Article

Dixie Dean

Published Online December 11, 2008

Last Edited December 12, 2013

'Dixie' (George William) Dean. Accordionist, teacher, composer, b London 25 Sep 1916, d Toronto 16 May 1987. Taken to Canada in 1923, Dixie Dean began his career in Toronto on radio (CFRB and CBC) and in dance bands during the 1930s.

'Dixie' Dean

'Dixie' (George William) Dean. Accordionist, teacher, composer, b London 25 Sep 1916, d Toronto 16 May 1987. Taken to Canada in 1923, Dixie Dean began his career in Toronto on radio (CFRB and CBC) and in dance bands during the 1930s. In 1939 he appeared in recital with the renowned accordionist Charles Magnante at Eaton Auditorium. In 1940 he took a teaching post briefly in New York with Pietro Deiro; the two men toured in the northern USA. After service during World War II in the RCN and as a cast member of Meet the Navy, he resumed his radio work in Toronto and taught privately. His pupils included Eddie Allen and Les Foster (successively accordionists with the Happy Gang) and Joan Fairfax. Dean also composed scores for the NFB productions Song of the Ski (1947) and Holiday Island (1955). In later years, Dixie Dean worked for the Ontario Conservatory of Music in Waterloo, Ont as an instructor, in addition to editing and compiling piano and accordion instruction books (published 1969-75 by Singspiration).