Willie Dixon: Preacher of the Blues (African American Cultural Theory and Heritage)

One of the greats of blues music, Willie Dixon was a recording artist whose abilities extended beyond that of bass player. A singer, songwriter, arranger, and producer, Dixon's work influenced countless artists across the music spectrum. In Willie Dixon: Preacher of the Blues, Mitsutoshi Inaba examines Dixon's career, from his earliest recordings with the Five Breezes through his major work with Chess Records and Cobra Records. Focusing on Dixon's work on the Chicago blues from the 1940s to the early 1970s, this book details the development of Dixon's songwriting techniques from his early professional career to his mature period and compares the compositions he provided for different artists. This volume also explores Dixon's philosophy of songwriting and its social, historical, and cultural background. This is the first study to discuss his compositions in an African American cultural context, drawing upon interviews with his family and former band members. This volume also includes a detailed list of Dixon's session work, in which his compositions are chronologically organized. Contents......Page 8 Foreword......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 14 Introduction......Page 26 CHAPTER ONE. Dixon’s Youth: The Cultural Basis for the New Interpretation of Dixon’s Compositions......Page 34 CHAPTER TWO. Dixon’s Early Musical Experiences......Page 48 CHAPTER THREE. Willie Dixon’s Early Groups......Page 60 CHAPTER FOUR. Willie Dixon and Chess Records......Page 90 CHAPTER FIVE. Dixon’s Compositions in the First Chess Records Period (1953–1956)......Page 104 CHAPTER SIX. The Cobra Records Period (1956–1958)......Page 188 CHAPTER SEVEN. The Second Chess Records Period (1958–1971)......Page 216 Postscript......Page 350 Appendix A: Dixon’s Compositional Procedure: Songwriting, Teaching Songs to Featured Artists, Arrangements, and Production......Page 360 Appendix B: Recording Sessions Attended by Willie Dixon and Recording Chronology of Willie Dixon’s Compositions......Page 372 Bibliography......Page 464 Subject Index......Page 480 Song Index......Page 494 About the Author......Page 502 Dixon's Youth : The Cultural Basis For The New Interpretation Of Dixon's Compositions -- Dixon's Early Musical Experiences -- Willie Dixon's Early Groups -- Willie Dixon And Chess Records -- Dixon's Compositions In The First Chess Records Period (1953-1956) -- The Cobra Records Period (1956-1958) -- The Second Chess Records Period (1958-1971). Mitsutoshi Inaba. Appendix B: Recording Sessions Attended By Willie Dixon And Recording Chronology Of Willie Dixon's Compositions; P. 315. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. This book focuses on one of the greats of blues music, Willie Dixon, detailing his skills as a singer, songwriter, arranger, and producer. This volume also charts the development of his songwriting techniques from his early professional career to his mature period, exploring his philosophy of songwriting and its social, historical, and cultural background This book examines the career of Willie Dixon, detailing his skills as a singer, songwriter, arranger, and producer. This volume also charts the development of his songwriting techniques from his early professional career to his mature period, exploring his philosophy of songwriting and its social, historical, and cultural background. Dixon's youth : the cultural basis for the new interpretation of Dixon's compositions Dixon's early musical experiences Willie Dixon's early groups Willie Dixon and Chess Records Willie Dixon's compositions in the first Chess Records period (1953-1956) Cobra Records period The second Chess Records period. Examines the work and career of Willie Dixon, singer, songwriter, musician, arranger, and producer, from his work on the Chicago blues in the 1940s through the early 1970s