Julius Dixson
Encyclopedia
Julius Edward Dixson (May 20, 1913 - January 30, 2004) was an African-American songwriter and record company executive.
, he served in the Army during World War II in England and France. After the war Dixson re-enlisted, was assigned to Special Services, and hosted a live weekly radio broadcast – Variety Jive – a variety show featuring new songwriters and musicians - for the forces in Germany and the Middle East. In 1949 he returned to the USA and moved to New York City to work as a professional songwriter.
He had greatest success co-writing with Beverly Ross, a rare musical pairing of an African-American male and a white female in the 1950s. Their first major hit was "Dim, Dim The Lights", which Bill Haley
recorded in 1954 as the follow-up to "Shake, Rattle and Roll
". The song reached #10 on the Variety charts and # 11 on the Billboard pop charts. "Dim, Dim The Lights" is of historic importance as it was not only Haley's first crossover hit with the black R&B audience, reaching # 10 on the R&B chart, but the first R&B or rock and roll song recorded by any white artist to cross over to the R&B charts. "Dim, Dim The Lights" was hailed by Alan Freed
as "the grand daddy song of rock n’ roll".
Also with Ross, Dixson co-wrote "Lollipop" for the duo Ronald and Ruby, who were in fact black teenager Ronald Gumps and Ross herself. The recording was originally for the purpose of a demo to shop the song, but RCA
got a hold of it and Dixson, who owned the master and had produced the demo, agreed to let RCA release it. Their version rose up the chart reaching #20, but when it was learned that Ronald and Ruby were an interracial duo, television appearances that had been previously booked got cancelled and interest in the song waned. Thanks to the cover version by The Chordettes
, Lollipop reached # 2 and # 3 on the pop and R&B charts, respectively. In the UK the song was successfully covered by The Mudlarks
, and it became a world wide hit reaching # 1 in many countries.
Dixson also co-wrote Annie Laurie's hit "It Hurts to Be in Love", "Begging, Begging" for James Brown, and Kitty Wells
' "Three Ways (To Love You)," among others.
He also established the independent company Alton Records. In late 1959, their instrumental single release "The Clouds" by The Spacemen, also written and produced by Dixson, reached # 1 on the R&B chart. Another first for Dixson, "The Clouds" was the first number one on any chart released by an African-American owned independent record label, predating Motown
's first # 1 by a year.
Dixson died in a hospital in Manhattan in 2004, at age 90. His family has claimed negligence by the hospital in his death and has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.
Life and work
Born in Barnwell, South CarolinaBarnwell, South Carolina
Barnwell is a city in Barnwell County, South Carolina, United States, located along U.S. Route 278. The population was 5,035 at the 2000 census...
, he served in the Army during World War II in England and France. After the war Dixson re-enlisted, was assigned to Special Services, and hosted a live weekly radio broadcast – Variety Jive – a variety show featuring new songwriters and musicians - for the forces in Germany and the Middle East. In 1949 he returned to the USA and moved to New York City to work as a professional songwriter.
He had greatest success co-writing with Beverly Ross, a rare musical pairing of an African-American male and a white female in the 1950s. Their first major hit was "Dim, Dim The Lights", which Bill Haley
Bill Haley
Bill Haley was one of the first American rock and roll musicians. He is credited by many with first popularizing this form of music in the early 1950s with his group Bill Haley & His Comets and their hit song "Rock Around the Clock".-Early life and career:...
recorded in 1954 as the follow-up to "Shake, Rattle and Roll
Shake, Rattle and Roll
"Shake, Rattle and Roll" is a prototypical twelve bar blues-form rock and roll song, written in 1954 by Jesse Stone under his assumed songwriting name Charles E. Calhoun. It was originally recorded by Big Joe Turner, and most successfully by Bill Haley & His Comets...
". The song reached #10 on the Variety charts and # 11 on the Billboard pop charts. "Dim, Dim The Lights" is of historic importance as it was not only Haley's first crossover hit with the black R&B audience, reaching # 10 on the R&B chart, but the first R&B or rock and roll song recorded by any white artist to cross over to the R&B charts. "Dim, Dim The Lights" was hailed by Alan Freed
Alan Freed
Albert James "Alan" Freed , also known as Moondog, was an American disc-jockey. He became internationally known for promoting the mix of blues, country and rhythm and blues music on the radio in the United States and Europe under the name of rock and roll...
as "the grand daddy song of rock n’ roll".
Also with Ross, Dixson co-wrote "Lollipop" for the duo Ronald and Ruby, who were in fact black teenager Ronald Gumps and Ross herself. The recording was originally for the purpose of a demo to shop the song, but RCA
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
got a hold of it and Dixson, who owned the master and had produced the demo, agreed to let RCA release it. Their version rose up the chart reaching #20, but when it was learned that Ronald and Ruby were an interracial duo, television appearances that had been previously booked got cancelled and interest in the song waned. Thanks to the cover version by The Chordettes
The Chordettes
The Chordettes were a female popular singing quartet, usually singing a cappella, and specializing in traditional popular music. The Chordettes were one of the longest lived vocal groups with beginnings in the mainstream pop and vocal harmonies of the 1940s and early 1950s...
, Lollipop reached # 2 and # 3 on the pop and R&B charts, respectively. In the UK the song was successfully covered by The Mudlarks
The Mudlarks
The Mudlarks were an English pop vocal group of the late 1950s and early 1960s. They had two Top 10 UK hit singles in 1958.-Career:They were a family group from Luton, Bedfordshire, originally comprising Jeff Mudd , Fred Mudd , and Mary Mudd...
, and it became a world wide hit reaching # 1 in many countries.
Dixson also co-wrote Annie Laurie's hit "It Hurts to Be in Love", "Begging, Begging" for James Brown, and Kitty Wells
Kitty Wells
Ellen Muriel Deason , known professionally as Kitty Wells, is an American country music singer. Her 1952 hit recording, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels", made her the first female country singer to top the U.S. country charts, and turned her into the first female country star...
' "Three Ways (To Love You)," among others.
He also established the independent company Alton Records. In late 1959, their instrumental single release "The Clouds" by The Spacemen, also written and produced by Dixson, reached # 1 on the R&B chart. Another first for Dixson, "The Clouds" was the first number one on any chart released by an African-American owned independent record label, predating Motown
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
's first # 1 by a year.
Dixson died in a hospital in Manhattan in 2004, at age 90. His family has claimed negligence by the hospital in his death and has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.