The guy displayed significant skill throughout the athletics, effective the Illinois Condition Golden Gloves heavyweight championship (novice department) inside 1937
William James “Willie” Dixon (erican blues artist-songwriter, many of whose musical turned classics of one’s Chicago organization style and you will were later on covered by significant rock and roll performers. He had been plus a documented bassist, arranger, and number manufacturer having Chicago’s biggest blues label, Chess Ideas, within the heyday in 1950s and you may early sixties.
Dixon published eg organization strikes because “Nothing Purple Rooster,” “Huge Boss Boy,” “Spoonful,” “Back-door Son,” “I simply Should make Prefer to You,” “My personal Babe,” “Wang Dang Doodle,” “Hoochie Coochie Guy,” and you will “Carry it towards Domestic.” Their songs was in fact performed of the organization greats such Muddy Seas, Howlin’ Wolf, Jimmy Reed, and you will Absolutely nothing Walter. He as well as influenced a manufacturing out-of younger writers and singers whom afterwards submitted their tunes, including Sam Cooke, The newest Rolling Rocks, Otis Redding, Eric Clapton, The latest Doorways, Brand new Animals, Bob Dylan, Lotion, Provided Zeppelin, The brand new Yardbirds, the newest Pleased Inactive and many more.
Dixon and additionally shaped a direct link between the new blues and you can material and you will move of the dealing with rock music artists instance Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley within their early age. Next to Muddy Oceans, he’s thought many important shaper of your own blog post-World war ii sound of one’s il blues in fact it is think because of the particular becoming the most important blues songwriter of them all.
Early lifestyle
Dixon was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi into July step one, 1915. His mommy, Daisy, tend to authored rhymes while in the everyday talk, a practice Dixon learned so you can replicate. At period of 7, he turned an admirer away from a band you to featured organization pianist Absolutely nothing Sis Montgomery. Dixon try subsequent delivered into blues when he supported big date on jail farms from inside the Mississippi as an earlier-adolescent. He 
as well as read just how to play equilibrium off a district carpenter called Leo Phelps. Dixon performed trout when you look at the Phelps’ class, brand new Jubilee Vocalists, a location gospel quartet one regularly checked to your Vicksburg radio station WQBC. Around this date Dixon began experimenting with songwriting by adjusting poems he’d written into the audio, and you can was even in a position to sell some of them so you’re able to local audio communities.
Dixon leftover Mississippi to have Chicago inside 1936. A man off epic stature during the six foot six inches high and you can weighing more 250 lbs, the guy used boxing. Dixon upcoming turned elite due to the fact an excellent boxer and did temporarily due to the fact Joe Louis’ sparring companion. Shortly after five professional fights, however, the guy quit this new boxing providers due to a quarrel along with his movie director more than a question of money.
On boxing fitness center, Dixon is actually fulfilled by fellow artist Leonard “Kids Doo” Caston, which helped him feel serious about musical while the employment. Dixon carried out in lot of singing communities within the il, and Caston centered him his first trout, created from an excellent tin is also and one sequence. Dixon plus read practicing the guitar.
Job
Inside Chi town, Dixon and you will Caston helped form the 5 Breezes, a team you to combined blues and you may jazz, centering on singing harmonies. Dixon’s advances in learning to relax and play brand new bass try halted whenever he had been imprisoned to have 10 weeks immediately after resisting the latest write during the The second world war. Following the war, he temporarily designed the latest Five Leaps from Jive following reunited which have Caston which will make the top About three Trio, which continued to record temporarily to own Columbia Records.
Dixon very first closed having Chess Ideas when you look at the 1948 because a tracking musician, however, soon began doing work on term since the a maker and you can arranger. By 1951, he had been a full-time staff member within Chess, where he acted just like the producer, ability lookout, class singer to the bass, arranger, and you will professionals songwriter. Even if his reference to the latest title was sometimes strained, the guy stayed which have Chess from the early sixties. During this time his efficiency and you will determine is prodigious.
