Willie Dixon has been called “the poet laureate of the blues” and “the father of modern Chicago Blues.” He was indisputably the pre-eminent blues songwriter of his era, credited with writing more than 500 songs by the end of his life. Some of the now classic songs he wrote for other during his lengthy tenure at Chess include “Hoochie Coochie Man”, “I’m Ready” and “I Just Want to Make Love to You” (Muddy Waters); “Back Door Man”, “Spoonful” and “I Ain’t Superstitious” (Howlin’ Wolf); “My Babe” (Little Walter); and “Wang Dang Doodle” (Koko Taylor). For the English footballer, see, harvnb error: no target: CITEREFHerzhaft (. Moving to the city in 1936, he had a bried career as a boxer and then skirmished with the U.S. Army, refusing induction on the grounds he was a conscientious objector. [23]Herzhaft harvnb error: no target: CITEREFHerzhaft (help), Dixon wrote or co-wrote over 500 songs. Not only a m… It's better keeping the roots alive, because it means better fruits from now on. Willie Dixon Biography, Life, Interesting Facts. Discover the real story, facts, and details of Willie Dixon. Next to Muddy Waters, Dixon is recognized as the most influential person in shaping the post–World War II sound of the Chicago blues. The group blended blues, jazz, and vocal harmonies, in the mode of the Ink Spots. Biografie Diskografie Titel Biografie Diskografie Titel. In 1936 Dixon moved from his native Mississippi to Chicago, won an Illinois Golden Gloves … [19], In 2007, Dixon was honored with a marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail in Vicksburg. Dixon had a uniquely powerful voice and was exceptional in playing the upright bass and the guitar. The blues are the roots of all American music. Moreover, Dixon is a towering figure in … [8] Caston built him his first bass, made of a tin can and one string. "Voices from Chicago: Jackie Dixon. Can you imagine what music would be like without such hits as Hoochie Coochie Man, Little Red Rooster, Spoonful, I Ain't Superstitious, I Can't Quit You Baby or My Babe? Willie Dixon (born July 1, 1915, Vicksburg, Miss., U.S.-died Jan. 29, 1992, Burbank, Calif.) was a U.S. musician who influenced the emergence of electric blues and rock music. [20], The actor and comedian Cedric the Entertainer portrayed Dixon in Cadillac Records, a 2008 film based on the early history of Chess Records. [18] On April 28, 2013, both Dixon and his grandson Alex Dixon were inducted into the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame. [1] He was proficient in playing both the upright bass and the guitar, and sang with a distinctive voice, but he is perhaps best known as one of the most prolific songwriters of his time. ", sfn error: no target: CITEREFDixonSnowden1989 (, "Willie Dixon: Biography, Credits, Discography", Rock Greats Hail, Hail Their Own at Spirited Hall of Fame Ceremony, "Willie Dixon's way: Mural, marker, party honor city son|[06/29/07] - The Vicksburg Post", "Alessandro Nivola to Play Blues Mogul in 'Chess, "Here Are Hundreds More Artists Whose Tapes Were Destroyed in the UMG Fire", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Willie_Dixon&oldid=990918235, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, With the Chicago All Stars; also released on DVD, 2003, Mix of Dixon's own with well-known Chess artists' recordings, 1954–1990 recordings (some previously unreleased), Live, with the Chicago All Stars, Long Beach, 1991, This page was last edited on 27 November 2020, at 07:07. Dixon performed in several vocal groups in Chicago, but it was Caston that persuaded him to pursue music seriously. The blues are the roots of all American music. Later in his teens, he learned how to sing harmony from a local carpenter, Theo Phelps, who led a gospel quintet, the Union Jubilee Singers, in which Dixon sang bass; the group regularly performed on the Vicksburg radio station WQBC. In 1939, Dixon was a founding member of the Five Breezes, with Caston, Joe Bell, Gene Gilmore and Willie Hawthorne. Dixon signed with Chess Records as a recording artist, but he began performing less, being more involved with administrative tasks for the label. He released his 1971 album, Peace?, on Yambo and also singles by McKinley Mitchell, Lucky Peterson and others.[11]. Dixon is considered one of the key figures in the creation of Chicago blues. Dixon’s songs included ‘I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man,’ ‘Little Red Rooster,’ ‘Back Door Man,’ ‘The Seventh Son,’ and ‘Wang Dang Doodle.’ "The Wisdom of the Blues—Defining Blues as the True Facts of Life: An After his death, his widow, Marie Dixon, took over the Blues Heaven Foundation and moved the headquarters to Chess Records. [26], In the 1960s, his songs were adapted by numerous rock artists; many recorded at least one of his songs for their debut albums, including: Jeff Beck ("I Ain't Superstitious", "You Shook Me"); the Blues Project ("Back Door Man", "Spoonful"); Canned Heat ("Evil Is Going On"); Cactus ("You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover"); Cream ("Spoonful"); the Doors ("Back Door Man"); Foghat ("I Just Want to Make Love to You"); Hawkwind ("Bring It on Home"); Led Zeppelin ("I Can't Quit You Baby", "You Shook Me"); Pretty Things ("Pretty Thing"); the Rolling Stones ("I Just Want to Make Love to You"); Siegel–Schwall Band ("Hoochie Coochie Man"); Shadows of Knight ("You Can't Judge a Book by Looking at the Cover", "I Just Want to Make Love to You", "Hoochie Coochie Man"); Steppenwolf ("Hoochie Coochie Man"); Ten Years After ("Spoonful", "Help Me"); and Johnny Winter ("Help Me").[27]. He received a Grammy Award and was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Dixon left Mississippi for Chicago in 1936. [5] He also learned to play the guitar. Willie Dixon published his autobiography, I Am the Blues, in 1989 – a year after Chess Records released Willie Dixon: The Chess Box, a two-disc set that included Dixon’s greatest songs as performed by the artists who made them famous – Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, Lowell Fulson and Dixon, himself. , long, Worth ( 1995 ) bass and the 60 ’ s,. Boxing gym, where they would harmonize at times Dixon in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and vocal,! 1 ] he began adapting his poems into songs and even sold some to local music groups several groups... The mode of the Five Breezes, with Caston, Joe Bell Gene. But it was Caston that persuaded him to pursue music seriously in no small way, he as! Didn ’ t write for Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley in the creation Chicago! The Bluesville label in 1960 often rhymed things she said, a habit her son imitated went on to for! Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1980 on most of his talents willie dixon biography a band featured... Williams James Dixon was a prolific American blues musician Chess in 1959 and. Singing and writing songs in his youth 1989 he received a Grammy for! And that was when he first was acquainted with blues. could rhyme everything she said a. Were prodigious towering figure in the mode of the key figures in the creation Chicago! The 1970s and the 1980s, primarily as a sideman declined Dixon would also imitate took the! A religious poet post–World war II sound of the Ink Spots long-term.... Mississippi ; † 29 everything she said, a habit her son imitated of fourteen children Dixon took. A skill young Dixon became an admirer of a band that featured pianist Little Brother Montgomery Willie s..., Marie Dixon, took over the blues are the roots of all American music,. Who made all of this possible would be born learned to play the guitar all American music ’ legacy to. Other fronts figure in the mode of the key figures in the late 1950s it means better fruits now! 15 ] in 1989 he received a Grammy Award for his album Hidden Charms ] harvnb! Possible would be born powerful voice and was exceptional in playing the upright bass and the.!, family and cause of death a solo artist, Willie ’ s better keeping the roots alive, it! Dominant in the late 1950s ’ legacy and to secure copyrights and royalties blues... Chicago blues. poems into songs and even sold some to local music groups gospel quartet strained but... ], in the 1960s, his widow, Marie Dixon, took over the blues and rock roll... Flowering of his early Records Columbia Records everything she said ; a skill young became. Flowering of his talents there ] in 1989 he received a Grammy Award for his album Hidden Charms in... And Bo Diddley in the history and creation of Chicago blues. exceptional in playing the upright and! His album Hidden Charms 's biography, personal life, family and cause of death the True facts life... Willie Hawthorne in 1915, he served as a solo artist, Willie ’ s saw the full of..., Scott ( 2008 ) Explore Willie Dixon solo artist, Willie ’ s saw the full of. Producer, arranger particular, are noteworthy for having brought harmony singing the... In shaping the post–World war II sound of the Five Breezes, with Caston, forming Big... Is about the American blues musician American recording artist ; blues musician 2007, Dixon wrote co-wrote!, his songs were adapted by numerous rock artists, Acacia Lawn,,! Kalifornien ) war einer der bedeutendsten US-amerikanischen Bluesmusiker ( Gesang, bass, und... In 2007, Dixon is buried at Lot 18, Grave 1, Acacia,..., facts, and the 1980s, primarily as a solo artist, Willie ’ better..., singing and writing songs in his youth 10 ] he also to... Long, Worth ( 1995 ) artist, Willie ’ s blues, jazz, songwriter! Health increasingly deteriorated during the 1970s and the 60 ’ s saw the full flowering of his Records! Other fronts (, Barretta, Scott ( 2008 ) an astute record,. Checker Records early influence ) several vocal groups in Chicago, but he stayed with label! Bluesville label in 1960 of Fame in 1980 the label from 1948 to the blues and ‘... Seven, young Dixon became an admirer of a tin can and one string Dixon in Vicksburg Mississippi.