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The Official Willie Dixon Website!

bluesheaven — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 09:08:46 +0000

Willie Dixon

The Official Willie Dixon website launches today! Come check out the pictures, videos, music and much more!

Can you imagine what music would be like without such hits as “Hoochie Coochie Man”, “Little Red Rooster”, “Spoonful”, “I Ain’t Superstitious”, “I Can’t Quit You Baby” or “My Babe”? Neither could most. Thankfully, we don’t have to. Little did the world know that in 1915, the person who made all of this possible would be born.

Willie Dixon was one of the greatest and most prolific artists ever to sing the blues, with more than 500 compositions to his credit. Dixon’s songs literally created the so-called “Chicago blues sound” and were recorded by such blues artists as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Bo Diddley, Koko Taylor, and many others. Some of Dixon’s songs went on to reach an international audience in the 1960s, when they were popularized by such British groups as the Rolling Stones, Cream, the Yardbirds, Jeff Beck, and Led Zeppelin.

So come on over and check out the new Willie Dixon website!

Marie Dixon featured on “Classic Chicago” on 12-9-10!

bluesheaven — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 07:06:53 +0000

Chicago – Maybe you enjoy the blues; maybe you enjoy rock and roll. Either way, you should know about Chess Records a label and a studio on the South Side that helped shape music all over the world.

Chess Studios was home to dozens of legendary blues and rock musicians from 1957 to 1967.

Their location, 2120 South Michigan, is one of the most famous addresses in blues history. It’s a building so revered, the Rolling Stones wrote a song about it.

The Stones, like so many rock and rollers, developed their own sound based in large part on the music spawned there. It’s now the former home of Chess Records, a studio and recording company, which gave voice to so many legendary blues artists including Chuck Berry, who recorded Johnny B. Goode there in 1958.

The unusually angled walls and original baffling still exist, as does some original recording equipment. You can almost hear Muddy Waters, recording his classic Hoochie Coochie Man.

“This is Buddy Guy in his young days. He could have not been more than 23 years old,” said Marie Dixon, president of the Blues Heaven Foundation, pointing to a picture on the wall.

Dixon knew them all, including the men in the photo: Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters and Marie’s late husband, bassist, producer and writer extraordinaire, Willie Dixon.

The building is now home to the Willie Dixon Blues Heaven Foundation, whose mission is to not only honor the legacy of the most prolific writer of his era, but to preserve the Blues as an art form.

“If a tree is planted and not watered it dies, the root dies. So if they change music’s style and don’t think about where it started from, the blues is going to die,” Marie Dixon said.

The building, which is open to the public six days a week, is brimming with photos and artifacts — a tribute to the blues pioneers and those who followed.

Dixon has her favorites, those who pay homage to the past, like the iconic Eric Clapton,
Stone’ guitarist Ronnie Woods, who stops by every time he’s in town, and Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler, who kissed the floor when he visited, saying he had to pay his respects to the giants who came before.

FREE Concerts in the Blues Garden…COMING SOON!!!

bluesheaven — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:39:49 +0000

Hey Everyone…it’s that time of year again! Summertime is quickly approaching and we are beginning to announce the line-up for this summer’s FREE Concert series in the Blues Garden.

WHEN: Each Thursday at 6pm, beginning June 10th

WHERE: 2122 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL (next door to the Blues Heaven building)

ADMISSION: FREE (all donations greatly appreciated)

Here’s the line-up so far:

June 10th – Eddie C. Campbell

June 17th – Doktu Rhute

June 24th – Charlie Love

July 8th – Ramblin’ Rose

July 15th – Killer Ray Allison

Keep checking back to see who we have added to the line-up! We look forward to seeing you there…rain or shine!

HOT BLUES NIGHTS 2010 with Special Guest Johnny Drummer – June 12th!

bluesheaven — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:54:01 +0000

Earwig Music's Internationally Renown Blues Artist: Johnny Drummer

Blues Heaven Foundation is hosting our annual “HOT BLUES NIGHTS” event at the historic Chess Studios, located at 2120 S. Michigan Ave. in Chicago. Come on out and enjoy some live music with special guest Johnny Drummer, tour the historic Chess Studios, watch live video footage of the Blues greats, and feast on some food and refreshments!

WHEN: Saturday, June 12th @ 9pm

WHERE: 2120 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60616

ADMISSION: $10 minimum donation/person suggested (donations accepted at the door or at the Blues Heaven Foundation booth during the Chicago Blues Festival)

Marie Dixon participating in the Blues and the Spirit Symposium on June 9th!

bluesheaven — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:58:01 +0000

Dominican University Hosts

Blues and the Spirit II:

A Symposium on Chicago Blues and Gospel Music

Commemorating the Centennial of Howlin’ Wolf’s Birth and the 40th Anniversary of Living Blues Magazine

Wednesday, June 9 and Thursday, June 10

Dominican University (located just minutes from the Chicago Loop) will host Blues and the Spirit II, celebrating the centennial of Howlin’ Wolf’s birth and the 40th anniversary of Living Blues Magazine . Building on the discussion and dialogue begun in the May 2008 symposium, Blues and the Spirit II will continue its emphasis on the heritage of African-American Chicago and will also explore the shared roots, tensions and commonalities in Blues and Gospel music.

(Symposium registration is still open, but, as of May 24, on-campus housing is NO LONGER AVAILABLE! )

Panels and presentations with Blues and Gospel Scholars, Musicians, Writers, and Industry Representatives
Blues keynote Chuck D on Blues, Rap and Race
Spirit keynote Dr. Karen M. Wilson on The Sacred and Secular: How Spiritiuality was Supposedly Shaved Off the Blues
Special panel with the founding editors and contributors of Living Blues Magazine on the occasion of its 40th anniversary. (Early registrants will receive an original Vol.1, No. 1 edition of Living Blues with Howlin’ Wolf on the cover.)
Elders Council with contemporaries of Howlin’ Wolf
Blues and the Spirit Awards honoring Barry Dolins, Director of the Chicago Blues Festival, and Howlin’ Wolf’s daughters, Bettye Kelly and Barbra Marks
Wednesday evening reception and pro jam with an all star array of blues musicians from Wolf’s generation and from the current Chicago music scene.
Thursday evening motor coach transportation and entrance to Chicago Blues Festival opening at Millennium Park with Bassekou Kouyate, Otis Taylor, Eddie Shaw, and Hubert Sumlin, and Symposium after party at the legendary Rosa’s Lounge with Sharon Lewis and Texas Fire

The $75 registration fee includes ALL events June 9th and 10th: plenaries, panels, presentations, and reception and jam, as well as Chicago Blues Festival opening/ after party at Rosa’s Lounge

For more information, please visit: http://www.dom.edu/blues

Blues In The Schools at Joshua D. Kershaw School

bluesheaven — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:27:09 +0000

As part of our Blues In The Schools (BITS) program we are offering a free Blues harmonica workshop to the students at Joshua D. Kershaw School this Friday, April 16th. This presentation, targeted to their 5th and 6th grade students, is approximately 90 minutes long and will include the history of the Blues and the actual harmonica instruction. We anticipate an attendance of 60 students and will provide harmonicas to all participants. Marie Dixon, widow of the founder, the legendary Willie Dixon and President of Blues Heaven Foundation will be in attendance. Internationally known artist, Doktu Rhute will provide an oral history of the Blues and the harmonica instruction.

Blues Heaven completes another successful Blues History Education Program in Chicago!

bluesheaven — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:50:42 +0000

On Friday, February 26th, Blues Heaven Foundation, with the support of Chicago Musician/Educator Doktu Rhute (Doctor Root – http://www.doktulatrice.com/), completed another successful Blues History & Education program at Daniel Hale Williams Elementary School in Chicago. The program included a history of the Blues, music presentation and harmonica instruction for the students.

Additional programs are currently underway. If your child is attending a Chicago area school and you would like the opportunity for us to present at that school, please contact Alex Dixon via email at alex@bluesheaven.com for more information.

Thank you!

Marie Dixon featured on WCIU’s The U

bluesheaven — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:48:21 +0000

Marie Dixon, President of Blues Heaven Foundation, was featured this morning on Chicago’s WCIU. She had an opportunity to discuss who recorded at the legendary Chess Studios at 2120 S. Michigan Ave. in Chicago, as well as some of the history of the Blues. Check it out!

CLICK HERE:

http://www.wciu.com/youandme.php?section=home&assetID=10001307

Chicago songwriter signs up to reclaim music!

bluesheaven — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:54:44 +0000

North Shore musician Jim Peterik is among thousands of songwriters nationwide who stand to earn big paydays on songs they sold off decades ago.
The U.S. Copyright Law of 1976 (it took effect in 1978) allows artists to take back ownership of songs 35 years after selling the rights to publishers. Songs given up in 1978 can be reclaimed by their owners in 2013; the paperwork to reclaim them has to be done two years in advance.
“It means money for me, for my heirs and for my family. It boils down to dollars and cents, but more emotionally, you feel you have part of your child back,” says Mr. Peterik, whose “Eye of the Tiger” became synonymous with Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky III” in 1982.

Songs that predate the law can be reclaimed 56 years after they were written, so many artists from the 1940s and ’50s are stepping up to reclaim their work, too.
Brent McBride’s Nashville-based Copyright Recapture LLC is helping songwriters with the lengthy application process. He says hundreds of songwriters don’t even know about the law.
“Songwriters in major markets like New York, Nashville and Los Angeles haven’t heard about it. And there are even fewer people who know in smaller markets like Chicago,” he told me.
So far, only a handful of musicians in Chicago, including Mr. Peterik and the widow of bluesman Little Junior Parker, have come forward.
“With the brilliant music scene of Chicago, I think there are many more who could take advantage of (the law),” he said, “especially in the field of the blues.”
Mr. Paterik said he’s been trying to spread the word to fellow artists.
“We made these deals a long time ago when we didn’t have a penny in our pockets. We regretted it later, and this is a chance to reclaim that,” he said. “It’s a good feeling.”

ChicagoBusiness.com

Supporters of Blues Heaven using GoodSearch and GoodShop!

bluesheaven — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:34:23 +0000

Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation can earn a donation every time you search the Internet and shop online!!!

CLICK HERE TO READ PRESS RELEASE!

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