Died On This Date (September 26, 2011) Jessy Dixon / Popular Gospel Singer; Toured With Paul Simon
themusicsover Jessy Dixon
March 12, 1938 – September 26, 2011
Jessy Dixon was highly influential Gospel singer, musician, and songwriter who earned seven Grammy nominations while endearing himself to audiences world wide thanks to his passionately soulful live performances. While deeply committed to his Ministry, Dixon occasionally flirted with pop music, earning accolades from the likes of Natalie Cole, Bette Midler, and Diana Ross. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Dixon was able to find an equal audience in both young and old, and black and white. Nothing spoke to that more than his longtime association with Bill Gaither and his Gospel Hour program. Born in San Antonio, Texas, Dixon began singing when he was just five. He and his family soon moved to Chicago, where he was reportedly discovered by the great James Cleveland who went on to record a few of his songs. After meeting him at his 1972 Newport Jazz Festival performance at Radio City Music Hall, Paul Simon took Dixon on tour with him, launching a collaborative relationship that would last eight years. As reported in the Chicago Tribune, Jessy Dixon passed away on September 26, 2011 at the age of 73.
Thanks to Scott Miller for the assist.
Paul Kirby was a Nashville singer-songwriter who fronted the popular roots rock band, Walk The West and later, Cactus Brothers. Decades before anyone thought up the name, “Americana” as a music genre, Kirby was marrying rock ‘n roll with rough-and-tumble country music. Formed with his brother, Will Kirby and schoolmate John Goleman in 1984, Walk The West quickly built a sizable local following thanks to their blistering live shows and growing arsenal of original songs. They were quickly snapped up by Capitol Records just as major labels were trying to find their own contributions to the “cow punk” scene that was suddenly in vogue. The band had a couple of minor hits thanks in part to video play on MTV and opening slots for the likes of the Smithereens and the Ramones. Walk The West never released a follow-up for Capitol and disbanded within the next few years. During the early ’90s, Kirby resurfaced with the more adventurous Cactus Brothers who were definitely more “alt” than “country,” but nonetheless found a home on Liberty Records who was currently riding the high of Garth Brooks. The band released two albums and appeared in the film Pure Country before again being dropped by their label. Kirby and Walk The West reunited for a special event in Nashville in 2008, and then again just weeks before his untimely death. According to the 
Vesta Williams was an American R&B singer who achieved a bit of fame during the late ’80s and early ’90s. Born in Ohio, but transplanted to Los Angeles while still a child, Williams was surrounded by music from an early age no doubt thanks to a father who was a disc jockey. After launching her career when she got out of high school, Williams began finding work as a session singer – working with the likes of Joe Sample, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, and Stephanie Mills. That lead to a contract with A&M Records and the release of her debut, Vesta, in 1986. Over the next several years, Williams scored hits with records like “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” “Sweet, Sweet Love,” and “Congratulations.” Her most recent album release was 2007’s Distant Lover. According to 
John Larson was a trumpet who is perhaps best remembered for his tenure in the ’60s rock band, the Ides of March, and more specifically, for his performance in their hit song, “Vehicle.” Larson joined his fellow Chicago-area classmates in the band in 1968 and immediately contributed to their horn-driven sound which was not dissimilar to that of fellow rock band, Chicago, but with perhaps a bit more dirty soul. When “Vehicle” came out in 1970, it quickly shot to #2 on the Billboard singles chart, and to this day is considered one of the greatest rock songs of its era. The band’s fan base quickly grew and so did interest in them on the road. They went on to tour with 