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Willie Dixon
Willie Dixon's style of blues was one of the inspirations for a new generation of music, rock and roll.
Willie Dixon's style of blues was one of the inspirations for a new generation of music, rock and roll. The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African
Background information
Birth nameWilliam James Dixon
BornJuly 1, 1915(1915-07-01)
Vicksburg, Mississippi, U.S.
OriginChicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJanuary 29, 1992 (aged 76)
Burbank, California, U.S.
Genre(s)Blues
Instrument(s)Double bass, guitar
Label(s)Chess

William James "Willie" Dixon (July 1, 1915 – January 29, 1992) was a well-known American blues bassist, singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. Mississippi ( is a state located in the Deep South of the United States The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 904 - Sergius III comes out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed Antipope Christopher. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County California, United States. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The double bass is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed String instrument used in the modern symphony orchestra. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Chess Records was an American Record label based in Chicago Illinois. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 904 - Sergius III comes out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed Antipope Christopher. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression A bass player (bassist is a Musician who plays a Double bass, Bass guitar, keyboard bass or wind A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both In Music, an arrangement refers either to a rewriting of a piece of existing Music with additional new material or to a fleshing-out of a compositional sketch such In the Music industry, a record producer or music producer has many roles among them controlling the recording sessions coaching and guiding the musicians organizing [1] His songs, including "Little Red Rooster", "Hoochie Coochie Man", "Evil", "Spoonful", "Back Door Man", "I Just Want to Make Love to You", "I Ain't Superstitious", "My Babe", "Wang Dang Doodle", and "Bring It on Home", written during the peak of Chess Records, 1950-1965, and performed by Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Little Walter, influenced a worldwide generation of musicians. Little Red Rooster is a Blues song written by Willie Dixon and released by Howlin' Wolf as a single ("The Red Rooster" b/w "Shake For " Hoochie Coochie Man " (sometimes referred to as " (I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man " is a 1954 song (see 1954 in music) written by Willie Dixon " Evil " (sometimes referred to as " Evil (Is Going On " is a Chicago blues standard written by Willie Dixon for Howlin' " Spoonful " is a Blues standard written by Willie Dixon and lyrically based on Charley Patton 's "Spoonful Blues" " Back Door Man " is a Blues song written by Willie Dixon for Howlin' Wolf, released on Chess Records as a B-side to " I Just Want to Make Love to You " is a 1954 blues song (see 1954 in music) written by Willie Dixon and first recorded by Muddy Waters " I Ain't Superstitious " is a Song written and performed by bluesman Willie Dixon in 1962. " My Babe " is a Blues Song written by Willie Dixon for Little Walter. Wang Dang Doodle is a blues song written by Willie Dixon for Howlin' Wolf at Chess Records in Chicago. " Bring It On Home " is a song written by Willie Dixon and made famous by Sonny Boy Williamson II in 1963 featuring a simple rhythm track and interplay between Chess Records was an American Record label based in Chicago Illinois. For the album by Redman, see Muddy Waters (album. For the college football coach see Muddy Waters (football coach. Chester Burnett redirects here For the American football player see Chester Burnett (American football Chester Arthur Burnett ( June 10, 1910 For the radio personality see Little Walter DeVenne. Little Walter (born Marion Walter Jacobs in Marksville LA and raised [2] Next to Muddy Waters, he was the most influential person in shaping the post-World War II sound of the Chicago blues. The Chicago blues is a form of Blues music that developed in Chicago Illinois by taking the basic acoustic guitar and Harmonica -based Delta blues [3] He also was an important link between the blues and rock and roll, working with Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley in the late-1950s, and his songs were covered by some of the biggest bands of the 1960s and 1970s, including Cream, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, The Allman Brothers Band, and the Grateful Dead. Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry (born October 18 1926 in St Bo Diddley ( December 30 1928 &ndash June 2 2008, born Ellas Otha Bates) was an original and influential American Cream were a 1960s British rock band Led Zeppelin were This article is about the band For their self-titled debut album see The Doors (album; for the Oliver Stone film see The Doors (film; for Doors in computing The Allman Brothers Band is a Southern rock band based in Macon, Georgia. The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. [3]

Contents

Biography

Early life

Dixon was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi on July 1, 1915. Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. Mississippi ( is a state located in the Deep South of the United States "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year [1] His mother Daisy often rhymed the things she said, a habit Dixon imitated. This article is about the poetic technique For the form of ice see Rime ice. At the age of 7, he became an admirer of a band that featured pianist Little Brother Montgomery. Eurreal Wilford "Little Brother" Montgomery ( 18 April 1906 &ndash 6 September 1985) was a Jazz and Blues Dixon was first introduced to blues when he served time on prison farms in Mississippi as an early-teenager. The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression He learned how to sing harmony as a teen as well, from local carpenter Leo Phelps. Dixon sang bass in Phelps' group, The Jubilee Singers, a local gospel quartet that regularly appeared on the Vicksburg radio station WQBC. Gospel music is Music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life as well as (in terms of the varying music styles to Dixon began adapting poems he was writing into songs, and even sold some of them to local music groups. A song is a Musical composition. Songs contain vocal parts that are performed 'sung' and generally feature Words ( Lyrics) commonly followed

Dixon left Mississippi for Chicago in 1936. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. A man of considerable stature, at 6 and a half feet and weighing over 250 pounds, he took up boxing; he was so successful that he won the Illinois State Golden Gloves Heavyweight Championship (Novice Division) in 1937. Boxing (sometimes also known as English boxing or pugilism) is a Combat sport in which two participants generally of similar weight, For the honor in Major League Baseball, see Gold Glove. The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for Amateur [4] Dixon turned professional as a boxer and worked briefly as Joe Louis' sparring partner. Joseph Louis Barrow ( May 13, 1914 – April 12, 1981) better known as Joe Louis, was a heavyweight boxing champion. After four fights, Dixon left boxing after getting into a fight with his manager over being cheated out of money.

Dixon met Leonard "Baby Doo" Caston at the boxing gym where they would harmonize at times. The word γυμνάσιον (gymnasion was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual Education of young men (see Gymnasium Dixon performed in several vocal groups in Chicago but it was Caston that got him to pursue music seriously. Caston built him his first bass, made of a tin can and one string. Bass (pronounced like the word "base" refers to a variety of Musical instruments that can be collectively regarded as bass instruments since they produce A tin can, also called a tin (especially in British English) or a can, is an air-tight container for the distribution or storage of Dixon's experience singing bass made the instrument familiar. He also learned the guitar. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles

Career

Dixon began performing around Chicago and with Baby Doo, helped to form the Five Breezes, a group that blended blues, jazz, and vocal harmonies. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Dixon's progress in learning to play the bass was halted when he resisted the draft during World War II as a conscientious objector and was imprisoned for ten months. The Draft redirects here For other uses see Draft. Conscription in the United States has been employed several times usually during World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including A conscientious objector (CO is an individual who on religious moral or ethical grounds refuses to participate as a combatant in war or in some cases to take any role that would support [1] After the war, he formed the group Four Jumps of Jive and then reunited with Caston, forming the Big Three Trio, who went on to record for Columbia Records. Columbia Records is an American Record label founded in 1888 Columbia is the oldest surviving Brand name in pre-recorded sound being the first record company

Dixon signed to Chess Records as a recording artist, but began performing less and became more involved with the label. Chess Records was an American Record label based in Chicago Illinois. A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music By 1951, he was a full time employee at Chess where acted as producer, A&R talent scout, session musician, and staff songwriter. In the Music industry, a record producer or music producer has many roles among them controlling the recording sessions coaching and guiding the musicians organizing Artists and Repertoire ( A&R) is the division of a Record label that is responsible for talent scouting and artist development Session musicians are musicians available for hire as opposed to musicians who are either permanent members of a musical outfit or who have acquired fame in their own right A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both His relationship with the label was sometimes strained, although his spell there covered the years from 1948 to the early 1960s. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 During this time his output, and influence was prodigious.

Indeed, he once claimed "I am the blues. " This may seem a little arrogant, but there is no doubt that he was one of the major influences on the genre, through his original and varied songwriting, live performances, recording, and copious production work. He later recorded on Bluesville Records. Bluesville Records is a subsidiary of Prestige [5]

He was also a producer for Checker Records in Chicago and is considered one of the key figures in the creation of Chicago blues. Checker Records was started in 1952 as Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The Chicago blues is a form of Blues music that developed in Chicago Illinois by taking the basic acoustic guitar and Harmonica -based Delta blues He worked with Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Otis Rush, Bo Diddley, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Koko Taylor, Little Milton, Eddie Boyd, Jimmy Witherspoon, Lowell Fulson, Willie Mabon, Memphis Slim, Washboard Sam, Jimmy Rogers, and others. Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry (born October 18 1926 in St For the album by Redman, see Muddy Waters (album. For the college football coach see Muddy Waters (football coach. Chester Burnett redirects here For the American football player see Chester Burnett (American football Chester Arthur Burnett ( June 10, 1910 Otis Rush (born April 29, 1934 in Philadelphia Mississippi) is a blues Musician, Singer and Guitarist. Bo Diddley ( December 30 1928 &ndash June 2 2008, born Ellas Otha Bates) was an original and influential American For the radio personality see Little Walter DeVenne. Little Walter (born Marion Walter Jacobs in Marksville LA and raised Sonny Boy Williamson may refer to either of two 20th-century American blues harmonica players Sonny Boy Williamson I (1914–1948 John Lee Curtis Williamson Koko Taylor sometimes spelled 'KoKo Taylor' (born Cora Walton 28 September 1928, in Shelby County Tennessee) is an American Blues Milton "Little Milton" Campbell Jr ( September 7, 1934 &mdash August 4, 2005) was a Blues and Soul vocalist and Edward Riley Boyd known as Eddie Boyd ( November 25 1914 – July 13 1994) was a Blues Piano player born on Jimmy Witherspoon ( August 8, 1920 – September 18, 1997) was an American Blues singer Lowell Fulson ( March 31 1921 – March 7 1999 Career According to some sources Fulson was born on a Choctaw reservation Willie Mabon ( 24 October 1925, Holywood, Tennessee – 19 April 1985, Paris, France) was an John "Memphis Slim" Chatman (born September 3, 1915, Memphis, Tennessee; died February 24, 1988, in Robert Brown (b 15 July, 1910, Walnut Ridge Arkansas – d 6 November, 1966, Chicago) known professionally as Washboard For other uses see James Rogers (disambiguation. Jimmy Rogers ( 3 June 1924 &ndash 19 December His double bass playing was of a high standard. The double bass is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed String instrument used in the modern symphony orchestra. He appears on many of Chuck Berry's early recordings, further proving his linkage between the blues and the birth of rock and roll. Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry (born October 18 1926 in St The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African

Dixon is remembered mainly as a songwriter; his most enduring gift to the blues, lay in refurbishing archaic Southern motifs, often of magic and country folkways and often derived from earlier records such as those by Charlie Patton, in contemporary arrangements, to produce songs with both the sinew of the blues, and the agility of pop. Charlie Patton, better known as Charley Patton ( May 1, 1891 - April 28, 1934) is best known as an American Delta Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure [6] British R&B bands of the 1960s constantly drew on the Dixon songbook for inspiration. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located A musical ensemble is a group of two or more Musicians who perform instrumental or vocal Music. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [6] In December 1964, The Rolling Stones reached #1 in the UK Singles Chart with their cover version of Dixon's, "Little Red Rooster". In Popular music, a chart-topper is an extremely popular recording, identified by its inclusion in a ranked list&mdasha Chart &mdashof top The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official UK Charts Company (OCC on behalf of the British record industry Little Red Rooster is a Blues song written by Willie Dixon and released by Howlin' Wolf as a single ("The Red Rooster" b/w "Shake For [7]

In addition, as his songwriting and production work started to take a backseat, his organisational ability was utilised, putting together all-star, Chicago based blues ensembles for work in Europe. [6]

In New York Dolls: All Dolled Up, David Johansen tells a story about how Dixon used to offer meals to songwriters newly in Chicago from the Delta in exchange for the rights to their songs. David Johansen (born January 9 1950, in Staten Island, New York) is an American rock, punk, Blues Johansen claims Hoochie Coochie Man was one such song and called Dixon "The Vampire of the Blues. "

His health deteriorated in the 1970s and 1980s, due to long-term diabetes, and eventually his leg had to be amputated. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. Diabetes mellitus (ˌdaɪəˈbiːtiːz or /ˌdaɪəˈbiːtəs/ /məˈlaɪtəs/ or /ˈmɛlətəs/ often referred to simply as diabetes ( Ancient Greek: grc Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma or Surgery. [1] Dixon was inducted at the inaugral session of the Blues Foundation's ceremony, into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980. The Blues Foundation is an American nonprofit corporation headquartered in Memphis Tennessee, that is affiliated with more than 135 Blues organizations The Blues Hall of Fame is a listing of people who have significantly contributed to Blues music [8] He was also granted a Grammy Award in 1989 for his album, Hidden Charms. The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences The 31st Grammy Awards were held in 1989. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year

Death and afterward

Dixon died of heart failure[9] in Burbank, California on January 29, 1992[1] and was buried in the Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois. Heart failure is a Cardiac condition that occurs when a problem with the structure or function of the Heart impairs its ability to supply Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County California, United States. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Events 904 - Sergius III comes out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed Antipope Christopher. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) The Burr Oak and Restvale cemeteries are located in Alsip Illinois, a suburb slightly southwest of the city of Chicago. Alsip is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 19725 at the 2000 census The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union.

Dixon was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the "early influences" (pre-rock) category in 1994. A posthumous recognition is a ceremonial award given after the recipient has died usually in honor of an action associated with their death The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a Museum located on the shores of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland Ohio, United States [10] As the songlist below demonstrates, his work was covered by a varied range of artists, from the blues, to modern day rock music practitioners. The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums.

Actor and comedian Cedric the Entertainer will portray Dixon in Cadillac Records, a film based on the life of Leonard Chess, played by Adrien Brody. Cedric Antonio Kyles (born April 24, 1964) best known by his stage name Cedric the Entertainer, is an American Actor and Leonard Chess ( March 12, 1917 - October 16, 1969) was a record company executive founder of Chess Records. Adrien Brody (born April 14 1973 is an Academy Award -winning American Actor. The film, set in 1950s Chicago, will also feature Beyoncé as Etta James, and Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters. Beyoncé Giselle Knowles (born September 4 1981 commonly known as Beyoncé (biːˈɑn Etta James (born Jamesetta Hawkins on January 25, 1938) is an American Blues, soul, R&B, Rock & roll For the Austalian film director see Geoffrey Wright. Jeffrey Wright (born December 7, 1965) is an American multiple award-winning Film For the album by Redman, see Muddy Waters (album. For the college football coach see Muddy Waters (football coach. [11][12]

Songs

He wrote many famous blues songs, usually producing and playing double bass when they were first recorded. The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression A song is a Musical composition. Songs contain vocal parts that are performed 'sung' and generally feature Words ( Lyrics) commonly followed The double bass is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed String instrument used in the modern symphony orchestra. Some of these, and the extensive subsequent covers, include:

Tributes

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e All Music Guide biography - accessed February 2008
  2. ^ Dicaire, David (1999). Performers in the Blues style range from primitive one-chord Delta players to Big bands to Country music to Rock and roll to classical This is a list of inductees of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Boogie-woogie is a style of Piano -based Blues that became very popular in the late 1930s and early 1940s but originated much earlier and was extended from piano Blues Singers: Biographies of 50 Legendary Artists of the Early 20th Century. McFarland. p. 87. ISBN 0786406062
  3. ^ a b Trager, Oliver (2004). Keys to the Rain: The Definitive Bob Dylan Encyclopedia. Billboard Books. pp. 298-299. ISBN 0823079740
  4. ^ Snowden, Don (1997).
  5. ^ Prestiage Bluesville discography. Retrieved on 2006-11-17. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 284 - Diocletian is proclaimed emperor by his soldiers
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited, p. 107. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.  
  7. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums, 19th, London: Guinness World Records Limited, p. 458. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.  
  8. ^ "1980 Hall of Fame Inductees". Blues Foundation. The Blues Foundation is an American nonprofit corporation headquartered in Memphis Tennessee, that is affiliated with more than 135 Blues organizations Retrieved on February 17, 2008. Events 1500 - Battle of Hemmingstedt. 1600 - Philosopher Giordano Bruno is burned alive at Campo de' Fiori 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common
  9. ^ a b c Dead Rock Stars Club entry - accessed February 2008
  10. ^ Rule Sheila (January 20, 1994). Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) "Rock Greats Hail, Hail Their Own At Spirited Hall of Fame Ceremony". The New York Times. Retrieved on February 17, 2008. Events 1500 - Battle of Hemmingstedt. 1600 - Philosopher Giordano Bruno is burned alive at Campo de' Fiori 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common
  11. ^ Brody, Wright join musical Chess club
  12. ^ Alessandro Nivola to play blues mogul in "Chess"

Further reading and listening

External links

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