Floyd Dixon

Floyd Dixon ( born February 8, 1929 in Marshall, Texas as Jay Riggins Jr., † July 26, 2006 in Los Angeles, California ) was an American R & B pianist and singer, who described himself as "Mr. Magnificent ". He is the jump and West Coast Blues attributed, is considered a pioneer of soul and influenced musicians such as Ray Charles.

Biography

Dixon grew up on the Texas border with Louisiana and arrived early with blues, gospel, jazz and country music in touch. As a child, he taught himself to play the piano itself.

1942 the family moved to Los Angeles in California, where Dixon blues musician Charles Brown met, who became his mentor. After recording with the band Johnny Otis Dixon got his first record deal in 1949. Among his hits in the first half of the 1950s, which he recorded for Aladdin, include "Telephone Blues ", " Wine Wine Wine", "Too Much Jelly Roll " and " Hey Bartender" - later re-recorded by the Blues Brothers.

In the 1960s, Dixon drew largely withdrew from the music business and was only sporadically on tour. Appeared in 1975 in Sweden, an album of his old hits and earned him a comeback. He has performed in Europe and been showcased by Charles Brown and Robert Cray concerts. In 1984 he wrote the "Olympic Blues" for the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

1993 Dixon received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. He played at the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Chicago Blues Festival. In 1996 he released the highly acclaimed album Wake Up And Live, which won a Handy Award. Was released in 2005 the album Fine! Fine! Thing!.

Floyd Dixon died in 2006 at the age of 77 years of kidney failure, a few weeks after a tour with Pinetop Perkins and Henry Clay.