Biography

Anthony was born and raised in the small town of Selma, Alabama, famous for it's civil rights history. Coming from a church going family, he began attending church at a very young age and absorbed the discipline taught in sunday school and church services. He credits his humble background growning up "in the country", for instilling in him the desire to be humble no matter what. A major influence in his life and someone who always encouraged him is his god- fearing grandmother, Mrs Emma Dixon. Always the caregiver, Dixon would make sure that Anthony and his twin brother Antonio, stayed in the church, eventually encouraging them to become a member of the Usher Board. Growing up, Anthony was heavily influenced by another musician in Selma, by the name of Essix Watters, his grandfather. Watters, a legend in his own right, was the lead singer and founder of a popular, local gospel group called the Siver Echos. Members also included Anthony's father and two uncles. Several of Anthony's uncles and cousins are also great singers and musicians, playing guitar and keyboards. They are still out there lifting the lord's holy name. He has great admiration for them and their conviction to the church. Another big influence in Anthony's musical world was Mrs. Amanda Hobbs Jones, the sunday school piano player at his childhood church, Shiloh Baptist Church (Potter Station, Al). Anthony would attend sunday school weekly and would be in awe of Jones' piano abilities as she led the sunday school congregation in the singing of hymns. This made him promise himself that one day he would be able to play all those wonderful hymns. Another important figure that helped shape his musical ear, was his youngest uncle, Cleophus Dixon, who loves the Blues. Anthony and his twin brother Antonio, would frequently ride in the car with their uncle who would constantly play music by blues singer Tyrone Davis, and would encourage the two to sing along. As he got older, Anthony's desire to play music and to sing really caught fire. He taught himself a few chords on the piano and eventually bought a piano starter course through the mail by Author Madonna Woods, in an attempt to be proficient on the piano. He was able to learn a few hymns by ear. After practicing, he would attend sunday school, and Mrs. Jones would allow him to accompany the congregation. Even though he was learning, it was a start. Persistant, Anthony would make mistakes but would always be encouraged by Mrs. Jones to come back the next Sunday. Anthony eventually went off to college where his desire to play the piano and sing became stronger. Due to his studies, it would be a couple of years before music would really start to blossom. In 2001, Anthony moved to Birmingham, Alabama where he expressed his desire to play the piano to a friend. The friend suggested that he contact Mrs. Geraldine Givan. Givan, a Birmingham Alabama legend in her own right, was a piano and organ teacher who played in the traditional style of gospel. The friend suggested that he contact her because as he put it, "she will have you playing three songs in one week." Anthony eventually got in contact with Givan, who more than willingly, agreed to take him as a pupil. Over the course of a year, Anthony learned to play every hymn he had heard as a child while attending sunday school. Givan, realizing Anthony's drive, told him that he would accomplish things one day and encouraged him to continue to grow. He eventually began playing for a small kid's choir. Later, he decided to go to graduate school, and moved to Montgomery, Alabama. It was here that a great opportunity presented itself. While in grad school, Anthony needed a way to support himself. He decided to place an ad in the local paper advertising himself as a "musician looking for a church." He received several calls, but one particular call would provide him with what he was looking for. Pastor Kenchelow Jones of the First Baptist Church in Hope Hull, Al, stated that he needed a musican to play for four different choirs, which included: the kids choir, the senior choir, the male chorus, and the mass choir. Anthony reluctantly took the job. It proved to be very beneficial. Over the course of a year, Anthony had played for more churches than he had ever dreamed of. The church was on the go constantly and would be on program at many a church, whether it was a church in the city or way in the back woods. This was great experience for Anthony. Eventually Anthony moved back to Birmingham, where he began writing music, still traveling back and forth to Montgomery on the weekends to fulfill his duties as Minister of Music at First Baptist of Hull Hope. Branching out as a songwriter, Anthony would frequently present his songs to the choirs at First Baptist, who turned out to love them. Eventually Anthony would leave First Baptist of Hope Hull, all the while staying up late nights writing songs. Often times, he would just sit at the piano and play chords, and the words would just start to flow. A blessing would take some time, but would eventually show itself in the form of a trainer at the gym where Anthony worked out. In mid 2011, Anthony befriended Rico Harris, an up and coming producer in Birmingham, Alabama. Harris worked at the gym as a trainer and one afternoon, he and Anthony engaged in conversation about Harris' job at the gym. Harris stated to Anthony's suprise, that he was a producer of music. Anthony then informed Harris that he was a songwriter/keyboardist. After the initial discussion, Harris asked Anthony if he had ever recorded any of the songs he had written. He invited Anthony to his studio and the two began their journey into the relm of gospel music. Harris would provide his experience as a producer, as well as his technical expertise, while Anthony provided his songwriting skills, piano abilities, and vocals. Under this partnership, I Was Made to Give Him Praise," was created, a collection of praise songs that invite the listener to experience the saving grace of Jesus Christ. From the songwriting, the listener gets a feel of Anthony's ups and downs in life, as well as his trust in god through those experiences. Anthony states that the album could not have been completed without a good working relationship between producer (Harris) and artist (himself). He states that you have to "mesh" well with anyone involved in the recording process. He is very proud of the fact that he wrote every song on the album, and plays piano/keyboards on every track included in the album. Anthony also states that he only wants to be himself. When you hear one of his songs, he wants you to recognize his own individual style. While Anthony loves all of his contemporaries in the field of gospel music, he only wants to be known as Anthony Dixon, an artist with his own distinctive style and flavor. Often the shy one, Anthony is ready to step out on faith and his conviction for the church. For so long, he has played for churches and choirs, and now desires his time to be heard as an artist.