The most influential songwriter of the 20th Century that you don’t know.
Willie Dixon- The man who sold the blues.
RNfinity | 23-12-2022Key Questions about Willie Dixon
Who was Willie Dixon?
Willie Dixon was an American blues musician, songwriter, producer, and bass player. Born on July 1, 1915, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, he became one of the most influential figures in the history of the blues. Dixon is renowned for his contributions to the Chicago blues scene and for writing numerous classics that became standards in the blues and rock genres.
What are Willie Dixon’s most famous songs?
Willie Dixon wrote and co-wrote many iconic songs, including:
- "Hoochie Coochie Man" (famously performed by Muddy Waters)
- "I Can't Quit You Baby" (covered by Led Zeppelin)
- "Little Red Rooster" (recorded by The Rolling Stones)
- "Spoonful" (popularized by Howlin’ Wolf and later by Cream)
- "You Shook Me" (covered by Led Zeppelin)
- "Back Door Man" (famously recorded by The Doors)
What was Willie Dixon’s role in Chess Records?
Willie Dixon was a key figure at Chess Records, serving as a songwriter, bassist, producer, and arranger. He worked closely with legendary artists like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Bo Diddley, and Chuck Berry, helping to shape the sound of Chicago blues in the 1950s and 1960s.
How did Willie Dixon influence rock music?
Willie Dixon’s influence extends far beyond the blues. Many of his songs were covered or adapted by rock bands, including The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and The Doors. His songwriting helped bridge blues and rock, bringing the blues tradition to a wider audience.
Did Willie Dixon win any awards?
Yes, Willie Dixon received numerous accolades, including:
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1989): For his outstanding contribution to music.
- Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1994): As an early influence.
- Blues Hall of Fame (1980): Among the first inductees for his monumental impact on the blues.
What is Willie Dixon's legacy?
Willie Dixon is often referred to as "The Poet Laureate of the Blues" and "The Father of Modern Chicago Blues." His songwriting and production shaped the blues genre, influencing generations of musicians. His work remains a cornerstone of American music and a vital link in the evolution of blues and rock.
How does Willie Dixon rank as one of the most prolific songwriters?
Willie Dixon is widely regarded as one of the most prolific songwriters in blues history. He wrote over 500 songs during his career, many of which became standards not only in the blues genre but also in rock and roll. His ability to craft powerful, storytelling lyrics combined with memorable melodies and riffs made him a cornerstone of the Chicago blues scene. Dixon’s songs were pivotal in shaping the careers of iconic artists such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Little Walter.
His works influenced countless musicians, cementing his place among the greatest songwriters of all time. Songs like "Hoochie Coochie Man," "Spoonful," and "Little Red Rooster" are recognized as timeless contributions to music history.
How does Willie Dixon rank as one of the most plagiarized songwriters?
Willie Dixon is often cited as one of the most plagiarized songwriters in music history. His songs have been heavily borrowed, adapted, and sometimes outright stolen by rock and roll bands during the 1960s and 1970s. This was particularly common during an era when many blues artists were not fully compensated for their work, and copyright protections were less robust.
A notable example of this is Led Zeppelin’s use of Dixon’s compositions. For instance, their songs "You Shook Me" and "Whole Lotta Love" bear striking similarities to Dixon’s originals. In the case of "Whole Lotta Love," a lawsuit resulted in Dixon being credited and compensated.
Dixon’s prolific songwriting and the foundational nature of his works made them prime targets for borrowing by emerging rock artists. While this plagiarism initially led to financial and recognition losses, Dixon fought back legally and eventually received proper acknowledgment and royalties for his contributions.
Today, his experience highlights the importance of proper credit and copyright protection for songwriters, especially those whose works influence entire genres.
Willie Dixon was born in the 1915 Mississippi. In his early life he was a heavy weight boxer, though he rapidly turned to music, eventually becoming one of the most prolific and influential song writers of the 20th century.
Despite earning a Grammy in 1989 for his album “Hidden Charms” and his posthumous induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame in 1994, he is little known compared to those who recorded, borrowed, and sometimes stole his music. Such was his craft, that he’s music has been reinterpreted by generation after generation. He was a spark behind UK popular music in the 60s and 70s. When it is said that the blues was reappropriated or stolen, he was the main man from which it was stolen from. Willie Dixon was simply the most plagiarised and imitated musician/ song writer of the 20th Century. Dixon met Leonard Canston in a Chicago boxing gym who persuaded him to pursue his musical career and together they founded the Five Breezes in 1939 and later formed several other groups in the pre- war period. Post war he was the driver of the Chicago blues scene.
In the early 50s and 60s, he was highly prolific and made many recordings with numerous legends including Muddy Waters, Otis Rush, Chuck Berry and Howlin Wolf. In 1969 when Fleetwood mac recorded their blues in Chicago’s session, he was the bass player on some of the recorded tracks.
His legacy though as a writer far outstrips his history as a performing artist. In 1964 The Rolling Stone reached number one on the UK chart with their recording of Dixon’s "Little Red Rooster". They also recorded Dixon’s “I just want to make love to you”.
Part of Led Zeppelins first two albums were based on his music, and he successfully litigated the group for stolen lyrics and music on the tracks, reaching an out of court settlement with Led Zeppelin. He is co-credited for writing the Led Zeppelin anthem “Whole Lotta Love” with lyrics based on his 1962 recording “You need love” and for music on the Led Zeppelin track “Bring it on home”.
He recorded over 500 songs, of which over 68 where re-recorded or re-performed by countless diverse artist, including Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Doors Fleetwood Mac, Tina Turner, Tori Amos, Prince, Mary J Blige, Sting, Jimi Hendrix, Motorhead, PJ Harvey, Megadeth and The White Stripes, to name but a few. In total, songs that he has written have been covered a staggering 1800 times. His most re-recorded tracks are “You need love” (136 artists), “Just make love to me” (133 artists), ”I’m your hoochie coohie man” (149 artists), “Little red Rooster” (112 artists) and “Spoonful” (101 artists). Nine of these recordings took place in 2022!
‘Shake for me,’ written by Dixon and originally performed by Howlin Wolf Was re-recorded by renowned blues guitar player Stevie Ray Vaughn and really stands out from all of Stevie’s other pieces for its catchiness, drive and danceability.
He was a clever lyricist who knew how to toe the line, getting his message across within the limit of what could or couldn’t be said.
In later years he created the blues foundation which strove to support blue artists to secure copyright and royalties for their own work. Dixon died in 1992 as a little-known giant of the music industry and his vast legacy is still with us today.