Legendary Blues Musician and Songwriter. Born the seventh of fourteen children, his greatest influence was his mother, who turned everything she said into rhymes and he learned to do the same. At the age of seventeen, he left his hometown for Chicago to become a boxer. One year later he was named the Illinois State Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion. Although he had success as a boxer, because of a money disputes he gave up being a pro boxer. He began his musical career in 1940 with Leonard "Baby Doo" Caston. They recorded songs until 1941 when he was arrested for refusing to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. After finishing his sentence, he formed a new group, the Four Jumps of Jive which performed in Chicago clubs and recorded for Mercury Records. In 1945 he formed the Big Three Trio which went on to record for Columbia Records. By 1947 he met up with Phil and Leonard Chess of Chess Records. A major difference between Dixon and other blues men was his ability to read, write, compose, and arrange music, which made him the mainstay of Chess Records till the late 1960s. Throughout the '70s he toured and released albums on the Ovation, Columbia, and Yamboo labels. In 1980 he was inducted into the Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame and in 1982 he set up the Blues Heaven Foundation for musicians and their estates. His songs are considered to be the greatest body of work of any blues songwriter. They were recorded by such musicians as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead, the Doors, Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix.
Legendary Blues Musician and Songwriter. Born the seventh of fourteen children, his greatest influence was his mother, who turned everything she said into rhymes and he learned to do the same. At the age of seventeen, he left his hometown for Chicago to become a boxer. One year later he was named the Illinois State Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion. Although he had success as a boxer, because of a money disputes he gave up being a pro boxer. He began his musical career in 1940 with Leonard "Baby Doo" Caston. They recorded songs until 1941 when he was arrested for refusing to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. After finishing his sentence, he formed a new group, the Four Jumps of Jive which performed in Chicago clubs and recorded for Mercury Records. In 1945 he formed the Big Three Trio which went on to record for Columbia Records. By 1947 he met up with Phil and Leonard Chess of Chess Records. A major difference between Dixon and other blues men was his ability to read, write, compose, and arrange music, which made him the mainstay of Chess Records till the late 1960s. Throughout the '70s he toured and released albums on the Ovation, Columbia, and Yamboo labels. In 1980 he was inducted into the Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame and in 1982 he set up the Blues Heaven Foundation for musicians and their estates. His songs are considered to be the greatest body of work of any blues songwriter. They were recorded by such musicians as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead, the Doors, Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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Beloved Husband
Devoted Father & Grandfather
Gravesite Details
Right by the road bordering the north side of Acacia Lawn section, about 400 feet from the 3-way junction by the office.
Family Members
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