C A R L D I X O N
Carl Dixon’s powerful vocals and passion for music have put him at the forefront of the Canadian rock industry for most of his life. His first pro music gig was playing at a pub near Collingwood where he was too young to be served alcohol but rocked the crowd with his vocals. Forty+ years on he's renowned as both a solo artist and being in iconic Canadian rock bands CONEY HATCH, THE GUESS WHO and APRIL WINE. In 2008, all that nearly ended in a horrific car accident in rural Australia. Yet his determination to return to full time music pushed him into years of recovery. Carl now tours solo, with CONEY HATCH (a mammoth 42 year history), as a duo with Hatch band-mate Sean Kelly as NORTHERN STRUM - and his five piece band WILD NORTH ROCK.
Carl's early band, Firefly, based in Montreal had toured across eastern Canada but after two years went their separate ways. Then Carl answered an ad in the Toronto star that led to him joining Coney Hatch in 1982. Coney Hatch impressed all on the rock scene and Kim Mitchell quickly took them into the studio producing their self titled debut album, (which went Gold) with two songs hitting the top 20. Carl's soaring vocal performance on Hey Operator and Devil's Deck remains classic Coney Hatch hits. Coney Hatch opened for Iron Maiden and Judas Priest's North American Tours - a impressive training ground for the young Canadian rockers playing Maple Leaf Gardens twice. Hatch also opened for Triumph, Ted Nugent, Accept and Krokus. When Carl left Coney Hatch he scored a staff songwriting deal with Rondor Music (Universal) in New York in 1990. Carl wrote "Taste of Love" with Brett Walker for Jimi Jamison. That version was featured on an episode of "Baywatch." and in the feature film "Jersey Girl". That opened a door to a raft of Carl's songs and co-writes featuring in television series and movies.
EARLY LIFE AND NITTY GRITTY:
Born in Sault Ste Marie ("The Soo" Northern Ontario, Canada) - a child of the sixties, from a young age Carl was enchanted with the sounds of the Beatles, Creedence, the Stones, The Guess Who, Sly, Motown, "and all the magic rock and pop music that climbed the charts in those early days". The next heavier wave of bands like Free, Humble Pie, Grand Funk, Deep Purple, Jethro Tull, Faces, Mick Taylor-era Stones and of course Led Zeppelin crystalised Carl's desire to be a player, not just a fan.
"For me, being a musician was never about trying to get girls or be popular; it was always about trying to re-create that thrill that great music gave to me."
Carl Dixon first came to prominence as a young musician featured on MTV with Canadian rock band Coney Hatch when he joined Andy Curran, Steve Shelski and Dave Ketchum for a career that was a hallmark of the 1980s Canadian rock scene. Coney Hatch’s 1982 debut album was produced by the legendary Kim Mitchell. Eight of the ten songs from Coney Hatch’s 1982 debut album were written or co-written by Carl. Tracks such as Hey Operator, Devil's Deck, Girl From Last Night's Dream, Fantasy and Monkey Bars still have audiences pumping. Coney Hatch featured in the UK and European festivals including Sweden Rock 2023, Hamburg Summer Festival 2023 to rave reviews. They've returned to the El Mocambo twice and have a new album out "Postcard From Germany" and their special anniversary re-issue double vinyl "Coney Hatch"
Carl Dixon showed his versatility recording and touring with April Wine. Myles Goodwin asked Carl to open for April Wine's shows as a solo artist - a role he had for four years. Carl then became lead singer for Canada’s world-chart toppers The Guess Who for eight years, in the late 90's and early 2000s until his shocking car accident in Australia in April 2008 where he was hospitalized for six months.
As a result of that horrific incident, Carl lost his gig with The Guess Who. Eight years in recuperation, with continuing ongoing treatment, Carl has extensive titanium bone replacements and a cleverly crafted glass eye, and post traumatic stress syndrome and literally a hole in his head. Thanks to the brilliant work of emergency teams at the Epworth and Alfred Hospitals in Melbourne, Australia, he managed to keep his left leg, which took years to adjust to the graft. His remarkable come back led to him writing a book and being an inspirational keynote speaker - see: www.carldixonspeaks.com
​
Carl is signed to Anthem Entertainment Group.
Read Carl's autobiography - it's on sale now. Carl's book "Strange Way to Live" published by Dundurn Press remains one of their top sellers.
CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR COPY and check out the great reviews on Amazon
​
