TRUE HOUSE STORIES® W/ CHARLES DIXON # 156 INTERVIEWED BY LENNY FONTANA
The acclaimed True House Stories® podcast, hosted by legendary DJ Lenny Fontana, presents a landmark new episode featuring Sir Charles Mixin Dixon, one of the music industry's most celebrated pioneers and innovators. In this comprehensive conversation, Dixon shares his remarkablethree-decade journey through the music business, from his early days as a college DJ to revolutionizing radio programming and discovering international recording artists.
The episode offers listeners unprecedented insight into Dixon's transformative career, which began in 1983 at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he was inspired by Grand Master Flash's hip-hop sound and the house music of O'Dell's, a local Baltimore club that rivaled New York City's infamous Paradise Garage. Under the moniker "Sir Charles"– initially describing his preppy British style but soon denoting his royal turntable skills – Dixon began DJing at campus parties, developing his signature ability to mix current hits with fresh new songs while never missing a beat.
"Charles's story is truly remarkable because he represents someone who didn't just participate in the evolution of radio and DJ culture – he fundamentally changed it," says Fontana. "From creating the first mixshow mailing list in the music industry to developing programming formats that were copied by over 40 stations nationwide, Charles has been atthe forefront of innovation for over three decades. His journey from college DJ to discovering Che'Nelle and winning a Japanese Gold Disc Award is incredibly inspiring."
Throughout the conversation, Dixon details his groundbreaking work at OMAP Record Pool in 1985, where he served as Assistant Urban Pool Director, reviewing and compiling charts of 75 of the hottest DJs across multiple formats in the Washington DC area. This experience laid thefoundation for his revolutionary approach to record promotion and artist development. Listeners will hear how he implemented a multi-musical format at The Dome nightclub that encompassed hip-hop, R&B, Pop, Dance, go-go, and house music, creating an unparalleled style that appealed to the masses and earned the venue Night Club of the Year honors from Washingtonian Magazine.
The episode delves into Dixon's historic radio career, including his move to WPGC-FM where his distinctive style helped take the station from number 22 to number 1 on the Arbitron chart within three years. His innovative primetime mixshow format was ultimately adopted by over 40 stations nationwide, including major markets like KBXX in Houston, KPWR in LosAngeles, and WQHT in New York. Dixon shares stories of introducing American audiences to British imports like Soul II Soul's "Keep On Moving," Lisa Stansfield's "All Around the World," and Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" before their US releases.
Dixon's move to New York in 1990 as National Club Promotions director for Tommy Boy Records marked the beginning of his impact on the national stage. The conversation explores his work at WBLS, where he hosted "The Thunderstorm" and brought Grandmaster Flash to the station. His contributions to major record labels including Tommy Boy, Pendulum/Elektra Records, TVT Records, and Columbia Records revolutionized mixshow promotions and created industry standards that continue today.
Listeners will gain valuable insights into Dixon's entrepreneurial journey, including founding Sir Charles Independent Productions (SCIP) in 2003 and discovering Australian talent Che'Nelle in 2005. The episode details how he secured a deal with Virgin Records CEO Jason Flom in just one week, leading to Che'Nelle's debut album "Things Happen For A Reason," which went Gold in Japan and won the prestigious Japanese Gold Disc Award for Best New Artist of 2008.
