Dave Dixon (August 26, 1926 – September 19, 1964) was an American DJ and

program director In service industries, such as education, a program manager or program director researches, plans, develops and implements one or more of the firm's professional services. For example, in education, a program director is responsible for developing ...

at the

St. Louis St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a populatio ...

radio station KATZ. In addition to being a local producer and promoter of live music shows, Dixon was also the president of the National Association of Radio Broadcasters (NARA).

Career

David Bernard Dixon was a native of St. Louis, Missouri. In 1951, he began working at WTMV. He later had a radio show that aired live from the Birdcage Lounge on KSTL. He started working at KATZ as a disc jockey in 1958. He became the host of KATZ's "Night Beat Down Rhythm Street," which originated from various lounges in the St. Louis area. Dixon was the first African-American vice president of Laclede Broadcasting. He was also the first African-American promoter for Regal Sports, a concert and sports production agency. In 1960, Dixon heard a demo that local bandleader

Ike Turner Izear Luster "Ike" Turner Jr. (November 5, 1931 – December 12, 2007) was an American musician, bandleader, songwriter, record producer, and talent scout. An early pioneer of 1950s rock and roll, he is best known for his work in the 1960s and ...

had recorded with his vocalist Ann Bullock (soon to be

Tina Turner Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939 – May 24, 2023) was a singer, songwriter, actress, and author. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", her vocal prowess, raspy voice, and electrifyin ...

). Dixon urged Turner to send the demo to

Juggy Murray Juggy Murray (November 24, 1923 – February 8, 2005) was an American record label owner, producer and singer-songwriter. He co-founded Sue Records which launched the career of Ike & Tina Turner. Subsidiary labels under the Sue were Symbol, ...

, president of R&B label

Sue Records ''Sue Records was also the name of a Louisiana-based record company which owned Jewel Records (Shreveport record label).'' Sue Records ("The Sound of Soul") was an American record label founded by Juggy Murray, Henry 'Juggy' Murray and Bobby Robins ...

. The song, "

A Fool In Love "A Fool in Love" is the debut single by Ike & Tina Turner. It was released on Sue Records in 1960. The song is Tina Turner's first release with the stage name "Tina Turner" although she had been singing with Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm since ...

," became a national hit and launched the career of

Ike & Tina Turner Ike & Tina Turner was an American musical duo consisting of husband-and-wife Ike Turner and Tina Turner. From 1960 to 1976, they performed live as the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, supported by the Kings of Rhythm and backing vocalists, the Ikettes. ...

. In 1962, Dixon began serving as president of National Association of Radio Broadcasters(NARA), the African-American organization of television and radio announcers. Dixon was involved in a head-on auto collision on August 28, 1964. While he was in critical condition at Homer Phillips Hospital in St. Louis, a Dave Dixon Hospital Fund was set up. Another passenger in the car was also seriously injured. Dixon died from his injures on September 19, 1964. He was 38. After Dixon's death, his brother Jerome Dixon took over his position at KATZ. In June 1965, a musical memorial tribute to Dixon was held at

Kiel Auditorium Kiel Auditorium was an indoor arena located in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the home of the Saint Louis University basketball team, and hosted the NBA's St. Louis Hawks from 1955 to 1968. From 1913 to 1930, the site was home to Charles H. Tu ...

in St. Louis. The show was sponsored by NARA and featured musical acts such as

the Miracles The Miracles (later known as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1965 to 1972) were an American vocal group formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1955. They were the first successful recording act for Motown Records and are considered one of the most ...

King Curtis Curtis Montgomery (February 7, 1934 – August 13, 1971), known professionally as King Curtis, was an American saxophonist who played rhythm and blues, jazz, and rock and roll. A bandleader, band member, and session musician, he was also a musi ...

Grover Mitchell Grover Mitchell, born Grover Curry Mitchell (March 17, 1930 – August 6, 2003) was an American jazz trombonist who led the Count Basie Orchestra. Biography Mitchell was born in Whately, Alabama, but he moved with his parents to Pittsburgh, Pen ...

, and

Mary Love Mary Love (born Mary Ann Varney; July 27, 1943 – June 21, 2013) was an American soul and gospel singer, and Christian evangelist. After the 1980s she was known as Mary Love Comer. Life Love was born as Mary Ann Varney (or Mary Ann Allen, acc ...

References

External links

Dave Dixon
on St. Louis Media History African-American DJs American radio personalities Radio personalities from St. Louis Road incident deaths in Missouri 1964 deaths 1926 births {{US-radio-bio-stub