On this day in 1992, Willie Dixon gave up his ghost. If anyone epitomized the Chicago Blues, it was Mr. Dixon. He was a songwriter extraordinaire, and a generous soul who gave some of his best songs to other musicians. Think "Back Door Man", "Evil" and "Spoonful" by Howlin' Wolf, "Insane Asylum" and "Wang Dang Doodle" by Koko Taylor, "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "You Shook Me" by Muddy Waters, or "Dead Presidents" by Little Walter, to name a few. His songs were also covered by the Rock 'N Roll crowd. The Doors, Johnny Thunders, J. Geils, Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones, and Captain Beefheart were among those who turned to Mr. Dixon for inspiration. Oh, and Led Zeppelin too, although they failed to give him credit which is why Mr. Dixon sued them and won. Mr. Dixon may have been generous but he wasn't a fool.
Then there's his work as a sideman, playing the double bass on recordings by Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Jimmy Reed, Jimmy Rogers, Sonny Boy Williamson, Johnny Winter and Fleetwood Mac with Peter Green.
Beginning in 1962, Mr. Dixon worked with several German promoters to organize the American Folk Blues Festival, bringing some of the finest Chicago Blues artists to Europe. Below is a video that includes footage from the American Folk Blues Festivals during the years that Mr. Dixon was involved.
And here is a film of Mr. Dixon doing an acoustic version of "Weak Brain, "Narrow Mind" for an old Chicago TV show.
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