Died On This Date (January 9, 2015) Popsy Dixon / The Holmes Brothers

Willie “Popsy” Dixon
July 26, 1942 – January 9, 2015

Popsy Dixon was the drummer and harmony vocalist for American Soul/Gospel/Blues group, the Holmes Brothers.  Formed in 1978, the trio built a legion of loyal followers thanks to their heavenly harmonies and overall sound that was once described by the New York Times as “deeply soulful, uplifting and timeless.”  It was Dixon’s impeccable drumming and beautiful falsetto that made the group complete. Formed in Christchurch, Virginia, the Holmes Brothers moved to Harlem during the ’80s to try their luck in the city’s blues clubs.  They signed their first record deal in 1989 and went on to release 12 albums, including three that landed in the top five of the Billboard Blues Album charts.   The list of artists they recorded with includes Joan Osborne, Willie Nelson, Peter Gabriel, and Van Morrison.  In 2014, they received an National Endowment For The Arts National Heritage Fellowship.  Popsy Dixon was 72 when he died of liver cancer on January 9, 2014.

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