Willie Dixon

WILLIE DIXON TIMELINE

1915:  Willie Dixon was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on July 1

1932:  Moved to Chicago at the age of 17

1937:  He won the Illinois Golden Gloves Heavyweight Boxing Competition

1940:  The Five Breezes was formed and recorded eight tracks for the Bluebird label

1941:  He was arrested for ignoring his military call up papers

1942:  He was classified as unfit for military service and forms the Four Jumps of Jive

1943:  He formed the Big Three Trio with Baby Doo Caston

1952:  Willie goes to work for Chess Records

1954:  Muddy Waters recorded Willie’s "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "I Just Want to Make Love to You"

1955:  Little Walter released Willie’s "My Babe"

1956:  He left Chess for the Cobra and Artistic labels

1959:  He recorded "Willie’s Blues" for the Bluesville label

1960:  Willie returns to Chess Records; Howlin’ Wolf released Willie’s "Wang Dang Doodle", 

            "Back Door Man", and "Spoonful"

1964:  The Rolling Stones reach number one with Willie's "Little Red Rooster".

1980:  Dixon was inducted into the Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame

1982:  He sets up the Blues Heaven Foundation for young musicians.

1985:  Sues Led Zeppelin and Atlantic Records for plagiarism on "Whole Lotta Love" (originally "You Need Love",

            recorded by Muddy Waters in 1962)

1988:  Signed a recording contract with Bug/Capitol and released the Grammy Award winning album Hidden Charms

1989:  Released Willie Dixon’s Chess Box Set; Dixon published his autobiography I Am the Blues: The Willie Dixon Story  with Don Snowden and wrote music for film called Ginger Ale Afternoon

1992:  Willie Dixon died on January 29

1994:  Willie Dixon posthumously inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame

2013:  Received The Willie Dixon Tribute Award, presented by Darryl Jones of The Rolling Stones

            by Bass Player Magazine

2015:  Set for induction into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame on June 18th, 2015