Carl Dixon

Carleton Anthony "Carl" Dixon is a Canadian rock singer, keyboardist and guitarist. He has been a member of the bands Coney Hatch,[1] April Wine and The Guess Who.[2]

Biography

Dixon was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He graduated from Barrie North Collegiate Institute in 1977. During his childhood he enjoyed listening to the Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Deep Purple, Jethro Tull, The Who and The Guess Who. Carl is married to Australian television producer and journalist, Helen C. Parker.[3]

Dixon moved to Montreal in 1979 to perform with a band called Firefly. In 1981, Dixon left Firefly, moving to Toronto, where he answered an ad from the band Coney Hatch, becoming their lead singer. While with Coney Hatch, he wrote and co-wrote many of their hits, such as "Hey Operator" and "Devil's Deck". He spent most of the 1980s and 1990s touring with Coney Hatch, April Wine, and doing solo projects. Throughout his career Dixon also toured with heavy metal icons such as Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Triumph, Ted Nugent, Accept and Krokus. Carl also scored a staff songwriting deal with Rondor Music in New York in 1990. Among many songs, Carl wrote the song "Taste of Love" with Brett Walker for Jimi Jamison. That version was featured on an episode of Baywatch. Episode titled Life Guards Can't Jump. [4] In 1989, his demo song Fool's Paradise was heard in the 1989 horror film Freakshow. His music was also featured in"Heaven Before I Die" a feature film with Omar Sharif. "Feel the Feeling Again" written by Dixon was featured on an episode of television series Degrassi High.

In 1997, Dixon was invited to join The Guess Who as lead singer, staying with the band until the spring of 2000, then again from early 2004 until he was sidelined by a car accident down in Australia in April 2008. He remained hospitalised for five months.[5][2] Due to his extensive injuries, he was replaced in the Guess Who by Derek Sharp. Carl made a guest appearance back with The Guess Who as lead singer for two shows in January 2016 in West Palm Beach FL and Albuquerque NM.

Carl has two adult daughters named Carlin and Lauren. His youngest daughter, Lauren Dixon, is best known for her role as Stevie Lake #2 on The Saddle Club.[6] Carl Dixon wrote the song "Just Because" for The Saddle Club Season 3 CD "Best Friends". "The Saddle Club" was her second role in film, after starring in a short film "The Dreamcatcher". During Lauren's time on The Saddle Club Carl survived the car accident on April 14, 2008.[7] Despite ongoing injuries and effects of severe head trauma, Dixon continues to perform as a musician and singer. As a result of his accident, Carl lost his role as lead singer with The Guess Who. He now makes appearances as an inspirational speaker and entertainer. He is listed with The National Speakers Bureau of Canada.[8] He has written an autobiography about being a singer and musician during the glory days of Canadian rock, and his redefining a new life after the car accident. Twenty eight years after the release of their last album Coney Hatch regrouped, keeping a promise made to Carl while he was in his coma: that if he survived they'd release a new album. Coney Hatch Four was released by European label Frontiers Records. It was voted into the top 50 rock albums of 2013 by UK music media but received little airplay in Canada.[9] Carl Dixon's back catalogue and future work is now signed under ole music rights management company based in Toronto Canada.[10]

Dixon's autobiography, Strange Way To Live, was published in January 2015 by Dundurn Press. [11] and received favourable reviews including CBC [12][13]

References

External links

Preceded by
Terry Hatty		 Lead singer in The Guess Who Succeeded by
Derek Sharp
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