Willie Dixon

William James Dixon (July 1, 1915 – January 29, 1992) was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was proficient in playing both the upright bass and the guitar, and sang with a distinctive voice, but he is perhaps best known as one of the most prolific songwriters of his time. Next to Muddy Waters, Dixon is recognized as the most influential person in shaping the post–World War II sound of the Chicago blues.

Dixon's songs have been recorded by countless musicians in many genres as well as by various ensembles in which he participated. A short list of his most famous compositions includes "Hoochie Coochie Man", "I Just Want to Make Love to You", "Little Red Rooster", "My Babe", "Spoonful", and "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover". These songs were written during the peak years of Chess Records, from 1950 to 1965, and were performed by Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, and Bo Diddley; they influenced a generation of musicians worldwide.

Dixon was an important link between the blues and rock and roll, working with Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley in the late 1950s. In the 1960s, his songs were adapted by numerous rock artists. He received a Grammy Award and was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Birth and Death Data: Born July 1, 1915 (Vicksburg), Died January 29, 1992 (Burbank)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1947 - 1959

Roles Represented in DAHR: string bass, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 104 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Chess U7590 10-in. 1/7/1954 She's so pretty Muddy Waters instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7591 10-in. 1/7/1954 Blues all day long Jimmy Rogers instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7592 10-in. 1/7/1954 Chicago bound Jimmy Roger's Rocking Four instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7611 10-in. February 1954 Would you baby? Willie Mabon composer  
Chess U7612 10-in. February 1954 Late again Willie Mabon composer  
Chess U7618 10-in. March, 1954 No place to go Howlin' Wolf composer, instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7621 10-in. March 1954 Rockin' daddy Howlin' Wolf composer, instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7630 10-in. 4/13/1954 Just make love to me Muddy Waters composer, instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7631 10-in. 4/13/1954 Oh! yeh Muddy Waters composer, instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7632 10-in. 4/13/1954 Sloppy drunk Jimmy Roger's Rocking Four instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7657 10-in. 5/25/1954 Baby how long? Howlin' Wolf instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7658 10-in. 5/25/1954 Evil is goin' on Howlin' Wolf composer, instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7687 10-in. 9/1/1954 I'm ready Muddy Waters composer, instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7697 10-in. 9/1/1954 I'm ready Muddy Waters composer, instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7699 10-in. 9/1/1954 I don't know why Muddy Waters instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7722 10-in. 1954 Poison ivy Willie Mabon instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7723 10-in. 1954 Say man Willie Mabon instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7740 10-in. October, 1954 I'll be around Howlin' Wolf instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7741 10-in. October, 1954 Forty four Howlin' Wolf instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7746 10-in. Oct. - Nov. 1954 I'm a natural born lover Muddy Waters composer, instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7747 10-in. Oct.-Nov. 1954 Ooh wee Muddy Waters composer, instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7770 10-in. 1955 This train Robert Ballinger instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7771 10-in. 1955 How I got over Robert Ballinger instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7784 10-in. 2/3/1955 Young fashion ways Muddy Waters instrumentalist, string bass  
Chess U7785 10-in. 2/3/1955 I want to be loved Muddy Waters instrumentalist, string bass  
(Results 26-50 of 104 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Dixon, Willie," accessed June 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/357926.

Dixon, Willie. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/357926.

"Dixon, Willie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 June 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/357926

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