He is the blues and was certainly the single most important presence on the postwar Chicago scene. What distinguished Willie Dixon from most other Delta bluesmen of his day was his ability to read, write, compose, and arrange music -- talents that were to destine him for legendary status among the bluesmakers. Dixon was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, in 1915 and was influenced as a child by his mother -- a writer of religious poetry -- and the local gospel scene. But it was boxing, not music, that brought Dixon to Chicago in 1936. He was an upstart professional fighter who for a time sparred with the great Joe Louis. Dixon played upright bass with several Chicago bands through 1948, when he signed with Chess Records, working primarily as a songwriter, but also as a studio musician, producer, and talent scout.
Except for a brief time with Cobra Records in the late 1950's, Dixon remained with Chess through the 1960's, where he contributed such blues standards as Hoochie Coochie Man, I Just Want To Make Love To You, Evil, Spoonful, I Ain't Superstitious, Little Red Rooster, Back Door Man, I Can't Quit You Baby, You Shook Me, The Seventh Son, and Wang Dang Doodle. Dixon died in Burbank, California, in 1992.
Curiously named after a 19th-century American president, young Chester Arthur Burnett earned the nickname that was to become synonymous with the power of the blues. Howlin' Wolf was born near West Point, Mississippi, in 1910 and was influenced at an early age by Charley Patton, Willie Brown, and Sonny Boy Williamson 2. He settled in West Memphis, Arkansas, after World War II and played locally with a series of bands. An accomplished harmonica player, Wolf had focused his efforts on the electric guitar by 1950 and soon recorded for Sam Phillips' Recording Service in Memphis. He signed with Chess Records in 1953, where he recorded Spoonful, Little Red Rooster, Back Door Man, I Ain't Superstitious, Smokestack Lightnin' and Killing Floor. Wolf remained a towering blues figure through the 1960's. He died near Chicago in 1976.
source. http://thebluehighway.com/tbh3.html
(Nederlands/dutch)
Hij was de enige meest belangrijke persoonlijkheid van het naoorlogse Chicago blues gebeuren.. . . hij is the blues.
Wat Willie Dixon verschillend maakte van de meeste andere Delta bluesmuzikanten van zijn tijd, was zijn talent van het lezen, schrijven, componeren en arrangeren van muziek en hem alzo bestemde tot een legendarische status onder de bluesmakers.
In 1915 werd Dixon geboren in Vicksburg, Mississippi, waar hij als kind werd beinvloed door zijn moeder, een schrijfster van religieuze poëzie en betrokken in het gospel gebeuren.
Niet de muziek, maar het boksen bracht Dixon in 1936 naar Chicago.
Hij was een beginnende professionele vechter en was een tijdje de sparringpartner voor de grote Joe Louis.
Vanaf 1948 bespeelde Dixon de rechtopstaande bass in verschillende groepen in Chicago.
Hij tekende bij Chess Records, werkte hoofdzakelijk als tekstschrijver, maar ook als studiomuzikant, producer en talentenjager.
Uitgezonderd van een korte periode bij Cobra Records eind jaren 50, bleef Dixon bij Chess doorheen de jaren 60, waar hij bijdragen leverde aan blues standaarden zoals Hoochie Coochie Man, I Just Want To Make Love To You, Evil, Spoonful, I Ain't Superstitious, Little Red Rooster, Back Door Man, I Can't Quit You Baby, You Shook Me, The Seventh Son, en Wang Dang Doodle.
In 1992 stierf Dixon in Burbank, California.
bron http://users.skynet.be/bk286815/pages/willie.htm
"My baby (vocals: Little Walter)"
