'On An Overgrown Path' Pays Tribute to African American Conductor Dean Dixon (1915-1976)

Today I heard from my U.K. blogger friend Bob Shingleton, who writes a leading classical music blog, On An Overgrown Path: “Hi Bill, it is rewarding to see On An Overgrown Path featuring in today's New York Times - http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/29/arts/music/29juil.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss This mention has sent a lot of new readers to the Overgrown Path. In response, and to mark the end of Black History Month in the UK, I have today paid tribute to Dean Dixon, the anniversary of whose death falls in a few days. My article includes some new facts and corrects two minor errors perpetuated in several other articles on him. I hope it adds something to the memory of this fine African-American conductor -
http://www.overgrownpath.com/2008/10/dean-dixon-i-owe-him-huge-debt.html  Regards, Bob” 

Here are some excerpts from the post on Dean Dixon, who died Nov. 3, 1976: “He was born in 1915 in New York City and studied at DeWitt Clinton High School in Harlem, then at the Juilliard School and Columbia University. At the age of 26 Dixon became the youngest conductor to lead the then New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, and in 1941 he conducted the NBC Symphony in the orchestra's summer season. He made many recordings of American contemporary music including Henry Cowell's Symphony No. 5, Edward McDowell's Indian Suite, and Douglas Moore's Symphony in A with electronic resources for the the American Recording Society label. In later years Dixon worked with the Philadelphia and Boston orchestras.” 

“If that was the story of Dean Dixon's career it would be a notable one, even by today's standards when international conducting opportunities are the norm rather than the exception. But, to allow his music making to speak for itself, I have omitted one fact about Dean Dixon. It is the angle that almost every article about him takes. My photos give it away. Dean Dixon was an African-American born of West Indian parents. When he was 13, a teacher told his mother to 'stop wasting her money' and discontinue his musical studies. He had to fund his own 70 player Dean Dixon Symphony in 1932 to give him (literally) a platform for his talents. Eleanor Roosevelt encouraged him to pursue his conducting career, he went on to be the first African-American to conduct the New York Philharmonic, and his repertoire included the Afro-American Symphony of William Grant Still.” 

On An Overgrown Path
Dean Dixon
Youngest N.Y. Philharmonic Conductor
William Grant Still
Afro-American Symphony
Dean Dixon Symphony