Ronnie Gene Dunn was born on 1 June 1953 in Coleman, Texas. At one time he planned to be a Baptist minister however he could not reconcile it with his love of honky tonks, and followed his musical interests. Ronnie was eventually leading the house band at Duke's Country, a successful club in Tulsa. He had minor US country chart entries with 'It's Written All Over Your Face' and 'She Put The Sad In All His Songs'. It was after he had won a talent contest in 1989 that he moved to Nashville.

     When in Nashville Ronnie met Tim DuBois, vice president of Arista, who suggested that he should try to write some songs with Brooks. From this collaboration came 'Brand New Man' and, as they sounded good together and became friends, they decided to form a duo.

     Their high-energy debut album was released in 1991, and has since sold over five million copies. At the time it yielded four chart-topping country singles. The following year they collected the CMA duo of the year ward, and have held onto it ever since.