I DO THE JOB-WILLIE DIXON B r e v e m e n t e :
Blues bassist, as well as singer-songwriter, arranger, and music producer.
In '94 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the "Early influences" category, as his songs, although primarily in blues form, also inspired rock and roll.
He was born around the middle of 1915 in the state of Mississippi, and his name was William James Dixon.
Due to some "troubles" with the law, he moved to Illinois, Chicago as a young man, where he decided to take up boxing in the heavyweight category and in '36 he won the "Golden Gloves" title in a prestigious amateur boxing competition (the same "Golden Gloves" won in '59/'60 by "the greatest" Muhammad Ali).
In the meantime, he also started to play the double bass, but his learning was interrupted when he was sentenced to 10 months in prison for refusing to participate in World War II.
He reconnected with his double bass teacher, Baby Doo Caston, after the war and formed the "Big Three Trio," whose songs were recorded by Columbia Records. Dixon then signed a contract (as an artist) with Chess Records, and starting from '51 he became a full-time employee.
His relationship with Chess Records proved to be quite troubled (despite him staying there from '48 to the early '60s), after which he moved to Bluesville Records.
His health began to deteriorate due to a persistent diabetes, which forced him to undergo amputation of a leg, yet despite being ill at that time, he released the album "Mighty Earthquake and Hurricane."
Willie Dixon left us orphaned in '92 (he was in Los Angeles County, California), due to a heart attack and nothing...
