William James “Willie” Dixon (erican blues artist-songwriter, nearly all whose music turned into classics of your Chicago blues style and were later protected by biggest rock musicians and artists. He was and additionally a recorded bassist, arranger, and listing manufacturer to have Chicago’s prominent blues label, Chess Details, within the heyday for the 1950s and you will very early sixties.
Dixon had written eg organization moves once the “Nothing Red-colored Rooster,” “Huge Manager Child,” “Spoonful,” “Back-door Guy,” “I recently Need to make Choose to Your,” “My Hottie,” “Wang Dang Doodle,” “Hoochie Coochie Kid,” and you can “Bring it on the Household.” His sounds was basically performed by the organization greats for example Dirty Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Jimmy Reed, and you will Absolutely nothing Walter. The guy also swayed a manufacturing regarding more youthful musicians who after submitted their songs, and additionally Sam Cooke, The new Rolling Rocks, Otis Redding, Eric Clapton, The fresh Gates, The Dogs, Bob Dylan, Lotion, Led Zeppelin, Brand new Yardbirds, the fresh new Grateful Lifeless and others.
Dixon along with formed an immediate results of this new blues and you will material and you will move from the coping with material writers and singers such as Chuck Berry and you will Bo Diddley within their early many years. Near to Dirty Waters, he could be considered the essential influential shaper of your post-World war ii voice of your own Chi town organization that is think because of the certain to be 1st organization songwriter of them all.
Early lifestyle
Dixon grew up in Vicksburg, Mississippi on July step 1, 1915. His mother, Daisy, usually written rhymes throughout the casual talk, a habit Dixon learned to simulate. Within period of 7, he became an admirer away from a ring you to seemed blues pianist Little Brother Montgomery. Dixon is after that brought with the blues when he served big date to the prison farms in Mississippi due to the fact Bauern Dating-Seite in den USA an early-teenager. The guy together with learned how to play harmony of a community carpenter named Leo Phelps. Dixon done trout from inside the Phelps’ class, the newest Jubilee Vocalists, a city gospel quartet one continuously checked towards the Vicksburg radio channel WQBC. For this date Dixon began trying out songwriting because of the adjusting poems he previously created into sounds, and you will was even capable offer some of them to help you local sounds teams.
Dixon left Mississippi to have Chi town when you look at the 1936. A guy out-of impressive stature on 6 legs six inches significant and you will weigh over 250 pounds, the guy used boxing. Dixon upcoming turned into elite group given that good boxer and you may worked temporarily once the Joe Louis’ sparring mate. Immediately after four professional fights, although not, the guy given up the brand new boxing team on account of a disagreement together with his movie director over an issue of money.
At the boxing gym, Dixon is actually satisfied by fellow musician Leonard “Kids Doo” Caston, which aided him become serious about songs given that a job. Dixon performed in several vocal groups when you look at the Chicago, and you can Caston founded your 1st bass, made of a beneficial tin is and another sequence. Dixon together with learned a guitar.
Career
From inside the Chi town, Dixon and you will Caston assisted form the five Breezes, a team you to definitely combined blues and you can jazz, emphasizing singing harmonies. Dixon’s advances in learning to relax and play the fresh new bass was halted when he had been imprisoned having 10 weeks after resisting brand new write throughout the The second world war. Following the war, he temporarily shaped brand new Four Leaps away from Jive right after which reunited which have Caston in order to make the big About three Trio, hence continued so you’re able to record briefly to possess Columbia Ideas.
Dixon first closed with Chess Suggestions during the 1948 given that a tracking singer, however, in the future first started doing work in the title due to the fact a producer and arranger. Because of the 1951, he had been an entire-go out staff member on Chess, where the guy acted due to the fact music producer, talent scout, example singer with the trout, arranger, and you may employees songwriter. In the event their connection with the fresh new name is actually sometimes strained, he stayed having Chess from early 1960s. During this time period their production and determine is prodigious.