal outfit, The Dave & Deke Combo. A staple of the L.A. roots and rockabilly scene for years, the combo released two highly acclaimed records before splitting in 1997.

Dickerson was immediately signed to a major label and spent the next few years showcasing his special brand of music to national audiences, opening shows for the likes of Cake, Mike Ness, and the Reverend Horton Heat, who claims on his Web site that Deke is "the best rockabilly guitarist in the whole world!"

Known for playing his trademark double-neck Mosrite guitar, Dickerson is regarded as a purveyor of multiple styles of music. Roots, rockabilly, old-time country, doo-wop, surf, ballads, rhythm and blues, and rock 'n' roll are all part of what Dickerson does.

"People tend to just call it rockabilly," said Dickerson, "but I like to call it American music. We really try to mix it up, do a lot of different things. But all of what we do is American music."

Lately, doing a lot of different things has begun to define Dickerson' s life as well as his music. Although he "never really set out to be a writer," Dickerson currently writes a bimonthly column in Guitar Player Magazine aptly named "Deke the Guitar Geek," and has been called upon to write numerous liner notes for CDs by the likes of Buck Owens, Roy Orbison, Johnny Paycheck and Roger Miller. Most recently, he wrote extensively for the accompanying books for two Merle Haggard box sets.

"I just sort of fell into it," said Dickerson, "but when you are able to write about an artist that you actually listen to and like, well, that's just great."

Dickerson also uses his own record label, Ecco-Fonic Records, to produce some of his favorite acts. Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys, Jeremy Wakefield, and rockabilly pioneer Jimmy Lee Fautheree all have albums produced by Ecco-Fonic.

Additionally, Dickerson's own music can be heard in the Oscar-winning movie "Sideways," in the TV show "Monster Garage," and on Bob Dylan's XM Radio show, "The Theme Time Radio Hour."

With touring full time and plans to release his new album in the first part of 2008, Deke Dickerson shows no sign of slowing down.

"Things come and go with the times," Dickerson said. "But this music will always have a core audience. People are just fanatical about it. I don't think that will ever change."

Deke Dickerson & the Ecco-Fonics

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Old Town Temecula Community Theater, 42051 Main St., Temecula

Tickets: $20

Info: (866) 653-8696