Dean Harper, founding member of the Thunderbirds (IRRMA Hall of Fame 2006), passed away on Friday, March 25th after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.Dean was a noted Iowa guitar instructor and musician with connections throughout the music world. He stemmed from a long line of Iowa musicians on his mother’s side. His partner, Frieda was one of the first female musicians to appear with the house band on the Grand Old Opera stage in Nashville. Over the years his band experience included work with Jack Mills and the Milltones of Creston, Iowa; the Stragglers out of Corning, Iowa; and many other jazz, country and Rock&Roll groups dating back to the 1950's. Dean never got to finish his memoirs, but we'll remember his stories. March 25th, 2011 was another "day the music died".
