Dwayne O'Brien
Professor of Practice of Music Business
Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business
M.A., Vanderbilt University; B.S., East Central University
Location: Johnson Center 391
615-460-5733dwayne.obrien@belmont.edu
Biography
Founding member of Little Texas, Songwriter, Musician, and Educator.
Dwayne O’Brien is a seasoned songwriter and recording artist originally from Ada, Oklahoma.
As a founding member of the 90s country group Little Texas, O’Brien helped to shape the band’s sound and success. Their impressive catalog includes 15 top-ten hits, three number-ones, and over eight million albums sold under the Warner Brothers label. The band’s accolades include three Grammy nominations, an Academy of Country Music award for Vocal Group of the Year, and a CMA award for Album of the Year.
O’Brien has proven himself a prolific songwriter, penning many of Little Texas’ chart-toppers including the number-two “Kick a Little,” and the number-one country and pop radio crossover hit “What Might Have Been.” His talent extends beyond country music as evidenced by the co-written Hall and Oates hit “A Promise Ain’t Enough” which peaked at number-four on the charts. More recently, his collaboration on Casey Barnes’ “Ain’t a Better Buddy...” reached the top-5 on the Australian country charts.
O’Brien is a Professor of Practice of Music Business in the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee; teaching and mentoring the next generation of artists, songwriters, and entertainment industry professionals. He continues to tour with Little Texas, sharing his music with fans old and new, is actively involved in the songwriting community, and remains passionate about songwriting and performing.