Kenyon Dixon

Born on July 7, 1989, in Watts, Los Angeles, California, Kenyon Dixon was raised in the Jordan Downs public housing projects as the youngest of seven children. His parents, who were pastors, immersed him in gospel music, which was the only genre permitted in their home; his mother was a gospel singer, and his father was a quartet singer. Initially, Dixon pursued dance, but his musical talents became evident during high school, where friends and teachers encouraged his participation in talent shows. This exposure helped set the foundation for his future career in music, transitioning from a background strictly in gospel to a broader engagement with R&B and soul.

Dixon’s professional career began to take shape in the early 2010s with his first significant writing credit on Tyrese’s “What Took You So Long” from the album “Open Invitation.” This milestone led to subsequent collaborations with prominent artists such as Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Tank, Coco Jones, and Justin Timberlake, for whom he co-wrote on “Everything I Thought It Was” and contributed to the song “Perfect For Me” from “Trolls World Tour.” As a vocalist, Dixon has worked with artists including 2 Chainz, Kelly Rowland, Nick Jonas, Jill Scott, and Kanye West. He performed at the Oscars in 2017 and was featured in the Frankie Beverly tribute at the 55th NAACP Image Awards Gala alongside Kenny Lattimore, Lalah Hathaway, and Luke James. These diverse experiences as both a songwriter and vocalist have established his reputation in the music industry.

In addition to his collaborative work, Dixon has independently released several solo projects, including albums like “Higher Ground” (2015), “We Should Talk” (2017), “Niggas Get Emotional Too” (2018), and “R&B Kenny” (2019). His albums “Expectations” (2021) and “Closer” (2022) brought him further into the R&B spotlight, with “Closer” being recognized as a top R&B album by Revolt and Vibe. Dixon has received multiple Grammy nominations, including for Best Traditional R&B Performance at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards for “Can I Have This Groove,” at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards for “Lucky,” and previously for “Bring it Home to Me” at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards alongside PJ Morton, BJ the Chicago Kid, and Charlie Bereal. His 2024 EPs, “The R&B You Love: Soul of the ’70s” and “The R&B You Love: For the ’99 & the 00s,” showcase his ability to honor traditional R&B sounds while maintaining a contemporary feel.