Derek Dixie
Birth nameDerek James Dixie
BornYoungstown, Ohio, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • record producer
Instrument(s)
  • 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

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

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

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

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

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 for her to sing about her heritage, hometown and African roots, reflecting on the Black Experience in America and release on Juneteenth.[6][7]

Songwriting, instrument, arrangement, vocal and production credits

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

Film & documentary scoring

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

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

Grammy Awards

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

  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.

External links

Beyoncé
Categories