Thaddeus Dixon
Thaddeus Gustav Dixon[1] (born January 14, 1984), also known as The Music Man,[2] is an American record producer, songwriter, talent manager, music instructor, and record executive.[3] He is noted for co-producing and co-writing Meghan Trainor's certified platinum[4] single "Better When I'm Dancin'".[3] The song was recorded for The Peanuts Movie soundtrack.[3]
Thaddeus Dixon | |
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Birth name | Thaddeus Gustav Dixon |
Also known as | The Music Man |
Born | Detroit, Michigan, United States | January 14, 1984
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Instruments | |
Years active | 2006–present |
Associated acts | |
Website | thaddeusdixon |
Dixon has also worked as a music director and or drummer for Bryson Tiller, Khalid and other artists.[5] He has been featured on television shows including Making His Band and Late Night with Seth Meyers.[2] In addition, he has performed at the White House and Carnegie Hall.[2]
Early life and education
Dixon was born in Detroit, Michigan, the only child of Gus and Denise Dixon.[6] He began playing drums at 4 years old and honed his skills as a church musician.[7][8] He attended Detroit High School for Fine & Performing Arts, and played at local concerts for gospel artists including Kirk Franklin.[6][2]
After graduating high school, Dixon moved to East Lansing, Michigan to attend Michigan State University (MSU) on a jazz studies scholarship.[3] He was recruited by MSU jazz studies director, Rodney Whitaker who lauded him for having "the stuff you can't teach."[6] He took on professional gigs while pursuing his degree,[6] and graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Music.[3]
Career
Dixon began his professional career as a touring drummer with The Spinners.[6] Thereafter, he performed with artists including Ne-Yo, Sean Kingston, Mulgrew Miller, Roy Hargrove and Steve Nelson.[2][6] He later appeared on MTV's "Making His Band", a reality TV show where musicians competed for positions in Sean Combs' touring band.[6] He was a drum finalist, however another musician was ultimately selected.[6] Dixon then worked with acts including Deitrick Haddon,[9] Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Dawn Richard and Timothy Bloom.[6] He also performed with his own jazz ensemble, The Thaddeus Dixon Quartet.[6] He then relocated to Berkeley to work as an instructor in the music department at the University of California, Berkeley for two years.[3][8]
Dixon later became the music director for recording artist Cody Simpson.[10] He then managed music direction for Meghan Trainor,[8] Bryson Tiller,[11] Khalid and Brent Faiyaz.[5] He also produced music for Meghan Trainor, Talib Kweli, Raekwon, Timothy Bloom, Deborah Cox, Teedra Moses and Rick Ross among others.[9][12][13] In October 2018, he released his debut single, "Letter To My X's" featuring KR.[14]
Production credits
2011
Deitrick Haddon - Church on the Moon
- (Drums)[9]
21:03 - Evolved...from Boys to Men
- (Drums)[9]
Disney Jazz, Vol. 1: Everybody Wants to Be a Cat
- (Drums)[9]
Robert McCarther - Stranger in Town
- (Drums)[9]
Rick Roe - Minor Shuffle
- (Drums)[9]
2014
Timothy Bloom - Timothy Bloom
- "Your Future" (Composer, Drums, Producer, Programming)[9]
Teedra Moses - California Vibes
- "Can’t Be Luv" (Producer)[15]
Abrina – My Playground (EP)
2015
The Peanuts Movie Original Soundtrack
- "Better When I'm Dancin'" (Backwards Vocals, Producer, Text)[9]
Deborah Cox - Work of Art
- "More Than I Knew" (Producer)[13]
Teedra Moses - Cognac & Conversation
- "All I Ever Wanted" feat. Rick Ross (Composer, Engineer, Producer)[9]
- "Cognac & Conversation" feat. Rick Ross (Composer, Engineer, Producer)[9]
- "Let Em Know" (Producer)[17]
2016
Thaddeus Dixon feat. Timothy Bloom and Talib Kweli
- "All About You" (Producer)[12]
Taeyeon – Rain
- "Secret" (Composer, Arrangement)[18]
MÄDA
References
- Inc., Intelius. "Thaddeus Dixon Detroit, MI - Intelius". www.intelius.com.
- "Thaddeus Dixon: Bryson Tiller's TRAPSOUL tour music director". Rolling Out. 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
- "Alumnus Produces and Co-writes with Meghan Trainor | MSU College of Music". music.msu.edu. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
- "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
- "How Rising Artists Can Shine Bright Before Their Big Break". Vibe. 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
- "Thaddeus Dixon's reality show". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
- Lustenberger, Velvet Creative Office GmbH, Theo. "Paiste: News". www.paiste.com.
- "Views From The Studio: Meet Music Director Thaddeus Dixon". Vibe. 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
- "Thaddeus Dixon | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
- "Up-And-Coming Music Producer Thaddeus Dixon Gives The Inside Scoop On Making It In Music". 21 July 2014.
- "Bryson Tiller Shines Bright on Trapsoul Tour in New York".
- "Timothy Bloom And Talib Kweli Connect On 'All About You'". Vibe. 2016-10-07. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
- "Vixen Boombox: Deborah Cox Is Missing A Lost Love On 'More Than I Knew'". Vibe. 2015-04-15. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
- Wallace, Riley (October 26, 2018). "Thaddeus Dixon's Debut Single Is A Slice Of 90s Nostalgia". HipHopDX. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- "Teedra Moses – Can't Be Luv".
- "Latina Singer Abrina is Back with Visuals for FallBack Part II – Sway's Universe".
- Coco Jones – Let Em Know, retrieved 2018-03-14
- "TAEYEON – 비밀 (Secret)".
- "Premiere: MADA Serenades Her Lover On 'Lights Off'". 4 November 2016.
- "Premiere: MADA Drops Visuals For Feel-Good Track "Without U Baby"". 25 April 2016.
- "MADA And Dreezy Link Up For A Wistful Slow Jam On "I Still Love You"". The FADER. Retrieved 2018-03-14.