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R.I.P. Jim Dickinson
2009 has been one brutal year for both the famous and the not-quite-as famous.
The Memphis Commercial Appeal is reporting that legendary musician and producer Jim Dickinson has died. He was 67 and died in his sleep after a period of ill health.
As much as anyone, Dickinson embodied the casual cool of Memphis music. He was a straw that stirred the drink - he played in the proto-jam/R&B/rock outfit Mud Boy and the Neutrons, he played piano on the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses” and on Aretha Franklin’s album “Spirit in the Dark.”
He produced the legendary underground rock classics, Big Star’s “Third” and Alex Chilton’s still-totally-amazing “Like Flies on Sherbert,” as well as the Replacements’ “Pleased to Meet Me” and others. He complied anthologies of Memphis music and was fond of talking about its mythic power. He lived the stuff.
He recently started a rock band called Snake Eyes with younger Memphis underground rock royalty (members of the embers of Reigning Sound and Jack Oblivian & The Tearjerkers). They were working on a debut album at the time of Dickinson’s death.
His sons Luther and Cody have found success in the North Mississippi All-Stars.
What an amazing guy. He will be missed.
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By Jeff
August 15, 2009 1:03 PM | Link to this
His production credits also include the first True Believers album.
By Michael Corcoran
August 15, 2009 1:06 PM | Link to this
Jim Dickinson was a great friend of Austin music, producing the True Believers self-titled debut in 1986 and serving as a SXSW panel heavy back when it was hard to get anyone in the industry to show up. (Remember the role-playing panel when Jim played Elvis to Joe Nick Patoski’s Col. Parker- hilarious!) One of my favorite SXSW moments was when Jim and sons Luther and Cody played Chances (currently Club DeVille) and before they did a Blaze Foley song, he lit into the Austinites in the crowd for not even knowing who Foley was. He was always great to talk to for some perspective in the music industry, just a real cool, smart, straight-shooting dude who knew more about the real Memphis than anyone else. I miss him already.
By Machelle Dunlop
August 15, 2009 2:38 PM | Link to this
Hard year for musician deaths! Jim was respected. He will be missed.
By David Hood
August 15, 2009 3:20 PM | Link to this
Jim Dickinson was more than just a great musician, he was a great music personallity. I first met Jim in Muscle Shoals when he was there in our studio recording “Wild Horses” with the Stones. He became a good friend and a musical inspiration to me and the rest of the musicians who were priveleged to work with him. he will be missed by many.