James Luther Dickinson, a highly accomplished and revered American record producer, pianist, and vocalist, hailed from the vibrant city of Memphis, Tennessee, where his remarkable career flourished over the course of several decades.
Although he did release a few solo albums, Dickinson's true artistic calling lay in empowering other musicians to reach their full creative potential, a task he accomplished with remarkable aplomb and success.
Throughout his illustrious career, Dickinson had the privilege of collaborating with and mentoring an impressive array of music legends, including the incomparable Aretha Franklin, the iconic rock band the Rolling Stones, the critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Ry Cooder, and the legendary Bob Dylan, among many others.
Noted musician, Dickinson's professional journey has been marked by collaborations with a wide array of talented performers, featuring the likes of Willy DeVille, Green on Red, Mojo Nixon, the Replacements, Tav Falco's Panther Burns, Toots and the Maytals, and the inimitable Screamin' Jay Hawkins.
As a highly respected and experienced session musician, Dickinson has brought his remarkable skills to various projects, including the esteemed honor of playing piano alongside the legendary Rolling Stones during the recording of their iconic rendition of "Wild Horses" at the legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in December 1969, a moment that has become an indelible mark on the annals of music history.
In the year 1971, a significant milestone was reached as Dickinson lent his talents to the Flamin' Groovies' album Teenage Head, thereby inaugurating a prolonged and fruitful creative partnership with the renowned musician Ry Cooder, with whom he would subsequently collaborate on a staggering number of nearly a dozen records, commencing from 1972.
Furthermore, Dickinson embarked upon a solitary musical endeavor in 1984, yielding a one-off single titled "Red Headed Woman," in collaboration with the Cramps, a pioneering garage rock band. Moreover, Dickinson's versatility as a musician was showcased when he contributed his skills as an electric piano player and pump organist to the critically acclaimed 1997 album Time Out of Mind, a masterpiece released by the legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan.
