Memphis Producer, Musician Jim Dickinson Dies at 67

Posted on Aug 15th 2009 4:48PM by Steve Baltin
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Memphis music titan Jim Dickinson, who produced the Replacements' indie classic 'Pleased to Meet Me' and Big Star's '3rd,' passed away in his sleep Saturday morning at the age of 67, while recovering from triple bypass surgery.

The news comes just a week after a concert was held in Memphis, Tennessee, to raise money for Dickinson's mounting medical costs. Performers included John Hiatt, Jimmy Davis, Shannon McNally and North Mississippi Allstars, which includes Dickinson's sons Luther and Cody. Dickinson's medical trouble was discovered just months ago during a physical exam following a performance with Elvis Costello at the Beale Street Music Festival.

While he enjoyed a solo career and fronted the band Snake Eyes, Dickinson's greatest success always came with helping others, whether behind the control panel for the Replacements and Big Star, or lending his piano skills to the Rolling Stones' classic ballad 'Wild Horses.' His session work also extended to Aretha Franklin, Sam and Dave, and Bob Dylan. It was Dylan who once said, "if you've got Dickinson you don't need anybody else," according to Harp magazine.

According to Dickinson's wife, Mary Lindsay Dickinson, "He went very peacefully."