Drummer, Vocalist ‘Popsy’ Dixon Of The Holmes Brothers Dies

Willie “Popsy” Dixon, longtime drummer and vocalist for the soul and blues band The Holmes Brothers, has died in Virginia.

Alligator Records said Dixon died Friday in Richmond after a recent diagnosis of stage four bladder cancer. He was 72.

Born in Virginia Beach, Dixon met brothers Sherman and Wendell Holmes at a New York gig in 1967. They played the bar circuit until 1979 when they officially formed The Holmes Brothers.

Dixon was known for his soaring, soulful multi-octave vocals and his driving drumming, according to an Alligator Records news release.

With The Holmes Brothers, Dixon toured the world and released 12 albums. Their most recent release was 2014’s Brotherhood on Alligator.

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