Artist Bios
Dean Sams

Dean was raised in Garland, Texas where he spent most of his childhood playing all sports. Football was his main focus through most of high school and is also when he got into music for the first time.

After getting a scholarship to Southwest Texas State University, he attended college for three years before he decided he would put all his efforts into music instead of school. As most musicians have to do from time to time, Dean worked many odd jobs trying to make ends meet. He did everything from waiting tables to being a construction worker.

Finally in 1989, Dean auditioned for Opryland U.S.A. and got the part in a show called Country Music U.S.A. He married his high school sweetheart, Kim, in December and they made their way to Nashville, TN. After 4 seasons of Country Music U.S.A. along with various other jobs to put Kim through college, Dean made the decision to put a band together and give the music thing his full effort. That band is what we know today as Lonestar.

When not on the road, Dean spends a lot of his time with his wife and his two children -Britney and Bryson. In addition to creating his own music, Dean serves as producer for several other musical acts. He has also spent considerable time the past couple years developing his acting talent, and is an entrepreneur with various interests including a sponsorship and marketing company.

Michael Britt

Michael Britt was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, where he lived until he moved to Austin, TX to attend college at The University of Texas in 1988. After studying everything from computer science, systems analysis, pre-pharmacy and English, Michael set college aside to pursue his true passion – music.

Having played in a number of different bands in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and in Austin, he moved to Waco, TX in1990 to play with a group called "Santa Fe". He later made his way to Dallas to play with the recording group "Canyon," where he met fellow bandmate, drummer Keech Rainwater. In 1992, he arrived in Nashville. Soon thereafter, Canyon disbanded and he received a call from Dean Sams, who was putting together a group to play in and around Nashville. The group, first named Texassee, later became Lonestar.

Michael and his wife Rene (married in 2000), their son Ethan (born 7/15/02) and their daughter Hillary (born 4/25/05) live outside Nashville with their two dogs, Casey and Kingsley. Michael’s hobbies include collecting guitars and amps, reading, and writing. Michael’s songwriting credits include “Runnin’ Away With My Heart” on their debut CD, and “”What I Miss The Most” on “Let’s Be Us Again.”

Musical Influences are probably too numerous to mention, but some favorite musicians are: Mark Knopfler, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jude Cole, John Mayer, Audley Freed, Joe Walsh, Keith Urban, Maroon 5, Train and Cake.

Keech Rainwater

Keech grew up in Plano, TX, just outside of Dallas. The son of a singing/songwriting mom and a film/video producing father, Keech was surrounded by music early in life. Keech is the hard-hitting backbone of Lonestar. Keech played in number of bands on his way to Lonestar, including Canyon, who was an ACM nominee in 1991 for Best New Group. Keech joined Lonestar about a year after its inception, moving from Dallas to Nashville in 1993.

In addition to being a great drummer, Keech is also an aspiring film/video director/producer. Lonestar's video, "With Me" was his first major-release. Keech shot most of the footage in film and video and edited it on the road while touring. Since then he has worked on several videos and commercials.

Keech spends as much time as possible with his son, Dakota. His wife, Elissa, currently works for CMT Canada and the two met on the orange carpet of the 2006 ACM Awards in Las Vegas.

Keech's other hobbies include rock climbing, boating, kayaking, four-wheeling in his Honda Odyssey, fishing, and building things (he is the McGyver of Lonestar). And be on the lookout... when on the road, he can also be spotted zipping around town on one of his motorized scooters.

Cody Collins

Collins, born in Dothan, Alabama and raised in the small town of Pace, Florida outside of Pensacola, began his musical journey early in life. Collins was active in sports throughout his early years and has always had a tune in his ear or a guitar in hand. Collins attended college in Pensacola where he majored in music before taking a break to take a gig at Cowboys, a popular country music night club in Atlanta.

Collins joined Lonestar as the group entered into a new chapter of their career. When Richie McDonald announced his departure from the group, Dean Sams knew just the man for Lonestar. Sams met Collins at Cowboys where Collins had been the weekly featured male singer. Sams was working with another artist from the venue and had been following Collins for several years. After Michael Britt and Keech Rainwater got a glimpse of Collins and after a Nashville audition with the band, Lonestar needed no further convincing that he would be the new frontman.

Collins’ musical influences include Brooks and Dunn, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Garth Brooks, Travis Tritt, George Strait, and Johnny Cash. He currently resides outside of Atlanta, Georgia.