Bill Dixon

Bill Dixon
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Robert Dixon
Born(1925-10-05)October 5, 1925
Nantucket, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedJune 16, 2010(2010-06-16) (aged 84)
North Bennington, Vermont, U.S.
GenresFree jazz
Occupation(s)Composer, visual artist, educator, musician
Instrument(s)Trumpet, flugelhorn, piano
Years active1960–2010
Formerly ofArchie Shepp, Cecil Taylor

William Robert Dixon (October 5, 1925 – June 16, 2010) was an American composer and educator. Dixon was one of the seminal figures in free jazz and late twentieth-century contemporary music. He was also a prominent activist for artist's rights and African American music tradition. He played the trumpet, flugelhorn, and piano, often using electronic delay and reverb.