On July 26, 2006, a mere eight weeks after the events described below, Floyd Dixon passed away in Orange, California from cancer. Floyd’s life was one of celebration and love. He expressed that love through his music and that music will continue to inspire and delight audiences around the world for eternity. 

If the blues has been experiencing a renaissance recently it’s because the “old masters”, the founding fathers of the genre, have been getting their due not only from the contemporary crop of blues practitioners, but by the public at large. Whether Martin Scorcese is documenting its tradition or the White House is designating its own “Year Of The Blues”, everyone seems to be talking about, and listening to, this vital form of purely American music.

When it comes to blues piano, there are no better exponents than Floyd Dixon, Pinetop Perkins and Henry Gray. Floyd set the tone for the jump blues style that dominated the early 50s in Los Angeles with his signature hits, Telephone Blues”, “Call Operator 210” and, later “Hey Bartender”. Pinetop Perkins spent a decade as piano player in Muddy Waters’ touring band and Henry Gray devoted a dozen years to Howlin Wolf’s band, adding his distinctive piano to one of the blues grittiest sounds. 

On June 1 and 2, 2006, Floyd Dixon, Pinetop Perkins and Henry Gray got together at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix for a Blues Piano Summit. The two-day event, which also featured musical director/guitarist/writer Kid Ramos fronting an all-star band, Fabulous Thunderbirds’ vocalist/harmonica player Kim Wilson, and blues/soul singer Johnny Tucker, was filmed and recorded for a deluxe two-part release later this year by HighJohn Records, LLC. The album, Time Brings About A Change—A Floyd Dixon Celebration, is set for release on September 5. Its DVD counterpart release date will be announced shortly.

As HighJohn CEO/founder, Robert Auerbach and co-producer, Kid Ramos poured over the tapes with engineer Clarke Rigsby and Rhythm Room owner/musician/DJ, Bob Corritore, one thing became overwhelmingly apparent—this blues summit turned out to be a musical collaboration for the ages and the forthcoming album figures to become a music collector’s must have item as well as an invaluable historical document. Auerbach made it clear from the outset of the project that he was concerned with presenting history in the making—and he spared no expense to provide Floyd and his musical guests with an opportunity to perform at the top of their game.