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

Dixon has also worked as a music director and drummer for Bryson Tiller, Khalid and other artists. He's been featured on series including Making the Band and Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Early life and education

Dixon was born in Detroit, Michigan, the only child of Gus and Denise Dixon. He began playing drums at 4 years old, practicing the instrument as he attended church. He went to Detroit High School for Fine & Performing Arts and played at local concerts for gospel artists including Kirk Franklin.

After graduating high school, Dixon moved to East Lansing, Michigan to attend Michigan State University (MSU) on a jazz studies scholarship. He performed at professional concerts while pursuing his degree, and graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Music.

Career

Dixon began his professional career as a touring drummer with The Spinners. Thereafter, he performed with artists including Ne-Yo, Sean Kingston, Mulgrew Miller, Roy Hargrove and Steve Nelson. He later appeared on MTV's "Making His Band", a reality TV show where musicians competed for positions in Sean Combs' touring band. He was a drum finalist, however another musician was ultimately selected. Dixon then worked with acts including Deitrick Haddon, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Dawn Richard and Timothy Bloom. He also performed with his own jazz ensemble, The Thaddeus Dixon Quartet. He then relocated to Berkeley to work as an instructor in the music department at the University of California, Berkeley for two years.

Dixon later became the music director for recording artist Cody Simpson. He then managed music direction for Meghan Trainor, Bryson Tiller, Khalid and Brent Faiyaz. He also produced music for Meghan Trainor, Talib Kweli, Raekwon, Timothy Bloom, Deborah Cox, Teedra Moses and Rick Ross among others. In October 2018, he released his debut single, "Letter To My X's" featuring KR.

Production credits

2011

Deitrick Haddon - Church on the Moon

• (Drums)

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

• (Drums)

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

• (Drums)

Robert McCarther - Stranger in Town

• (Drums)

Rick Roe - Minor Shuffle

• (Drums)

2013

Talib Kweli - Gravitas

• "Violations" feat. Raekwon (Producer)

2014

Timothy Bloom - Timothy Bloom

• "Your Future" (Composer, Drums, Producer, Programming)

Teedra Moses - California Vibes

• "Can’t Be Luv" (Producer)

Abrina – My Playground (EP)

• "Blowin" feat. Jeremih (Producer)

2015

The Peanuts Movie Original Soundtrack

• "Better When I'm Dancin'" (Backwards Vocals, Producer, Text)

Deborah Cox - Work of Art

• "More Than I Knew" (Producer)

Teedra Moses - Cognac & Conversation

• "All I Ever Wanted" feat. Rick Ross (Composer, Engineer, Producer)
• "Cognac & Conversation" feat. Rick Ross (Composer, Engineer, Producer)

Coco Jones

• "Let Em Know" (Producer)

2016

Thaddeus Dixon feat. Timothy Bloom and Talib Kweli

• "All About You" (Producer)

Taeyeon – Rain

• "Secret" (Composer, Arrangement)

MÄDA

• "Lights Off" (Producer)
• "Without U Baby" (Producer)

2017

MÄDA - Our Love (EP)

• "I Still Love You" feat. Dreezy (Producer)

2018

Thaddeus Dixon feat. KR

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

References

1. "Thaddeus Dixon Detroit, MI - Intelius". www.intelius.com.
2. ^ "Thaddeus Dixon: Bryson Tiller's TRAPSOUL tour music director". Rolling Out. 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
3. ^ "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. ^ "How Rising Artists Can Shine Bright Before Their Big Break". Vibe. 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
6. ^ "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. ^ "Views From The Studio: Meet Music Director Thaddeus Dixon". Vibe. 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
9. ^ "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. ^ "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. ^ "Vixen Boombox: Deborah Cox Is Missing A Lost Love On 'More Than I Knew'". Vibe. 2015-04-15. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
14. ^ 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.

External links

• Thaddeus Dixon Official Website

• Living people
• Record producers from Michigan
• Songwriters from Michigan
• American audio engineers
• Musicians from Detroit
• Jazz musicians from Michigan
• African-American jazz musicians
• American music educators
• Michigan State University alumni
• 1984 births
• Educators from Michigan
• African-American songwriters
• 21st-century African-American people
• 20th-century African-American people