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Willie DixonAmerican bluesman, bassist, composer, producer
Date of Birth: 01.07.1915
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Musical Roots
- Move to Chicago and Boxing Career
- Formation of Five Breezes and Legal Troubles
- Collaboration with Chess Records
- Influence on Rock and Roll
- Later Career and Legacy
Early Life and Musical Roots
Willie Dixon was born into a poor family of sharecroppers in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on July 1, 1915. As a child, he sang in church choirs and composed songs while working in the fields. He inherited an explosive temper from his father and spent time in jail as a teenager.
Move to Chicago and Boxing Career
In 1936, Dixon moved to Chicago, hoping to escape his troubled past. However, his boxing career, after becoming Illinois State Boxing Champion in 1938, threatened to sideline his musical ambitions.
Formation of Five Breezes and Legal Troubles
Dixon's musical journey took off when he met guitarist Leo Caston. Together, they formed the renowned blues ensemble Five Breezes. In 1941, Dixon's refusal to serve in the military landed him in trouble with the law. He publicly renounced his American citizenship to protest racial inequality.
Collaboration with Chess Records
Upon his release from prison, Dixon joined the esteemed Chess Records as an instrumentalist. By 1948, he had become the company's A&R director and began recording under his own name. His songs became massive national hits, performed by blues legends such as Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Little Walter.
Influence on Rock and Roll
In the 1960s, Dixon's songs gained new life through covers by rock bands like The Rolling Stones and The Yardbirds. He continued to collaborate with rock-n-roll artists like Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley while nurturing young blues musicians in Chicago.
Later Career and Legacy
Dixon's solo album "I'm The Blues" (1970) was a critical success. His contributions to music were finally recognized in 1991 with his first and only Grammy Award. Willie Dixon's legacy lives on as one of the most influential figures in blues and rock and roll history.
