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Florida Artists Hall of Fame to Induct Billy Dean

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A Gadsden County native will be among 2017’s inductees to the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. This is just the latest accolade for Billy Dean, whose honors already include a Grammy Award, scores of hit records and millions of devoted fans.

Quincy’s own Billy Dean got his musical start playing in some of North Florida’s toughest dives. One of those was the now-defunct “Hart of Wetumpka” on the shores of Lake Talquin. After he became famous, the owners created a Billy Dean shrine of sorts in a small room behind the stage, which included Dean’s first gold record and other personal memorabilia. On February 23rd, Dean will be inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame at the yearly Convening Culture Conference in Gainesville. One of that town’s natives, former Eagle and Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame Member Don Felder will also be inducted that evening, along with Winter Haven comedy song writer and performer Jim Stafford and Cape Coral writer Lee Bennett Hopkins.

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Tom Flanigan has been with WFSU News since 2006, focusing on covering local personalities, issues, and organizations. He began his broadcast career more than 30 years before that and covered news for several radio stations in Florida, Texas, and his home state of Maryland.

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