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Blues icon Willie Dixon was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi. His mother, deeply religious, wrote many religious poems, exposing young Willie to rhyme and rhythm. As a child, he sang with the gospel group Union Jubilee Singers, who had a radio show on WQBC in Vicksburg. However, Dixon and two friends were arrested for stealing wood and other items from a doctor's home and were sent to a prison farm. He briefly left singing to pursue boxing but soon returned to music.
In 1936, he left Mississippi by train-hopping to Chicago, known for its lively music scene, while continuing boxing. In 1937, he won the Illinois Golden Gloves Boxing Championship. He turned professional and even sparred with heavyweight champion Joe Louis, but after four professional fights, a dispute over money with his manager at the Illinois Boxing Commissioner's office ended his boxing career. Returning to music, he took up the bass and, in 1939, formed The Five Breezes with guitarist Leonard Caston. The group performed in Chicago clubs and recorded a few tracks but disbanded in 1941 when Dixon was arrested for draft evasion after ignoring military notices for months. He was convicted and imprisoned.
After serving his sentence, Dixon formed The Four Jumps of Jive, touring Chicago clubs and recording singles for Mercury Records. Later, he reunited with Caston and Bernardo Dennis to create The Big Three. Simultaneously, Dixon played in South Side blues clubs with legends like Muddy Waters. In 1948, performing at the Macomba Lounge, he met Phil and Leonard Chess, owners of the club and founders of Chess Records. They hired him as a songwriter and producer, and he soon worked for them full-time. Artists such as Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Little Walter recorded Dixon’s songs to great success. Although Dixon released some singles himself, his strength lay in songwriting.
In 1957, Dixon left Chess for Cobra Records, collaborating with guitar legends Buddy Guy and Otis Rush. When Cobra closed after two years, he returned to Chess. Beyond songwriting and producing, he formed the Chicago Blues All-Stars and toured extensively with them.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Dixon composed film soundtracks, including the score for Martin Scorsese's The Color of Money (1986). In 1980, he was inducted into the Blues Foundation's Hall of Fame. He continued performing at clubs, festivals, and tours across the US and Europe, alongside his songwriting and producing. By 1990, his health declined, leading him to reduce touring and scale back performances with the Chicago Blues All-Stars. He passed away from a heart condition in Burbank, California, two years later.
