Ardie Dean

Ardie Dean (born January 29, 1955) is an American electric blues drummer, audio engineer and record producer. In a varied career over fifty years, Dean has worked with the Giddens Sisters, Alabama Slim, Homesick James, Little Freddie King, Lee Gates, Ernie K-Doe, Bo Diddley, Gregg Allman, Sweet Betty, Guitar Gabriel, Adolphus Bell, Jerry McCain, Macavine Hayes, Beverly Watkins, Lightnin' Wells, Taj Mahal, Cootie Stark, Sam Frazier Jr., Ironing Board Sam, Captain Luke, Cool John Ferguson, and Robert Lee Coleman, among others.

Involved in the music industry since 1969, He plays a 1930s Ludwig drum kit.

Dean has been inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame, the Alabama Blues Hall of Fame (2017) and the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame (2018).

Dean has also played at the Limestone Correctional Facility, near his home outside of Huntsville, Alabama. Other work took place with Ernie K-Doe, Bo Diddley, Jerry McCain, Gregg Allman, Taj Mahal, and Henry Grey. Dean is one of a few drummers that Bo Diddley allowed to play the Bo Diddley beat with him. Dean also collects and sells classic drum kits.

Dean played the drums and acted a musical director for Music Maker artists who performed at the 2015 Byron Bay Bluesfest.

In 2018, upon hearing about his forthcoming Iowa Blues Hall of Fame induction and that he was required to perform at the ceremony, Dean assembled his former high school bandmates — Berka, Porter and Brandsgard.

Partial selected discography

Dean estimates that he has played on over 100 blues albums.