Jim Dickinson's Legacy

Americana Music Awards

2011-11-07T09:27:00.000-08:00

Luther and Cody worked as part of Buddy Miller's house band,
backing various artists at the 2011 Americana Awards show.

Jim Dickinson- receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award for Engineering and Production from the Americana Music Association, Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tennessee, 2007.

Listen to his speech below:

Jim Dickinson's Acceptance Speech for Americana Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award by Jim Dickinson's Legacy

Jim Dickinson and the Hardly Can Playboys

2011-10-10T15:06:00.000-07:00

Jim Dickinson's first appearance with his very young sons at the Overton Park Shell in 1989 (Cody Dickinson we are told was 13 but looks even younger which makes Luther just almost old enough to drive maybe ...?) also includes Jim Lancaster on bass and Jim Spake on sax on this way-rocking version of J.B. Lenoir's "Down in Mississippi". The "Hardly Can Playboys" left no doubt from the start that the younger Dickinsons could keep up with their legendary Dad. Some of the most formative shows for all involved have taken place at the Shell and the younger Dickinsons have made many more appearances on this stage over the years while developing into North Mississippi All-Stars.

This performance was part of the "Memphis Medicine Show", series of live radio broadcasts over WEVL-FM from the stage of the Overton Park Shell for two years in the late '80s.

The historic Memphis amphitheater was fully renovated in 2008 thanks to a generous grant from the Mortimer Levitt Foundation and the renamed Levitt Shell now sponsors 50 free concerts every year devoted to developing community through the performing arts.

Jim Dickinson 2nd Annual Folk Festival

2011-09-15T05:55:00.001-07:00

Folk Festival Honors Jim Dickinson's Legacy

2011-09-14T05:11:00.000-07:00

Although the music legend is no longer with us, Jim Dickinson is not about to be forgotten in Memphis, where he shaped the city's sound and made his mark on the music scene for four decades, as the Levitt Shell hosts the Jim Dickinson Folk Festival on Monday, September 19th.

The event boasts a stunning line-up that includes headliners North Mississippi Allstars, Lucero, Mojo Nixon, Jimbo Mathis, and Tri-State Coalition, Sons of Mudboy and Shannon McNally.

The Jim Dickinson Folk Festival event was first presented at the Shell shortly after he died on August 15th, 2009, and attracted more than 4,000 fans for an entire night of celebration and music.

Best knows as the founder and father of the North Mississippi Allstars, which included his two sons, Luther and Cody, Dickinson's talent included writing, singing, producing, and playing piano. He served as a cultural historian, Sun Studio musicians and enthusiastic collaborator with a wide range of talent. He left his musical imprint through whatever role he played, influencing musicians from Bob Dylan to John Hiatt, Ry Cooter and Alex Chilton. He recorded with and produced greats like Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Big Star, the Rolling Stones, The Replacements, and Sam and Dave.

Folk FEstival organizers are expecting as many or more people than the first year it was held--not surprising knowing how deep his roots run in Memphis, according to Anne Pitts, executive director of the Levitt Shell.

"Jim Dickinson is a great music legend, a wonderful soul and a friend to many," she said. "While we miss him, the power of his music and his spirit definitely live on, especially during the event. As Jim's epitaph says, "I'm just dead, I'm not gone."

Rain date is Tuesday, September 20th.

See Jim's wife, Mary Lindsay, discuss life with Jim and her sons, Luther and Cody, and the events planned to celebrate Jim's legacy by clicking here.

Jim Dickinson and Joe Hardy Working in Ardent Studio C

2011-08-03T19:43:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of Jim producing with engineer, Joe Hardy, the first time they worked with the Fairlight in Studio C at Ardent. The artist, songwriter Sandy Carroll, said that Jim hated it, but that was before he and Joe mastered the new software and perfected the mysterious technique of Quantizing.

The owner/founder of Ardent, John Fry, said about quantizing, "Describe Quantizing in a simple way? Impossible."

Jim's son, Cody, North Mississippi Allstars' drummer extraordinaire, talks about the Fairlight and his dad:
" I love this picture of Dad and Hardy, working on the Fairlight. They were so far ahead of their time it is mind-boggling. I remember Dad telling me about sampling snare drums before rap music even existed. They were inventing the future."

"For Your Love"

2011-07-24T08:29:00.000-07:00

In the mid-sixties in Memphis, Ronnie Jordan was a singer/songwriter who had a recording band called the Honey Jug and a contract with Stax's pop label, H.I.P. Being a friend of Jim's, Ronnie recorded the single at "old" Ardent on National, with Jim producing and John Fry engineering. One critic called it, "a killer Memphis 45."

The personnel on the "For Your Love/In 1852 We" single is as follows:

Ronnie Jordan-vox

Jim Dickinson, Tommy Duncan-keys

Frank Watts-guitar

Joe Savage-bass

Joe Correro Jr., Charles Carrington-drums

Here's what Jim said in an interview:

"That's a hell of a track on 'For Your Love.' The whole time I was cutting that it sped up too much, probably my damned idea. That's Joe Jr. Correro on drums. 'For Your Love,' which was supposedly the A-side of that record, was the song that Ronny cared about."

John Fry commented, "We had a good time recording that song."

As fan Frank Bruno pointed out, "You can hear JD screaming, 'For your love' during the middle and end of the song."

"For Your Love" will be on the Memphis Psych compilation that Alec Paleo of Ace Records is putting together to be released soon.

World Boogie is coming!

Jim Dickinson- running with the big dogs!

2011-07-20T06:37:00.000-07:00

In April, 2011, Memphis Magazine celebrated its thirty-five year milestone with "a lengthy photo essay, one that features thirty-five individuals whose influence, we determined, was critical to the growth and evolution of our city during the period of Memphis magazine existence." Luther, Cody, and I were thrilled to hear that Jim was included in this list of luminaries which included Jack Belz, Steve Cohen, William Eggleston, Kallen Esperian, Shelby Foote, Al Green, Karen Carrier, Henry Turley, J.R. "Pitt" Hyde, Fred Smith, and Justin Timberlake, among others. What an honor for Jim and our family.

Here's what Memphis magazine had to say about Jim:

"When he passed away in 2009, this underground godfather of modern Memphis music was the scene's most colorful commentator. With roots that reached back to jug bands and Sun records, Dickinson came of age in the garage-rock and folk revival '60s, presided over the birth of alternative music with Alex Chilton in the 70s, hung with Dylan and the Stones, did major work during the generally fallow '80s, and sired a promising new generation of Memphis music, both in his family (sons Luther and Cody of the North Mississippi Allstars) and in his home studio (Lucero, Alvin Youngblood Heart, Amy Lavere). He also found time to make some pretty fine records of his own. Dickinson contained multitudes. And he could tell you all about it."

Here's one of my favorite recording of Jim's music- a tribute that Oxford's Thacker Mountain Radio show compiled to honor Jim's work as the leader of their house band, the Yallowbushwhackers.
This is fifty-nine minutes of the most free and joyous arrangements Jim ever recorded. Enjoy!

"World boogie is coming!"

Can you dig it?

2011-06-04T03:34:00.000-07:00

Here's Jim, playing with Luther and Cody, Paul Taylor on bass, and sax man extraordinaire, Jim Spake, rocking out on Beale Street, August, 1999, at the Southern Heritage Festival.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Puz8GGJQzng

World boogie is coming!

"The Motorcycle Session" - excerpted from Knox Phillips' remarks at the Jim Dickinson Brass Note dedication on Beale St., 4/3/20

2011-04-22T15:54:00.000-07:00

A lot of you probably know about our “motorcycle” session. We were doing an album on Dan Penn---if you don’t know who he is, he’s probably the premier---in my mind’s eye---singer-songwriter-producer in the South today, and has been for years and years and years, the greatest voice. Great voice, great writer. Jim was producing an album for him. He produced the best album on Dan that Dan ever did in my mind’s eye.

I talked to Jim that afternoon, we were coming in that night, Jim said, “Dan wrote this song ‘Tiney Hineys and Hogs’”, obviously a motorcycle song. I said, “Jim, great,” and he said, “I want two live motorcycles on the floor running at the session while track is being cut.” I said, ok. So [we got] two ’74 Harley Davidsons into the studio and got them all set up. I mic’ed ‘em, tried to bounce them off a little bit. But I also had these great new red Koss headphones that just came in that day. They put on the headphones, the motorcycle guys did, they cranked up their motorcycles, Gene Chrisman was playing drums. Jim’s idea was to get the motorcycles to idle on the beat.

Now the deal is that in those days motorcycles had carbureators, maybe they still do. There’s an idle screw, you turn the idle up a little bit to increase the speed of the idle, and turn it down to decrease it.

What Jim was trying to do was get the beat and the motorcycles in time. We finally got all that, did a couple of cuts, as the song ended it builds up dynamically. Well, to build the song up dynamically, you have to gun it.

Toward the end of the song they’re gunning the motorcycles. We had to all run out of the room.

I’d shut the door, I’d turn the air conditioner on “suck.” We’d go out to the lobby or the lounge and wait thirty minutes and go back in and do another cut.

The point of that story is that where else but Memphis could that happen and in whose brain but Jim’s could that be invented?

by Glenn Goodman

Unveiling Jim's Brass Note on Beale Street

2011-04-05T10:05:00.000-07:00

On hand for the unveiling of Jim Dickinson's Brass Note on the Beale Street Walk of Fame were his wife, Mary Lindsay Dickinson, sons Cody (on left) and Luther Dickinson and his wife Necha, and their daughter, Lucia.

Speaking to the crowd, Knox Phillips said he was sure that if Jim was there, he would say, "It's about time." Knox praised Jim's "independent and maverick spirit." With the emphasis on "maverick!"

"You couldn't want a better friend or professional colleague," said John Fry, Ardent Studios' Owner.

"We're fortunate he came our way," said U.S. Representative Steve Cohen..

I'm his wife, Mary Lindsay Dickinson, and I said to the crowd, "God is love. Love is eternal. Jim is with God, co-heirs to God's Kingdom with Jesus. Jim loved us then; he loves us now, still, always, and forever." And in the words of John Fry, "If this offends your political correctness, contact me and I'll forgive you."

"I no longer think only of Jim Dickinson as a guy who makes music like no one else, though that's sure enough true. I think of him and the music he makes as something a lot bigger."

-Nick Tosches

Sweet Peace Within

Beginnings of the Dickinson Musical Family

2011-04-02T07:52:00.001-07:00

"I think of Jim often. I don't think I understood that every time he told a story, it was a parable--a lesson that we needed to hear. The stories were so wonderful, I had no idea I was learning something important--about energy, creativity, or taking care of the artists around you. Those lessons follow me wherever I go."

This comment was made recently by our family friend, Kirt Gunn, who was best friends with Luther when he was three years old and Kirt was seven. Luther is three in the picture above and I'm pregnant with Cody. We are soaking up the music Jim is playing at Ardent Studio.

Monkey Man

NMA on NPR's Morning Edition!

2011-03-11T17:57:00.000-08:00

When Luther was five years old he came to me with an idea, "Mama, when
daddy has his fiftieth birthday, let's have a big party for him and have
one naked lady jump out of a cake!" Jim and I thought that was a fine idea,
so when he turned fifty we had a big party and two (half-naked) ladies
jumped out of a cake, to the delight of all. Here's a picture of that fine
event held at Sam Phillip's Studio. (Thanks to Knox and Jerry Phillips
and Roland Janes).

Now, Luther is a grown man and his daddy is in heaven, jellyrolling! I'll
bet Jim is grinning just as big up there, proud as punch because North
Mississippi Allstars and their new cd, Keys to the Kingdom, will be
featured on NPR's Weekend Edition, this weekend. Don't miss it! If you missed it, here's the link.

World boogie is coming!

Jellyrollin All Over Heaven

Jim's still producing.

2011-02-17T06:13:00.000-08:00

On February 15, 2011, I did a reading of Jim's memoirs,
Search for Blind Lemon, at the University of North Carolina,
sponsored by the Southern Folklife Collection, Friends of the
Library, the Center for the Study of the American South, the
Department of American Studies, and the Folklore Program.
The multi media presentation featured music, photos, and film,
illustrating Jim's search for "that magic music." It starts with Jim
as a little boy listening to his yard man chop wood and sing, hearing
the great Will Shade and the Memphis Jug band perform in an alley,
learning to play "Bo Diddley" from Bo Diddley, and much more.

The program went well. The audience laughed a lot. I knew Jim
(in absentia) was a success when a man came up to me
after the show and said he went to music school, spent
two semesters in music production, and never had a clue what
it meant until that day, when he heard Jim's words.

Jim's still producing- his favorite way- in his absence.

Bo Diddley-Jim Dickinson by Jim Dickinson's Legacy

Waiting for the Grammys

2011-02-13T09:56:00.000-08:00

Out here in L.A. as a guest of the Memphis Chapter of the
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, waiting
for the Grammy to be awarded in Best Traditional Folk,
hopefully to ONWARD AND UPWARD, the album Luther
recorded three days after his dad, Jim Dickinson, passed away.
Even if we don't win, the honor really is in being nominated by
his peers for excellence.

ONWARD AND UPWARD was recorded with no effects, straight to
two track tape, first take, with two old RCA microphones,
no mixing, just mastering. It's hard to imagine a more simply
recorded cd, with no thought of profit, career advancement, or gain,
just heartbroken musicians gathered to honor their friend and
father and console themselves with gospel music and love.

Angel Band-Luther Dickinson and the Sons of Mudboy by Jim Dickinson's Legacy

Power to the People

2011-02-06T18:49:00.000-08:00

On January 18, 2011, which was Luther's birthday, producer Jim
Dickinson was inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame.
Luther, Cody and I are thrilled and know that Jim would be honored to
be in the company of soul man Rufus Thomas, rap star David Banner,
MTV founder Bob Pittman, rocker Delaney Bramlett, bluesmen Elmore
James and "Big Joe" Williams, and blues historian, Gayle Dean Wardlow,
among others. Here's Jim's production of John Lennon's "Power to the
People,"by his band, Mudboy and the Neutrons.

10 Power To The People by dickinsonfamilyblog

Beale Street Saturday Night

2011-01-25T06:14:00.001-08:00

Side 1 from Beale Street Saturday Night by Jim Dickinson's Legacy

In the 1970's, Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee. had been
"urban renewed" almost into oblivion. The deteriorating
Orpheum Theater was standing empty and shuttered,
about to be sold. Beale Street Saturday Night was recorded
as part of a fund raiser to save it. Now Beale Street
is booming and the Orpheum Theater is restored to its
former gold leaf glory.

Listening to this album brings back Jim's effortless mastery
of the piano and his genius record production.

World boogie is coming! Enjoy!

Beale Street Saturday Night-World Boogie is Coming!

2011-01-23T12:19:00.000-08:00

gods of Memphis

2011-01-11T05:02:00.000-08:00

"Find the album "Negro Streets at Dawn," by Mudboy and the Neutrons, and play "Money Talks." There the gods of Memphis walk among us, and Jim Dickinson delivers a sermon like the risen Howlin' Wolf, "I want you to reach out, put your hands on the radio. Can you feel it?" This is where the soul of man puts on its high heel sneakers and shakes like little Ginny."

-Howard Hampton, New York Times, July 25, 2010

03 Money Talks by Jim Dickinson's Legacy

For fans of Johnny Depp

2010-12-04T05:13:00.000-08:00

http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_12?asin=B0048G19IE&qid=1290277546&sr=1-12

The link above is really cool. Cut and paste the link and it will take you to a page for Keith Richards’ LIFE audio book. Click on the SAMPLE link below Keith's pic and you'll hear Johnny Depp, using his Pirates of the Caribbean voice (he based his interpretation of the role on Keith), reading about Jim Dickinson's part in one of Keith's adventures. Amazing! Who'da thunk that would ever happen? Certainly not Jim. It’s not Biblical, but I hope he somehow knows about it up in Heaven while he's playing those celestial tunes. World boogie is coming!

Onward and Upward- Grammy nominated!

2010-12-02T06:19:00.000-08:00

Great news! Three days after his father's passing, Luther and

Sons of Mudboy recorded an album of Jim's favorite hymns to

memorialize Jim and his legacy. Yesterday, the album called

Onward and Upward was nominated for a Grammy in the category

"Best Traditional Folk Album." It's got some serious competition,

but win or lose, as Luther said, "It's enough to know the members

of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Science (NARAS)

nominated it."

Thanks, guys.

Go to http://www.zebraranch.com and click on the picture of

Onward and Upward to read David Fricke's review in Rolling Stone

magazine.

Here's a song Luther wrote for his dad at the Zebra Ranch studio on

the morning of the session called "Let It Roll."

01 Let it Roll by Jim Dickinson's Legacy

"One More Silver Dollar...." The legacy continues tonight.

2010-11-22T10:18:00.000-08:00

     In the fall of 1970 at Criteria Studio, Jim wrote this in his memoir, The Search for Blind Lemon,

    "The Allman Brothers were in Studio “A” working on their second Atlantic/Capricorn album. It was really good. (They recorded live instrumental tracks and overdubbed leads and vocals). One of their drummers, Butch Trucks, had done his first session at Ardent on National. I remembered him. I don’t think he remembered me. Duane was super friendly, as usual, and this was the first time I met little brother, Greg, whose voice still held traces of the great John Hurley, who had trained them in Nashville....

     Tonight, November 22, 2010, forty years after the above story was written, Jim's greatest legacy, sons Luther and Cody Dickinson, are part of a concert in New York at the Roseland Ballroom honoring Allen Woody, as described by Kevin Johnson in no treble:

    "After bassist Allen Woody‘s untimely passing in 2000, a tribute concert called “One for Woody” was held to honor him, featuring the Allman Brothers Band, Phil Lesh & , ,Friends and more. Now, ten years after the original concert, a second show aptly titled “Another One for Woody” will take place to honor the fallen four-stringer and raise money for music education in schools. The concert will have Woody’s two main bands, the Allman Brothers and Gov’t Mule, headlining with The North Mississippi Allstars Duo in support. The event promises to be a night to remember, as it will also include “many special guests who were touched by Allen’s friendship, music and memory.”

    "When the Allstars first started we toured a lot with Gov't Mule," said Luther Dickinson. "We loved it when Woody would sit in and play with us."

    Don't miss Cody's account of this gig on his blog, my mind is rambling, http://www.codydickinson.tumblr.com/ It will touch your heart.

   The beat goes on....

11.15.41

2010-11-15T16:10:00.000-08:00

Pour some on the floor and smoke 'em if you got 'em.

Don't let them get you.

Happy Birthday, Pops.- LAD

zxecwz hr6tfrgb- LRD

Children's Music

2010-11-15T10:20:00.000-08:00

"I've always viewed rock and roll as children's music."
-Jim Dickinson

Cody Dickinson (3) Luther Dickinson (6)
Christmas, 1979, Arrow Crest Farm

09 Can t Beat the Kid (Part 2) by Jim Dickinson's Legacy

"You Can't Beat The Kid" Jim Dickinson, keyboards, vocals, Luther, guitar;
Cody, drums; featuring Alvin Youngblood Hart, guitar

One More for the Road

2010-11-01T20:18:00.000-07:00

It was July 13, 1978, that afternoon in New Orleans when Jim and Keith
laughed about the fiasco in Fordyce, Arkansas (see blog below). Soon it
was time for Keith to get ready to play the New Orleans Superdome
before the largest indoor crowd ever gathered together in the United States.
Keith told us we could ride to the gig in the limousines with the band,
but it would be cooler if we could get there ourselves. He made sure
we had the highest level access passes. No problem getting there, but
inside the backstage area of the Superdome there were seven levels of
security to pass through .We made it through six of them, but the biggest,
most hostile security guard I ever saw stopped us at the seventh level.
Jim scrawled his signature skull on a scrap of paper, signed it, and handed
it to a lackey inside the chain link fence, "Give this to Keith."

Our friend, the girl who got things done, came bustling out and told
the security guard to let us in. He shook his head. She put her hands on
her hips and said, "Keith is the man. Are you going to tell the man he
can't have what he wants?"

That did it. We were backstage with the band, their ladies, and Buzz
Aldrin, the astronaut who walked on the moon. Suddenly, the musicians
were leaving for yet another secret hide-out, a small contractor's house in
the center of the fenced off area. I scurried behind them, wanting to stay
close but knowing I couldn't invade the inner sanctum. Jim sat down inside
the trailer. Keith and Jim began to play. I was alone, terrified the mean
security guard would snatch me up and throw me out. But I told myself, as
long as I can see Jim's hat, I'll be safe. And I was.

Jim never told me what the Rolling Stones said to him that night. Some
things are sacred. As Jim wrote in his memoirs, The Search for Blind
Lemon, "Only the players share the truth."

Life with Keith Richards

2010-10-30T17:50:00.000-07:00

Three years after Keith's ill-fated, cop-ridden stop at the 4 Dice Cafe in
Fordyce, Arkansas, July, 1975, Jim Dickinson apologized for advising Keith
to take the trip. Keith laughed, "No, man. That was the most fun I ever
had."

Read all about it in Chapter One of Keith's new autobiography, Life.

"They hadacall it something!"

2010-10-25T19:31:00.000-07:00

"I think people make records out of a primal urge--it's a fear of death. Every western religion is about the search for immortality and I think that people who make records understand that."

-Jim Dickinson

06 Hadacol Boogie by Jim Dickinson's Legacy

"Somewhere Down the Road" from Jungle Jim and the Voodoo Tiger

2010-10-25T09:10:00.000-07:00

"Jungle Jim and The Voodoo Tiger is the third studio album in 34 years from pianist/vocalist/bandleader/producer/session player/raconteur/cultural iconoclast Jim Dickinson. Actually, the album, like the two that preceded it, is credited to Jim's artist alter ego, James Luther Dickinson.

Over the course of the past 40 years, Dickinson has worked in the studio with such artists as Ry Cooder, the Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Arlo Guthrie, Sam & Dave, Big Star, Tony Joe White, Bettye Lavette, the Replacements, Duane Allman, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and many more. Jungle Jim & The Voodoo Tiger was produced by Dickinson and Memphis International's David Less, the two having earlier collaborated in producing Alvin Youngblood Hart's Grammy nominated Down In The Alley and Harmonica Frank Floyd's The Missing Link for the label. Before all this, Jim was a member of The Jesters, whose "Cadillac Man" was the last record released on Sun Records while Sam Phillips was still running the show.

Jungle Jim and The Voodoo Tiger is a set of songs that Dickinson has collected over the years in, as he puts it, 'the jukebox of my mind,' plus some new songs by writers he greatly admires. Backing is by sons Cody (drums) and Luther (guitar) of North Mississippi Allstars fame, along with Alvin Youngblood Hart (guitar). Bass duties are shared by Paul Taylor (electric bass) who was part of the band DDT with Dickinson boys and Amy LaVere (stand-up bass) whose own album This World Is Not My Home has been making waves of late.

Recorded in less than two weeks at the Dickinson family's Zebra Ranch studio in rural Independence, Mississippi, the album songs range from rollicking barrelhouse ("Hadacol Boogie," "Rooster Blues") to stinging social commentary ("Red Neck, Blue Collar," penned by legendary folkie Bob Frank) to contemplative and atmospheric ("Violin Burns"). Song highlights include "Somewhere Down the Road," written by Chuck Prophet from Green on Red and a honky tonkin' rendition of the Memphis classic "White Silver Sands" with the sly soul of "Love Bone" and "Can't Beat The Kid."

Says Jim Dickinson, who is often James Luther Dickinson's harshest critic: 'I'm real happy with it; it's a damn good record for eleven days!'"

from Dish Magazine

10 Somewhere Down the Road by Jim Dickinson's Legacy

"Wild Horses" from Zebra Ranch, the new Hill Country Revue album

2010-10-18T21:07:00.000-07:00

14 Wild Horses by Jim Dickinson's Legacy

How did you like the two versions of the same sweet song? Jim Dickinson's
legacy (recording with the Rolling Stones) inspires the next generation, his son, Cody.

Zebra Ranch- "Rock & Roll Is Self Taught...."

2010-10-15T18:57:00.000-07:00

    “Rock and roll is self taught, “Jim Dickinson told
Relix Magazine. “I really believe it’s something you grow
out of yourself and your environment.”

    “Southern rock/blues purveyors Hill Country Revue
released their second album, Zebra Ranch, on October 12th
via Razor & Tie. The album is everything and more a band
could hope for when recording their sophomore album;
progressing artistically, creating a defining sound, and
coming together with a unity that cannot be manufactured.
    “While never departing from the blend of Southern rock
and blues that Hill Country Revue is known for, the band
does expand upon their musical range on this record. As
opposed to the more bluesy sound on their debut album
Make A Move, Zebra Ranch is more rock. “Make A
Move was an artistic transition, and this album is a
personal one,” bandleader Cody Dickinson said.
“Zebra Ranch is our‘we have arrived’ kind of party....
This album is a yell of rock and roll rebellion,” said
Cody. “It’s also a loud cry for purpose, meaning and
truth – straight from the soul.”
   The album is a tribute to Cody’s father, legendary
producer and musician Jim Dickinson, who passed one
year ago. The album title comes from the name of Jim’s
home recording studio, where both Hill Country Revue
albums were created. “Being an artist himself, he was
always producing, even in absentia,” Cody spoke of Jim.
“He continues today,and this record is in his memory.”
-92 ZEW.NET

   Luther and I are proud of Cody and his hot new album.
Way to go, Baby Son.

JLD recording Dinosaurs Run in Circles.

2010-10-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

photo by Tom Lonardo

08 A Chicken Ain't Nothing But A Bird by Jim Dickinson's Legacy

“I’M JUST DEAD, I’M NOT GONE.” Jim’s self-penned requiem

2010-10-11T20:40:00.000-07:00

James Luther Dickinson was a family man. When I told him that my wife, Angela, was pregnant with our only daughter, Emma, he said, “That's what it's all about. There's your legacy.” Of all his musical accomplishments, which are numerous, Jim understood that his real legacy lives in his sons, Cody and Luther.”

-David Less,
Memphis International Records

Luther, Chris Chew, and Cody are three time Grammy nominated North Mississippi Allstars. Jim produced their albums, 51 Phantom, Electric Blue Watermelon, and Hernando. He confided to Joan Self Selvidge in an interview for True Story Pictures, “I’ll be producing them (NMA) when I’m dead, whether they know it or not.” Jim’s legacy continues with the Allstars earning recent local and international acclaim:

North Mississippi Allstars: BEST LOCAL BAND
Memphis Flyer 9/23/10-9/29/10-

"Hailing from, well, north Mississippi, these Allstars maintain roots in the Bluff City despite their world wide fame. Whether it’s a stint at the Beale Street Music Festival or a cameo appearance at a local college, they’re ready to give- and receive some welcome hometown flavor. "

-Robert Plant (founder of Led Zeppelin), discussing touring with the Allstars.

"Would I want the pressure of being a big cheese on a stadium tour? I see what happens to U2 and who'd want that?" Plant says. "Give me a great theatre and the North Mississippi Allstars kicking things off and I'm gone."

Chris Chew, (Jim's spiritual son) Jim, Cody, and Luther Dickinson. Photo taken by our friend, Ebet Roberts.

Hanging in the back of the bus-the great Bob Tyrell drew this portrait.

2010-10-04T23:23:00.000-07:00

04 The Gypsy by Jim Dickinson's Legacy

Jim Dickinson and the Rolling Stones

2010-10-04T14:45:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from the movie, Gimme Shelter- Jim and Keith
Richards listening to the recording of "Wild Horses," on which Jim
played piano.

Memphis Music and Heritage Festival, Joe Nick Patoski, and Ruthie Foster honor Jim:

2010-09-27T19:32:00.000-07:00

A year after Jim’s death, his legacy continues:

   September 4th and 5th, 2010 , the Memphis Music and Heritage Festival in
downtown Memphis was dedicated to Jim Dickinson. This festival was
closest to Jim’s heart. It was where sons, Luther and Cody, made their
professional debut with him in 1988 when they were barely teenagers.
The Zebra Ranch and the Dickinson family want to thank festival director,
Judy Peiser, for honoring Jim by presenting to Cody and Jim's widow,
Mary Lindsay, a framed copy of the snazzy poster painted by artist, Bob Gray.
Thanks, Bob. You got Jim’s likeness just right,including his much beloved tube
recording equipment, mojo candles, and even our dear dog, Lightnin’.

   After Jim died August 15, 2009, Luther and Cody’s dream was to keep their
father’s legacy alive by continuing to record at the Zebra Ranch, where
Jim’s sonic genius and musical ambiance remain intact. As Bob Mehr wrote
in the Commercial Appeal, on September 3, 2010, “Over the past year,
(Zebra Ranch) has been a hive of activity. Aside from the new Hill Country
Revue and North Mississippi Allstars albums, the studio has hosted sessions
for British bluesman Ian Seigal, Canadian roots artist Ross Neilsen, and
Replacements/Guns and Roses member Tommy Stinson.”

     Other artists include Country Boy Rolling Stone, featuring Johnny Cash’s
only drummer, W.S. “Fluke Holland,” Andy Cohen, Reba Russell, Shannon
McNally, NMA offshoot-Duo LuCo, and Booker T. Jones.

   The future looks bright for the Zebra Ranch, as Jim’s legacy continues
to be celebrated. Ruthie Foster recently described one of Jim’s last
sessions on her Memphis-based album, “The Truth According to Ruthie Foster,
“We weren’t sure he was going to make it, but in he walked one day and
when he thought he had some ideas of what he could add, he hobbled over
to the B3 organ and then the piano. It was just beautiful. And he had
such great stories, amazing stories. And I know he was an amazing
producer, too, so I admired the way he stepped in as a session player and
was very giving and accommodating to us.”