Reginald Dixon

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Reginald Dixon MBE (1904 in Sheffield-died 1985) was a theatre organist.

Reginald "Mr Blackpool" Dixon is best known as the resident organist at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, where he played the Wurlitzer organ from 1930 until his retirement in 1970, only interrupted by military service in the Royal Air Force during the second world war. He attained the rank of Squadron Leader.

Born in Sheffield on the 16th October 1904 to parents Riachard and Alice in very humble surroundings. Held posts as organist on the Wurlitzers of the West End Birmingham, Regent Dudley and in Preston before applying for the job at the Tower Ballroom in 1930. He made his first radio broadcast in June 1930 from the Tower.

The present Wurlitzer organ installed at the Tower dates from 1935 (installation started in December 1934) and was designed by Reginald Dixon himself with playing for dancing as its main function. The Wurlitzer company presented him with a gold watch to mark the opening of the new 'Wonder Wurlitzer' and 1938 saw him voted as the UK's number one Theatre Organist. His fee at this time was £2000 per annum.

Sunday afternoon concerts continued until 1976 when the current policy of all day dancing was introduced. The original, smaller Wurlitzer organ was enlarged as a 'twin' and installed in the Empress Ballroom Blackpool under the hands of Horace Finch.

His farewell tour lasted ten years after retirement from the Blackpool Tower Ballroom. He also had a very successful recording and broadcasting career spanning 50 years. Concerts had been arranged for 1981 but he had become too ill to fulfil the engagements. His final recording was released in 1981 made on the Wurlitzer Organ of the Thursford Collection in Norfolk.

Reginald Dixon (Tower Organist) is not to be confused with Organist Mr. J.H. Reginald Dixon F.R.C.O.