Ike Dixon
Ike Dixon | |
|---|---|
| Born | Isaiah Dixon December 14, 1896 East Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | January 6, 1953 (aged 56) Catonsville, Maryland, U.S. |
| Resting place | Arbutus Memorial Park |
| Occupations |
|
| Spouse |
Evelyn Phillips (m. 1915) |
| Children | 3, including Isaiah |
Isaiah "Ike" Dixon (December 14, 1896 – January 6, 1953) was an American musician and club owner. He was a major figure in the Baltimore jazz scene, as proprietor of the Comedy Club in that city, a major music venue that first opened in 1934 and was an after-show gathering place for many national figures who performed elsewhere in Baltimore.
Early life
Isaiah Dixon was born on December 14, 1896, in East Baltimore, Maryland, to Annie (née Daniels) and Atney Dixon. He was educated in local public schools.[1]
Career
Dixon, who played the drums, piano and soprano saxophone, was the founder of a traveling jazz band, created in 1920, called the "Jazz Demons". According to Duke Ellington's autobiography Music is My Mistress, Dixon had the best band in Baltimore.[1][2] The band went from show to show on a chartered bus and appeared on a local radio broadcast.[1]
After retiring in 1934, he opened The Comedy Club in the former Savoy Ballroom, originally located at Mosher Street and Pennsylvania Avenue and later located at 1418 Pennsylvania Avenue in 1937 and at 1414 Pennsylvania Avenue in 1942. He remodeled the building after a fire in 1948. It became an important jazz venue, where many touring musicians gathered to party after their shows. In 1939, Dixon opened the Comedy Club Hotel, with 10 rooms above the club.[1][2] The club received an A rating.[3] Those whom the club hosted include Billie Holiday, Sammy Davis Jr., Dinah Washington, Miles Davis.[4] Jackie "Moms" Mabley, Edward "Slappy" White, and Redd Foxx.[5][6] He also ran the newspaper Dance Fan News.[1] His real estate office handled more than US$500,000 in commercial and private properties.[3]
Personal life
Dixon married Evelyn Phillips on August 12, 1915. They had two sons, Howard and Isaiah Jr.. He also had another son, reverend Melvin Swann. His son Isaiah served in the Maryland House of Delegates.[1][7] The family lived on Dolphin Street in Baltimore for more than 21 years before moving to their Old Frederick Road home in Catonsville in 1944.[1]
Dixon died on January 6, 1953, at his home in Catonsville. He was buried in Arbutus Memorial Park.[1] At the time of his death, his estate was stated as just over US$34,000, but the full estate was valued as over US$266,000.[8][9]
Legacy
After his death, the club was taken over and run until it closed in the 1960s by his sons, Howard and Isaiah.[4][10]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "'Ike' Dixon, Comedy Club Owner, was 56". The Afro-American. 1953-01-17. p. 7. Retrieved 2025-08-16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Ike Dixon", Jazztourdatabase.com.
- ^ a b "Ike Dixon". The Baltimore Afro-American. 1953-01-10. p. 9. Retrieved 2025-08-16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Ike Dixon, Baltimore Activist, Politician, Jazz Enthusiast, Dies at 90", The Afro, May 10, 2013.
- ^ Larry Benicewicz, "The Royal Theater Reunion" Archived 2017-01-01 at the Wayback Machine, Blues Art Journal, September/October 2008.
- ^ Kensto, "The Hidden Treasure of Baltimore’s own Pennyslvania Ave", Vice Versa, February 14, 2014.
- ^ "Mass is Conducted for Mrs. Dixon, 77". The Evening Sun. 1974-07-11. p. 12. Retrieved 2025-08-16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ike Dixon, Fernandis Left $34,000". Baltimore Afro-American. 1953-02-14. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-08-16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Dixon Estate Really 200 Gs". The Afro-American. 1953-02-28. p. 14. Retrieved 2025-08-16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Chris Kaltenbach, "Isaiah 'Ike' Dixon, state delegate from Baltimore", The Baltimore Sun, May 5, 2013.
- Schaaf, Elizabeth. "The Storm Is Passing Over". Peabody Institute. Archived from the original on December 14, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2008.
- Tonya Taliaferro; Rosa Pryor-Trusty (2003). African-American Entertainment in Baltimore. Arcade Publishing. ISBN 0-7385-1513-2.