Songwriter Dean Dillon was honored with a tribute show on Wednesday night (Oct 9).
Songs & Stories of Dean Dillon took place on October 9th at the Von Braun Center Propst Arena in Huntsville, Alabama. It featured performances from Riley Green, Cody Johnson, Vince Gill, Ronnie Dunn, Ernest, Justin Moore, Randy Houser, Lee Ann Womack, and Zach Top, among others. George Strait also performed in honor of his longtime collaborator.
RELATED: George Strait Sings “Here For A Good Time” In Tribute To Longtime Collaborator Dean Dillon
The show was filmed to be aired on television, but no word as to when that will be, or what network it will air on.
Who is Dean Dillon?
Dean Dillon is a prolific songwriter who has written songs for countless artists throughout his 40+ year career.
Because of his incredible contributions to country music, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 2002 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2020.
Some of his most well-known works are “Tennessee Whiskey,” Keith Whitley’s “Miami, My Amy,” Toby Keith’s “A Little Too Late,” and the George Strait songs “Nobody in His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her,” “Ocean Front Property,”“The Chair,” “Unwound,” and “She Let Herself Go.”
In total, he wrote over 60 song with and for Strait.
Another big name he wrote a couple songs for was Keith Whitley. You can find Dillon’s name credited for writing “Miami, My Amy” and “Homecoming ’63.”
History of “Miami, My Amy.”
Dillon wrote “Miami, My Amy” alongside Hank Cochran and Royce Porter, and Whitley included it on his debut country album L.A. to Miami.
The song is about a Los Angeles man who meets a woman named Amy in Miami. He professes his love for her, but she tells him to go back to LA. But after he heads home to the west coast, Amy calls him up and says she misses him and would like him to come back to Miami and be with him. Then, he sings, “Miami, my Amy, loves me after all.”
Before he is even unpacked, he flies back to Miami to meet up with Amy and start a life together.
The song was Whitley’s first Top 40 hit, peaking at number 14.
At the Songs and Stories of Dean Dillon tribute concert, newcomer Zach Top was tasked with performing “Miami, My Amy.”
Zach Top has been praised for his traditional country sound, so it seemed like the perfect song for him to perform. He enchanted the audience with his deep and clear voice, just just Whitley did 30+ years ago.
We’re sure Whitley was looking down on him during this performance. Watch it below.