Thaddeus Dixon

Thaddeus Dixon
Birth nameThaddeus Gustav Dixon
Also known asThe Music Man
Born (1984-01-14) January 14, 1984 (age 40)
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Genres
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • songwriter
  • musician
  • music director
Instruments
Years active2006–present
Websitethaddeus-dixon.com

Thaddeus Gustav Dixon[1] (born January 14, 1984), also known as The Music Man,[2] is an American record producer, songwriter, and music director.[3] He co-produced and co-wrote Meghan Trainor's 2015[4] single "Better When I'm Dancin',"[3] which she performed for The Peanuts Movie soundtrack. The song received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[3]

Dixon has also worked as a music director and drummer for Bryson Tiller, Khalid and other artists.[5] He's been featured on series including Making the Band and Late Night with Seth Meyers.[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, practicing the instrument as he attended church.[7][8] He went to 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 performed at professional concerts 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

21:03 - Evolved...from Boys to Men

Disney Jazz, Vol. 1: Everybody Wants to Be a Cat

Robert McCarther - Stranger in Town

Rick Roe - Minor Shuffle

2013

Talib Kweli - Gravitas

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

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]

Coco Jones

  • "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

  • "Lights Off" (Producer)[19]
  • "Without U Baby" (Producer)[20]

2017

MÄDA - Our Love (EP)

2018

Thaddeus Dixon feat. KR

  • "Letter To My X's" (Primary Artist, Composer, Engineer, Producer)[14]

References

  1. ^ "Thaddeus Dixon Detroit, MI - Intelius". www.intelius.com.
  2. ^ a b c d "Thaddeus Dixon: Bryson Tiller's TRAPSOUL tour music director". Rolling Out. 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Alumnus Produces and Co-writes with Meghan Trainor | MSU College of Music". music.msu.edu. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  4. ^ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  5. ^ a b "How Rising Artists Can Shine Bright Before Their Big Break". Vibe. 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Thaddeus Dixon's reality show". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  7. ^ Lustenberger, Velvet Creative Office GmbH, Theo. "Who Is Thaddeus Dixon?". Paiste News. Archived from the original on Jun 30, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ a b c "Views From The Studio: Meet Music Director Thaddeus Dixon". Vibe. 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Thaddeus Dixon | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  10. ^ "Up-And-Coming Music Producer Thaddeus Dixon Gives The Inside Scoop On Making It In Music". 21 July 2014.
  11. ^ "Bryson Tiller Shines Bright on Trapsoul Tour in New York". Billboard.
  12. ^ a b "Timothy Bloom And Talib Kweli Connect On 'All About You'". Vibe. 2016-10-07. Archived from the original on 2018-03-15. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  13. ^ a b "Vixen Boombox: Deborah Cox Is Missing A Lost Love On 'More Than I Knew'". Vibe. 2015-04-15. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  14. ^ a b Wallace, Riley (October 26, 2018). "Thaddeus Dixon's Debut Single Is A Slice Of 90s Nostalgia". HipHopDX. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  15. ^ "Teedra Moses – Can't Be Luv".
  16. ^ "Latina Singer Abrina is Back with Visuals for FallBack Part II – Sway's Universe".
  17. ^ Coco Jones – Let Em Know, retrieved 2018-03-14
  18. ^ "TAEYEON – 비밀 (Secret)".
  19. ^ "Premiere: MADA Serenades Her Lover On 'Lights Off'". 4 November 2016.
  20. ^ "Premiere: MADA Drops Visuals For Feel-Good Track "Without U Baby"". 25 April 2016.
  21. ^ "MADA And Dreezy Link Up For A Wistful Slow Jam On "I Still Love You"". The FADER. Retrieved 2018-03-14.