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Floyd Dixon

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For the American football player see Floyd Dixon (American football)
Floyd Dixon
Birth nameJay Riggins, Jr.
Born(1929-02-08)February 8, 1929
Marshall, Texas, United States
DiedJuly 26, 2006(2006-07-26) (aged 77)
Orange County, California, United States
GenresRhythm and blues, Texas blues, West Coast blues
Occupation(s)Pianist, singer
InstrumentPiano
Years active1949–2006
LabelsVarious

Floyd Dixon (February 8, 1929 – July 26, 2006)[1] was an American rhythm and blues pianist and singer.

Life and career

Dixon was born Jay Riggins, Jr. in Marshall, Texas, United States.[1] He was influenced by blues, gospel, jazz and country music growing up. His family moved to Los Angeles, California in 1942 and Dixon met his influence Charles Brown there.[1]

The self-dubbed "Mr. Magnificent", Dixon signed a recording contract with Modern Records in 1949, specializing in jump blues and sexualized songs like "Red Cherries", "Wine Wine Wine", "Too Much Jelly Roll" and "Baby Let's Go Down to The Woods". Dixon replaced Brown on piano and vocals in the band Johnny Moore's Three Blazers in 1950 when Brown departed to start a solo career. The group recorded on Aladdin Records.[2] Staying with the record label, Dixon had a small hit under his own name in 1952 with "Call Operator 210".[2]

Dixon switched to the Specialty Records label in 1952, and the Atlantic Records subsidiary Cat Records in 1954. "Hey Bartender" (later covered by The Blues Brothers) and "Hole In The Wall" were hit singles during this time.

In the 1970s Dixon left the music industry for a quieter life in Texas, though he did occasional tours in the 1970s and 1980s.[2] In 1984 he was commissioned to write "Olympic Blues" for the 1984 Summer Olympics.[1]

In 1993, Dixon received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.[1] In the mid-1990s, he secured a contract with Alligator Records, releasing the critically acclaimed album, Wake Up And Live.[1]

On June 1 and 2, 2006, Dixon hosted a concert with Pinetop Perkins and Henry Gray, celebrating the intergenerational aspect of blues piano. The band was led by Kid Ramos and included Larry Taylor and Richard "Bigfoot" Innes. Kim Wilson, Fred Kaplan (from the Hollywood Blue Flames) and Lynwood Slim also performed. This concert was filmed and released on DVD, March 6, 2013 on HighJohn Records as Time Brings About A Change.[3]

Dixon died in Orange County, California in July 2006, at the age of 77, from kidney failure, having suffered with cancer.[1] A public memorial service was held at Grace Chapel, in the grounds of the Inglewood Park Cemetery.

Discography

LP releases

  • Live In Sweden (Great Dame #001) rel. 1975
  • Opportunity Blues [rec. 1948-1961] compilation (Route 66 #KIX-1) rel. 1976
  • Rockin' This Joint Tonite: Ace Holder/Kid Thomas/Floyd Dixon Featuring Johnny Guitar Waton (JSP #1002) rel. 1978
  • Houston Jump [rec. 1947-1960] compilation (Route 66 #KIX-11) rel. 1979
  • Empty Stocking Blues [rec. 1947-1953] compilation (Route 66 #KIX-27) rel. 1985

CD releases

  • Wake Up And Live! (Alligator #4841) rel. 1996
  • Mr. Magnificent Hits Again (HMO #2450) rel. 1999
  • Fine! Fine! Thing! (Highjohn #1739) rel. 2005
  • Time Brings About A Change...A Floyd Dixon Celebration (Highjohn #5206) rel. 2006

CD compilations

  • Marshall Texas Is My Home (Specialty #7011) rel. 1991; also on Ace #CHD-361, rel. 1993
  • Floyd Dixon: His Complete Aladdin Recordings [2CD set] (Capitol-EMI #36293) rel. 1996
  • The Cocktail Combos: Nat King Cole/Charles Brown/Floyd Dixon [3CD set] (Capitol-EMI #52042) rel. 1997
  • Cow Town Blues: The Seminal 1948-1950 Modern Recordings (Ace #CHD-740) rel. 2000

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Biography by Jason Ankeny". Allmusic.com. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues - From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. pp. 106–107. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  3. ^ "Highjohn Records LLC - Home". Highjohn.com. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
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