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65-583: Aaron Thibeaux Walker was born in Linden, Texas. His parents, Movelia Jimerson and Rance Walker, were both musicians. His stepfather, Marco Washington (a member of the Dallas String Band), taught him to play the guitar, ukulele , banjo , violin , mandolin , and piano. Walker began his career as a teenager in Dallas in the 1920s. His mother and stepfather were musicians, and Blind Lemon Jefferson ,

130-531: A Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording in 1970 for Good Feelin' , while signed with Polydor Records , produced by Hemingway, followed by another album produced by Hemingway, Fly Walker Airlines , released in 1972. Walker's career began to wind down after he suffered a stroke in 1974. He died at his home in Los Angeles of bronchial pneumonia following another stroke in March 1975, at

195-527: A conscientious objector and was imprisoned for ten months. He refused to go to war because he would not fight for a nation in which institutionalized racism and racist laws were prevalent. After the war, he formed a group named the Four Jumps of Jive. He then reunited with Caston, forming the Big Three Trio, which went on to record for Columbia Records . Dixon signed with Chess Records as

260-471: A uke , is a member of the lute family of instruments of Portuguese origin and popularized in Hawaii . It generally employs four nylon strings. The tone and volume of the instrument vary with size and construction. Ukuleles commonly come in four sizes: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone. Developed in the 1880s, the ukulele is based on several small, guitar -like instruments of Portuguese origin,

325-640: A wah-wah effect. Mario Maccaferri invented an automatic chording device for the ukulele, called Chord Master . Close cousins of the ukulele include the Portuguese forerunners, the cavaquinho (also commonly known as machete or braguinha ) and the slightly larger rajão . Other relatives include the Venezuelan cuatro , the Colombian tiple , the timple of the Canary Islands ,

390-457: A Book by the Cover ". These songs were written during the peak years of Chess Records , from 1950 to 1965, and were performed by Muddy Waters , Howlin' Wolf , Little Walter , and Bo Diddley ; they influenced a generation of musicians worldwide. Dixon was an important link between the blues and rock and roll , working with Little Walter , Chuck Berry , and Bo Diddley in the late 1950s. In

455-541: A band that featured pianist Little Brother Montgomery . He sang his first song at Springfield Baptist Church at the age of four. Dixon was first introduced to blues when he served time on prison farms in Mississippi as a young teenager. Later in his teens, he learned to sing harmony from a local carpenter, Theo Phelps, who led a gospel quintet, the Union Jubilee Singers, in which Dixon sang bass;

520-417: A family friend, sometimes came over for dinner. Walker left school at the age of 10, and by 15, he was a professional performer on the blues circuit. Initially, he was Jefferson's protégé and would guide him around town for his gigs. In 1929, Walker made his recording debut with Columbia Records , billed as Oak Cliff T-Bone, releasing the single "Wichita Falls Blues" backed with "Trinity River Blues". Oak Cliff

585-503: A figure-eight body shape similar to that of a small acoustic guitar . They are also often seen in nonstandard shapes, such as cutaway and oval, usually called a "pineapple" ukulele (see image below), invented by the Kamaka Ukulele company, or a boat-paddle shape, and occasionally a square shape, often made out of an old wooden cigar box. These instruments usually have four strings ; some strings may be paired in courses , giving

650-494: A major influence on his career. "Stormy Monday" was a favorite live number of the Allman Brothers Band . The British rock band Jethro Tull covered Walker's "Stormy Monday" in 1968 for John Peel 's "Top Gear". Eva Cassidy performed "Stormy Monday" on her 1996 Live at Blues Alley recording. According to Cleveland.com , Walker may have been the best R&B guitarist. He "pioneered electric blues by becoming

715-512: A professional boxer and worked briefly as Joe Louis 's sparring partner, but after four fights he left boxing in a dispute with his manager over money. Dixon met Leonard Caston at a boxing gym, where they would harmonize at times. Dixon performed in several vocal groups in Chicago, but it was Caston that persuaded him to pursue music seriously. Caston built him his first bass, made of a tin-can and one string. Dixon's experience singing bass made

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780-458: A recording artist, but he began performing less, being more involved with administrative tasks for the label. By 1951, he was a full-time employee at Chess, where he acted as producer, talent scout , session musician and staff songwriter. He was also a producer for the Chess subsidiary Checker Records . His relationship with Chess was sometimes strained, but he stayed with the label from 1948 to

845-453: Is generally made of wood, though variants have been composed partially or entirely of plastic or other materials. Cheaper ukuleles are generally made from plywood or laminated woods, in some cases with a soundboard of a tonewood such as spruce . More expensive ukuleles are made of solid hardwoods such as mahogany . The traditionally preferred wood for ukuleles is a type of acacia endemic to Hawaii, called koa . Typically, ukuleles have

910-569: Is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art 's Catalogue of the Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments of All Nations published in 1907. The catalog describes two ukuleles from Hawaii—one that is similar in size to a modern soprano ukulele, and one that is similar to a tenor (see § Types and sizes ). In the 1960s, educator J. Chalmers Doane dramatically changed school music programs across Canada , using

975-426: Is less standardized. They are usually tuned re-entrant, but frequently at a higher pitch than C; for example, re-entrant G tuning: D 5 –G 4 –B 4 –E 5 . As is commonly the case with string instruments, other tunings may be preferred by individual players. For example, special string sets are available to tune the baritone ukulele in linear C . Some players tune ukuleles like other four-string instruments such as

1040-424: Is the community in which he lived at the time, and T-Bone is a corruption of his middle name. The pianist Douglas Fernell played accompaniment on the record. Walker married Vida Lee in 1935; the couple had three children. By the age of 25, Walker was working in clubs on Central Avenue , in Los Angeles , sometimes as the featured singer and as guitarist with Les Hite 's orchestra. In 1940 he recorded with Hite for

1105-444: Is to T-Bone." Blues-rock soloing pioneer Lonnie Mack named Walker his principal blues guitar influence. Walker was admired by Jimi Hendrix , who imitated Walker's trick of playing the guitar with his teeth. Steve Miller stated that in 1952, when he was eight, Walker taught him how to play his guitar behind his back and also with his teeth. He was a family friend and a frequent visitor to Miller's family home and Miller considers him

1170-414: Is tuned an octave higher than might be expected, so this is often called "high G" tuning. This is known as a " reentrant tuning "; it enables uniquely close-harmony chording. The table below shows a pitch's name found over the four strings of a ukulele in standard tuning, from the nut (zero) to the fifteenth fret. More rarely used with the soprano ukulele is C linear tuning, or "low G" tuning, which has

1235-519: Is widely used for the tenor ukulele, more so than for the soprano and concert instruments. The baritone ukulele usually uses linear G tuning: D 3 –G 3 –B 3 –E 4 , the same as the highest four strings of a standard 6-string guitar. Bass ukuleles are tuned similarly to the bass guitar and double bass : E 1 –A 1 –D 2 –G 2 for U-Bass style instruments (sometimes called contrabass), or an octave higher, E 2 –A 2 –D 3 –G 3 , for Ohana type metal-string basses. Sopranino ukulele tuning

1300-610: The machete , cavaquinho , timple , and rajão , introduced to the Hawaiian Islands by Portuguese immigrants from Madeira , the Azores , and Cape Verde . Three immigrants in particular, Madeiran cabinet makers Manuel Nunes, José do Espírito Santo, and Augusto Dias, are generally credited as the first ukulele makers. Two weeks after they disembarked from the SS Ravenscrag in late August 1879,

1365-523: The Hawaiian Gazette reported that "Madeira Islanders recently arrived here, have been delighting the people with nightly street concerts." One of the most important factors in establishing the ukulele in Hawaiian music and culture was the ardent support and promotion of the instrument by King Kalākaua . A patron of the arts, he incorporated it into performances at royal gatherings. In

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1430-538: The American Folk Blues Festival in 1962 with the pianist Memphis Slim and the prolific writer and musician Willie Dixon , among others. However, several critically acclaimed albums followed, such as I Want a Little Girl (recorded for Delmark Records in 1968). Walker recorded in his last years, from 1968 to 1975, for Robin Hemingway's music publishing company, Jitney Jane Songs. He won

1495-414: The Hawaiian language the word ukulele roughly translates as 'jumping flea', perhaps because of the movement of the player's fingers. Legend attributes it to the nickname of Englishman Edward William Purvis , one of King Kalākaua's officers, because of his small size, fidgety manner, and playing expertise. One of the earliest appearances of the word ukulele in print (in the sense of a stringed instrument)

1560-622: The Rolling Stones reached number one on the UK Singles Chart with their cover of Dixon's " Little Red Rooster ". In the same year, the group also covered " I Just Want To Make Love To You " on their debut album, The Rolling Stones . In his later years, Dixon became a tireless ambassador for the blues and a vocal advocate for its practitioners, founding the Blues Heaven Foundation, which works to preserve

1625-587: The Spanish vihuela , the Mexican requinto jarocho , and the Andean charango traditionally made of an armadillo shell. In Indonesia, a similar Portuguese-inspired instrument is the kroncong . Willie Dixon William James Dixon (July 1, 1915 – January 29, 1992) was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was proficient in playing both

1690-475: The mandolin , Venezuelan cuatro , or dotara . Ukuleles may also be tuned to open tunings , similar to the Hawaiian slack-key style. Ukulele varieties include hybrid instruments such as the guitalele (also called guitarlele), banjo ukulele (also called banjolele), harp ukulele , lap steel ukulele , and the ukelin . It is very common to find ukuleles mixed with other stringed instruments because of

1755-666: The upright bass and the guitar, and sang with a distinctive voice, but he is perhaps best known as one of the most prolific songwriters of his time. Next to Muddy Waters , Dixon is recognized as the most influential person in shaping the post– World War II sound of the Chicago blues . Dixon's songs have been recorded by countless musicians in many genres as well as by various ensembles in which he participated. A short list of his most famous compositions includes " Hoochie Coochie Man ", " I Just Want to Make Love to You ", " Little Red Rooster ", " My Babe ", " Spoonful ", and " You Can't Judge

1820-657: The 1960s, his songs were adapted by numerous rock artists. He received a Grammy Award and was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame , the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame , and the Songwriters Hall of Fame . Dixon was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi , on July 1, 1915. He was one of 14 children. His mother, Daisy, often rhymed things she said, a habit her son imitated. At the age of seven, young Dixon became an admirer of

1885-464: The Canadian school system, mostly on concert or tenor ukuleles, and extensive use by James Hill and J. Chalmers Doane . Whether C or D tuning should be the "standard" tuning is a matter of long and ongoing debate. There are historic and popular ukulele methods that have used each. For the concert and tenor ukuleles, both reentrant and linear C tunings are standard; linear tuning in particular

1950-415: The G in sequence an octave lower: G 3 –C 4 –E 4 –A 4 , which is equivalent to playing the top four strings (DGBE) of a guitar with a capo on the fifth fret. Another common tuning for the soprano ukulele is the higher string-tension D tuning (or simply D tuning), A 4 –D 4 –F ♯ 4 –B 4 , one step higher than the G 4 –C 4 –E 4 –A 4 tuning. Once considered standard, this tuning

2015-522: The R&;B singles chart in 1948). Throughout his career Walker worked with top-notch musicians, including the trumpeter Teddy Buckner (e.g. on " Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad) "), the pianist Lloyd Glenn , the bassist Billy Hadnott (on the LP Hot Leftovers (1985) and the 78 "Long Skirt Baby Blues"//"Good-Bye Blues" (1947)), and the tenor saxophonist Jack McVea (on

T-Bone Walker - Misplaced Pages Continue

2080-928: The Varsity label, but he was featured only as a singer. He started playing electric guitar in about 1940. In 1942, Charlie Glenn, the owner of the Rhumboogie Café , brought T-Bone Walker to Chicago for long stints in his club. In 1944 and 1945, Walker recorded for the Rhumboogie label, which was tied to the club, backed up by Marl Young 's orchestra. T-Bone Walker performed at the second famed Cavalcade of Jazz concert held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles produced by Leon Hefflin Sr. on October 12, 1946. Jack McVea , Slim Gaillard , The Honeydrippers , Lionel Hampton and his Orchestra, and Louis Armstrong were also on

2145-641: The age of 64. He influenced generations of musicians. Walker was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 . Chuck Berry named Walker and Louis Jordan as his main influences. B.B. King cited hearing Walker's recording of "Stormy Monday" as his inspiration for getting an electric guitar. In his 1996 autobiography, King commented that when he first heard Walker, he thought "Jesus Himself had returned to earth playing electric guitar. T-Bone's blues filled my insides with joy and good feeling. I became his disciple. And remain so today. My biggest musical debt

2210-518: The back is open. The Tahitian ukulele generally has eight strings made from fishing line , tuned the same as a Hawaiian ukulele in four courses, although the middle two courses are an octave higher than its Hawaiian cousin. Inspired by the Tahitian ukulele, there is the Motu Nui variant, from France , which has just four strings made from fishing line and the hole in the back is designed to produce

2275-607: The band's recording of " Whole Lotta Love ". Dixon's health increasingly deteriorated during the 1970s and the 1980s, primarily as a result of long-term diabetes . Eventually one of his legs was amputated . Dixon was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980, in the inaugural session of the Blues Foundation 's ceremony. In 1989 he received a Grammy Award for his album Hidden Charms . Dixon died of heart failure on January 29, 1992, in Burbank, California, and

2340-468: The blues." In 1977, unhappy with the small royalties paid by Chess's publishing company, Arc Music, Dixon and Muddy Waters sued Arc and, with the proceeds from the settlement, founded their own publishing company, Hoochie Coochie Music. In 1987, Dixon reached an out-of-court settlement with the rock band Led Zeppelin after suing for plagiarism in the band's use of his music in " Bring It On Home " and lyrics from his composition " You Need Love " (1962) in

2405-455: The concert size, but now the tenor size is more common for six-string taropatch ukuleles. The six-string, four-course version, has two single and two double courses, and is sometimes called a lili'u , though this name also applies to the eight-string version. Eight-string baritone taropatches exist, and 5-string tenors have also been made. Common types of ukuleles include soprano (standard ukulele), concert, tenor, and baritone. Less common are

2470-518: The country upon his father's death and introduced the instrument. Haida and his brother Katsuhiko formed the Moana Glee Club, enjoying rapid success in an environment of growing enthusiasm for Western popular music , particularly Hawaiian and jazz . During World War II , authorities banned most music from the West, but fans and players kept it alive in secret, and it resumed popularity after

2535-409: The demand. The ukulele also made inroads into early country music or old-time music parallel to the then-popular mandolin. It was played by Jimmie Rodgers and Ernest V. Stoneman , as well as by early string bands, including Cowan Powers and his Family Band , Da Costa Woltz's Southern Broadcasters, Walter Smith and Friends, The Blankenship Family, The Hillbillies, and The Hilltop Singers. From

2600-533: The early 1960s. During this time Dixon's output and influence were prodigious. From late 1956 to early 1959, he worked in a similar capacity for Cobra Records , for which he produced early singles for Otis Rush , Magic Sam , and Buddy Guy . In 1956, Dixon wrote " Fishin' in My Pond ", which was recorded by Lee Jackson , and released on Cobra in February 1957. Dixon later recorded for Bluesville Records . From

2665-584: The ensemble with visitors launched a fad for Hawaiian-themed songs among Tin Pan Alley songwriters . The ensemble also introduced both the lap steel guitar and the ukulele into U.S. mainland popular music, where it was taken up by vaudeville performers such as Roy Smeck and Cliff "Ukulele Ike" Edwards . On April 15, 1923, at the Rivoli Theater in New York City, Smeck appeared, playing

T-Bone Walker - Misplaced Pages Continue

2730-447: The first artist to make the electric guitar a solo instrument and a true centerpiece of his stunning live shows". With Norman Granz ' Jazz At The Philharmonic With Jay McShann With Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson With Jimmy Witherspoon With various artists Ukulele The ukulele ( / ˌ juː k ə ˈ l eɪ l i / ooh-kə- LAY -lee ; from Hawaiian : ʻukulele [ˈʔukuˈlɛlɛ] ), also called

2795-627: The group regularly performed on the Vicksburg radio station WQBC. He began adapting his poems into songs and even sold some to local music groups. Dixon left Mississippi for Chicago in 1936. A man of considerable stature, standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing over 250 pounds, he took up boxing, at which he was successful, winning the Illinois State Golden Gloves Heavyweight Championship (Novice Division) in 1937. Around 1939, he became

2860-506: The instrument a total of six or eight strings (primarily for greater strumming volume.) The strings themselves were originally made of catgut . Modern ukuleles use strings made from nylon polymers , synthetic gut, or fluorocarbon or wound strings composed of a (typically) nylon core wound with metal or polymers, including aluminium and silver-plated copper . Instruments with six or eight strings in four courses are often called taropatches, or taropatch ukuleles. They were once common in

2925-622: The instrument after playing it on his 1968 hit " Tiptoe Through the Tulips ". After the 1960s, the ukulele declined in popularity until the late 1990s, when interest in the instrument reawakened. During the 1990s, new manufacturers began producing ukuleles and a new generation of musicians took up the instrument. Jim Beloff set out to promote the instrument in the early 1990s and created over two dozen ukulele music books featuring modern music and classic ukulele pieces. All-time best-selling Hawaiian musician Israel Kamakawiwo'ole helped repopularize

2990-530: The instrument familiar. He also learned to play the guitar. In 1939, Dixon was a founding member of the Five Breezes, with Caston, Joe Bell, Gene Gilmore and Willie Hawthorne. The group blended blues, jazz , and vocal harmonies, in the mode of the Ink Spots . Dixon's progress on the upright bass came to an abrupt halt with the advent of World War II, when he refused induction into military service as

3055-654: The instrument, in particular with his 1993 reggae -rhythmed medley of " Over the Rainbow " and " What a Wonderful World ", used in films, television programs, and commercials. The song reached number 12 on Billboard' s Hot Digital Tracks chart the week of January 31, 2004. The creation of YouTube helped revive the popularity of the ukulele. One of the first videos to go viral was Jake Shimabukuro 's ukulele rendition of George Harrison 's " While My Guitar Gently Weeps ". The video quickly went viral , and as of September 2020, had received over 17 million views. The ukulele

3120-427: The late 1940s to the late 1960s, plastics manufacturer Mario Maccaferri turned out about 9 million inexpensive ukuleles. The ukulele remained popular, appearing in many jazz songs throughout the 50s, '60s, and '70s. Much of the instrument's popularity (particularly the baritone size) was cultivated by Arthur Godfrey on The Arthur Godfrey Show on television. Singer-musician Tiny Tim became closely associated with

3185-656: The late 1960s until the mid-1970s, Dixon ran his own record label, Yambo Records , and two subsidiary labels, Supreme and Spoonful. He released his 1971 album, Peace? , on Yambo and also singles by McKinley Mitchell , Lucky Peterson and others. Dixon is considered one of the key figures in the creation of Chicago blues . He worked with Chuck Berry , Muddy Waters , Howlin' Wolf , Otis Rush , Bo Diddley , Little Walter , Sonny Boy Williamson II , Koko Taylor , Little Milton , Eddie Boyd , Jimmy Witherspoon , Lowell Fulson , Willie Mabon , Memphis Slim , Washboard Sam , Jimmy Rogers , Sam Lay and others. In December 1964,

3250-433: The legacy of the blues and to secure copyrights and royalties for blues musicians who were exploited in the past. Speaking with the simple eloquence that was a hallmark of his songs, Dixon claimed, "The blues are the roots and the other musics are the fruits. It's better keeping the roots alive, because it means better fruits from now on. The blues are the roots of all American music. As long as American music survives, so will

3315-415: The number of strings and the easy playing ability. There is also an electrically amplified variant of the ukulele. The resonator ukulele produces sound by one or more spun aluminum cones ( resonators ) instead of the wooden soundboard, giving it a distinct and louder tone. The Tahitian ukulele , another variant, is usually carved from a single piece of wood, and does not have a hollow soundbox , although

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3380-638: The program. He performed for the third Cavalcade of Jazz concert held in the same location on September 7, 1947, along with Woody Herman as Emcee, The Valdez Orchestra , The Blenders, The Honeydrippers , Slim Gaillard , Johnny Otis and his Orchestra, Toni Harper , The Three Blazers , and Sarah Vaughan . Much of his output was recorded from 1946 to 1948 for Black & White Records , including his most famous song, " Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad) " (1947). Other notable songs he recorded during this period were "Bobby Sox Blues" (a number 3 R&B hit in 1947) and "West Side Baby" (number 8 on

3445-403: The range of each instrument from the lowest standard tuning to the highest fret in the highest standard tuning. Additionally, the contrabass below aligns with the bass in the above table. One of the most common tunings for the standard or soprano ukulele is C tuning: G 4 –C 4 –E 4 –A 4 , which is often remembered by the notes in the "My dog has fleas" jingle (see sidebar). The G string

3510-415: The songs "Don't Leave Me Baby" and "No Worry Blues"). He recorded from 1950 to 1954 for Imperial Records (backed by Dave Bartholomew ). Walker's only record in the next five years was T-Bone Blues , recorded during three widely separated sessions in 1955, 1956 and 1957 and released by Atlantic Records in 1959. By the early 1960s, Walker's career had slowed down, in spite of an energetic performance at

3575-480: The sopranino (also called piccolo, bambino, or "pocket uke"), bass, and contrabass ukuleles. Other types of ukuleles include banjo ukuleles and electric ukuleles. Of the standard ukuleles, the soprano, often called "standard" in Hawaii, is the second smallest and was the original size. The concert size was developed in the 1920s as an enhanced soprano, slightly larger and louder with a deeper tone. Shortly thereafter,

3640-412: The tenor was created, having more volume and a deeper bass tone. The baritone (resembling a smaller tenor guitar ) was created in the 1940s, and the contrabass and bass are recent innovations (2010 and 2014, respectively). The following chart shows the range of notes of standard ukulele types. Note that the range varies with the tuning and size of the instruments. The examples shown in the chart reflect

3705-640: The ukulele as an inexpensive and practical teaching instrument to foster musical literacy in the classroom. At its peak, 50,000 schoolchildren and adults learned the ukulele through the Doane program. "Ukulele in the Classroom", a revised program created by James Hill and Doane in 2008, is a staple of music education in Canada. The ukulele arrived in Japan in 1929 after Hawaiian-born Yukihiko Haida returned to

3770-739: The ukulele, in Stringed Harmony , a short film made in the DeForest Phonofilm sound-on-film process. On August 6, 1926, Smeck appeared playing the ukulele in a short film His Pastimes , made in the Vitaphone sound-on-disc process, shown with the feature film Don Juan starring John Barrymore . The ukulele soon became an icon of the Jazz Age . Like guitar, basic ukulele skills can be learned fairly easily, and this highly portable, relatively inexpensive instrument

3835-654: The ukulele. Harrison, who was a Formby fan, was a great lover of the instrument and often gave them to friends, including Tom Petty , whom he taught to play. The ukulele was popularized for a stateside audience during the Panama–Pacific International Exposition , held from spring to autumn of 1915 in San Francisco . The Hawaiian Pavilion featured a guitar and ukulele ensemble, George E. K. Awai and his Royal Hawaiian Quartet, along with ukulele maker and player Jonah Kumalae . The popularity of

3900-539: The war. In 1959, Haida founded the Nihon Ukulele Association . Japan has since become a second home for Hawaiian musicians and ukulele virtuosos. British singer and comedian George Formby was a ukulele player, though he often played a banjolele , a hybrid instrument consisting of an extended ukulele neck with a banjo resonator body. Demand surged in the new century because of its relative simplicity and portability. Another British ukulele player

3965-474: Was Tony Award -winner Tessie O'Shea , who appeared in numerous movies and stage shows, and was twice on The Ed Sullivan Show , including the night The Beatles debuted in 1964. The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain tours globally, and the George Formby Society , established in 1961, continues to hold regular conventions. George Harrison , Paul McCartney , and John Lennon all played

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4030-624: Was buried in Burr Oak Cemetery , in Alsip, Illinois . After his death, his widow, Marie Dixon, took over the Blues Heaven Foundation and moved the headquarters to Chess Records. Dixon was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the category Early Influences (pre-rock) in 1994. On April 28, 2013, both Dixon and his grandson Alex Dixon were inducted into the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame. In 2007, Dixon

4095-405: Was commonly used during the Hawaiian music boom of the early 20th century, and is often seen in sheet music from this period, as well as in many method books through the 1980s. D tuning is said by some to bring out a sweeter tone in some ukuleles, generally smaller ones. D tuning with a low fourth string, A 3 –D 4 –F ♯ 4 –B 4 , is sometimes called "Canadian tuning" after its use in

4160-856: Was honored with a marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail in Vicksburg. The actor and comedian Cedric the Entertainer portrayed Dixon in Cadillac Records , a 2008 film based on the early history of Chess Records. In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked him as the 12th greatest bass player and mentioned him as the history's most influential bluesmen. Dixon wrote or co-wrote more than 500 songs. Several have become blues standards , including " Help Me ", " Hoochie Coochie Man ", " I Can't Quit You Baby ", " I Ain't Superstitious " " I'm Ready ", " Little Red Rooster ", " My Babe ", and " Spoonful ". Other Dixon compositions that reached

4225-462: Was popular with amateur players throughout the 1920s, as evidenced by the introduction of uke chord tablature into the published sheet music for popular songs of the time (a role that was supplanted by the guitar in the early years of rock and roll ). A number of mainland-based stringed-instrument manufacturers, among them Regal , Harmony , and especially Martin , added ukulele, banjolele, and tiple lines to their production to take advantage of

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