Dean Wiers-Windemuller was born and raised in West Michigan. He got his first guitar at the age of 14 and was primarily self-taught throughout high school. At the age of 19 he left Michigan to attend Wheaton College in Illinois, where he studied jazz and classical guitar. In 2003 he spent his first extended stay in Chicago and began to learn blues fingerstyle guitar at the Old Town School of Folk Music.
Dean enjoyed Chicago so much that he moved there upon graduation from Wheaton in 2004. He spent a year living on the north side, taking private lessons from great players in the area, performing jazz, classical, and Irish traditional music, and maintaining a private teaching studio of 20 students.
Dean returned to his native West Michigan in August of 2005 and began performing heavily as an acoustic blues and folk solo artist. In September of 2006, Dean formed Open Land with Chicago musicians Dave Miller (lead guitar), Hyosub Kim (upright bass), and Andre Beasley (drums and percussion). In October of 2006 Dean joined Tango Folias (grtango.org) with Carmen Maret (flute), Andrew Bergeron (guitar) and Debbie Crosser (violin).
Dean is currently performing as a solo act and with his groups at venues throughout the Midwest.
Judging from the packed room, smiling faces, and tapping feet our patrons felt the performance was a real treat…Dean provided the library with one of our best-attended programs…I expect in the future to see him listed among the state’s most talented performers.
– Loutit District Library, Grand Haven, MI
Kerry FitzGerald, Assistant Director
…One senses a close personal tie between Dean and the music he writes…
– Recoil
This singer-songwriter and blues fingerstyle guitarist who’s studied music in Chicago renders impressive musicianship…
– Grand Rapids Press