In the music business, it's not only the stars that make the magic. Special songwriters, groovin' sidemen, and gifted producers propel the music behind the scenes. Willie Dixon was without doubt the ultimate Blues songwriter, sideman, and producer. Special, groovin' and gifted.
July 1, 1915
January 29, 1992
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Dixon wrote many of the definitive Blues standards. Bring It on Home, Hoochie Coochie Man, and I Just Want to Make Love to You. He is most associated with Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, but he also directed artists like Buddy Guy, Sonny Boy Williamson, Eddie Boyd, Bo Diddley, and Chuck Berry.
Willie Dixon was the musical soul of Chess Records.
Dixon played several instruments, but was most effective on the stand-up bass. If you've listened to the Blues, most likely Willie was on bass. After his Chess session days, he managed and toured with the Chicago Blues All-stars and the American Folk Blues Festival. With his songwriting and studio expertise, Dixon was a monster force in post-war Chicago Blues.
i]Willie Dixon attempted a career in professional boxing.
Along with most Blues artists of his time, Willie Dixon was deprived of his due royalties by scheming record companies. He was in the legal forefront of recovery efforts for short-changed artists.
Dixon registered as a conscientious objector in WWII and eventually served time in jail for his convictions.
British rock acts such as the Rolling Stones and Led Zepplin copied Dixon so thoroughly that they were eventually taken to court for copyright infringement. Bowing to their musical mentor, Dixon reportedly received a generous settlement, which he then had to wrestle from his record company.
Willie Dixon died in his sleep January 1992 in Burbank, California.
