Wikipedia

Derek Dixie

Derek Dixie
Born
Derek James Dixie

Youngstown, Ohio, United States
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Drums
  • strings
  • keyboard

Derek James Dixie is an American musician, record producer, and musical director best known for his work with Beyoncé, Chloe x Halle, and The Carters.[1] He has five Grammy nominations and one Emmy nomination.[2][3]

Early life and education

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Dixie grew up in Youngstown, Ohio. He attended Youngstown State University and graduated from The Recording Workshop in Chillicothe, Ohio. Afterwards he taught audio engineering at The Recording Workshop.[4][5]

Career

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MTV’s Making His Band with Sean “Diddy” Combs

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In 2009, Dixie was one of 42 finalists in the MTV show "Making His Band," about Sean "Diddy" Combs’ search for a band to play on his upcoming album, "Last Dance in Paris."[4]

Superbowl

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Dixie was the music director for Beyoncé’s solo Superbowl half time show performance in 2013 and again in 2016 when she co-headlined with Coldplay and Bruno Mars.[5]

In 2019, Dixie arranged and orchestrated a performance by Chloe x Halle for Superbowl LIII with 30 Youngstown State University musicians and a Los Angeles horn and string ensemble.[5]

“I am proud that I was able to put such an important task in the hands of my hometown,” he said. “When you hear the arrangement, I hope you will feel that every note, chord and rhythm in the orchestration means something.”

— Derek Dixie, [5]

Beyoncé

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After almost ten years of working with Beyoncé as Music Director, Dixie received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Music Direction for “HOMECOMING: A Film by Beyoncé.”[1]

Dixie worked with Beyoncé to create "Black Parade", an anthemic song (released on Juneteenth) celebrating her heritage, hometown and African roots, reflecting on the Black Experience in America.[6][7]

Songwriting, instrument, arrangement, vocal and production credits

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List of song productions, string/horn arrangements and co-writes, showing year released and album name
Title Year Artist Album
2013 Beyoncé Beyoncé
2014 Beyoncé: Platinum Edition
2016 Lemonade
  • "Summer"
  • "BOSS"
 2018 The Carters Everything Is Love
  • "Babybird"
 Chloe x Halle The Kids Are Alright
2019 Beyoncé The Lion King: The Gift
  • "Welcome"
  • "Crazy In Love"
  • "Freedom"
  • "Formation"
  • "Sorry"
  • "Kitty Kat"
  • "Bow Down"
  • "I Been On"
  • "Drunk In Love"
  • "Diva"
  • "Flawless/Feeling Myself"
  • "Top Off"
  • "7/11"
  • "Party"
  • "Don't Hurt Yourself"
  • "I Care"
  • "Partition"
  • "Yonce"
  • "Mi Gente"
  • "Baby Boy"
  • "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)"
  • "Hold Up"
  • "Countdown"
  • "Check On It"
  • "Deja Vu"
  • "Run The World (Girls)"
  • "Lose My Breath"
  • "Say My Name"
  • "Soldier"
  • "Get Me Bodied"
  • "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)"
  • "Love On Top"
  • "Shining (Thank You)"
 Homecoming: The Live Album
2020 Chloe x Halle Ungodly Hour
Beyoncé The Lion King: The Gift (Deluxe Edition)
  • "People of the Pride"
 2021 Coldplay Music of the Spheres
  • "Pray It Away"
  • "Make It Look Easy"
 2023 Chlöe In Pieces
  • "Overture" (Featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda)
  • "Intro"
  • "Requiem for a Dream"
  • "Truth or Dare" (Featuring Freddie Gibbs)
  • "Outro"
  • "Demigod"
  • "Night 4"
  • "Awards"
  • "Mad"
  • "Prodigy"
  • "Intermission"
  • "Show Me"
  • "Plain Jane"
  • "Tap"
  • "Hurt"
  • "Blind"
  • "Delilah"
  • "Get Here" (Featuring Stevie Wonder)
 Chika Samson: The Album
  • "Ameriican Requiem"
  • "Daughter"
  • "Amen"
 2024 Beyoncé Cowboy Carter

Film & documentary scoring

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Year Title Director Studio/Distributor Notes
2019 HΘMΣCΘMING
Parkwood & Netflix
2020 Black Is King
Parkwood & Walt Disney Pictures Scored with MeLo-X & James William Blades

Awards

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Dixie has five Grammy nominations and one Emmy nomination.[2][3]

Emmy Awards

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Year Title Artist Category Role Result
2019 Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé Beyoncé Outstanding Music Direction Co-Music Director Nominated

Grammy Awards

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Year Title Artist Category Role Result
2017 Lemonade Beyoncé Album Of the Year Producer Nominated
2021 "Black Parade" Record of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year Songwriter Nominated
Best R&B Song Nominated
2023 Music of the Spheres Coldplay Album of the Year Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b Fekadu, Mesfin (27 Aug 2019). "Beyoncé's music director on Emmy nod : 'It feels good'". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on 2022-08-27. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
  2. ^ a b "Recording Academy Grammy Awards". www.grammy.com. Archived from the original on 2022-08-27. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
  3. ^ a b "Nominations Search | Emmy Awards". Television Academy. Archived from the original on 2019-10-10. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
  4. ^ a b Throne, Michael (13 August 2009). "Ross County man competes for chance to work with Diddy". Chillicothe Gazette. p. A.1. ProQuest 442658409.
  5. ^ a b c d "Super Bowl Pregame Show Orchestrated by YSU Musicians". University Wire. 7 February 2019. ProQuest 2176651496.
  6. ^ Fekadu, Mesfin (27 November 2020). "Black experience". Philadelphia Tribune. p. 2B. ProQuest 2483992473.
  7. ^ "Beyoncé drops new song 'Black Parade' for Juneteenth: Listen". Los Angeles Times. 20 June 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-06-21. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
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