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A New Force in Pop Music: Kiley Dean by Charles White ___________________________________________
Kiley
Dean started out from humble roots. She was born in the small Alabama town of
Alma, population 4000. She had what she considered a normal childhood
surrounded by her extended family and friends.
At a very early age, Kiley showed a strong interest in music,
performing in her local church choir. “I've been singing since I could
talk,” Kiley remembers. “I
knew since I was little that this is what I was gonna do with my life.
I just feel so blessed that I’m able to do it!” When
she was still very young, Kiley Dean’s life took a dramatic change. At the
age of
eight, Kiley’s parents made the decision to move from their small Alabama
town to the bustling city of Orlando, Florida. This did nothing to dampen
Kiley’s love of music and performance. By
the time Kiley entered High School, she regularly performed at her local
church as well as in school and local community events. In 1999, she became a
member
of the national anti-drug organization PRIDE and their performance team based
in Orlando. That same year, Kiley was hired to sing background vocals for a
hot, new singer, Britney Spears. For the next year and a half, Kiley’s life
revolved around the rigors of performing and living out of a suitcase as she
continued to tour the world with Britney, appearing on both the MTV Music
Awards and the Grammys. In
2000, Kiley Dean began work on her demo, image and stagecraft as she prepared
to launch her own solo career. After 2 years of hard work, Kiley was signed by
Tim Timbaland’s label, Beat Club Records. A force in the music industry
himself, Timbaland was blown away by Kiley’s voice and strength.
“I think Tim saw something
special in me,” She recalls. “Someone
with personality and talent and somebody who was willing to work really hard
for what they believe in." Kiley
Dean is very excited to branch out on her own and share her music with the
world. Her latest single, “Who Will I Run To”, proves to the world that
she is a musical force to be reckoned with. “I feel so good to be on my
own,” Kiley states with pride. “I know that you have to start somewhere
and I wouldn't have wanted to start anywhere else than with Britney. I watched
Britney for so long and now I get my chance!
I’m so excited!” “My
sound is fresh! No one that I
have heard has an album that sounds anything like mine.
I am so proud of what I have brought to the table.
I believe that we are taking music to another level.
They are gonna love it!”
“GOD
is THE most important thing to me in my life,” Kiley emphatically states.
“My
parents always kept me and my older brother in church and I thank them so much
for
that. I thank God for everything that has happened to me. I feel so lucky
because there's so many people that want to be doing what I'm doing, and I'm
able to do it." It
is this feeling that carries over into Kiley’s definition of success. For
her, success isn’t measured by her new single and it’s position on the
charts. Instead, success is simply making people smile. “The
greatest joy I get from life would have to be seeing people Kiley’s
journey has already taught her many different lessons. The greatest piece of
advice that she can offer anyone is not to be satisfied with only being a part
of the crowd. “Be a leader,” Kiley suggests.
“When you’re young it is so easy to follow the crowd and do
whatever it is that the people around you are doing.
Be strong and be young while you can.
Don’t try to grow up to fast!” We’ve
all seen it before. Celebrities get a taste of success and turn their back on
their families, friends and everything else that they used to think was
important. However, even with the success of her latest single and her soon to
be released album, Kiley Dean has never forgotten that the important things
aren’t those that can be seen, touched or spent. She realizes that love is
the most important thing in the world. She remains grounded in the greatest
gift anyone can have: the love of family, friends and Christ. |
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If
you tune your radio to your favorite pop radio station, odds are that you are
going to hear the voice of an amazing new singer. Her first single, “Who
Will I Run To”, is skyrocketing up the charts and finding new fans
throughout the country each week. Who is this amazing new singer? Her name is
Kiley Dean. Although only twenty years old, Kiley is making a name for herself
as both a powerful performer and an incredibly grounded young woman. 
As
an up and coming pop star, it would be easy for Kiley to turn her back on the
things that were important to her before she found success. However, she
remains firmly grounded in her love for her family and is always quick to give
God all the glory. 