Eric "Big Daddy" Dixon^[1] (March 28, 1930 – October 19, 1989)^[2] was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, flautist, composer, and arranger.

Dixon's professional career extended from 1950 until his death in 1989, during which time he was credited on as many as 200 recordings.

Having played bugle as a child, Dixon took up the tenor saxophone at the age of 12. Following a stint experience a musician in the US Army (1951–3) he played in groups that sometimes included Mal Waldron, with whom he would later record.^[1]

In 1954, he played with Cootie Williams and the following year with Johnny Hodges.^[1] In 1956, he performed and recorded with Bennie Green and also took up the flute.^[1]

In the late 1950s he spent four years in the house band led by Reuben Phillips at the Apollo Theatre in New York.^[1]

In 1959, he toured Europe and recorded with the Cooper Brothers.^[1]

He also worked with Paul Gonsalves, Ahmed Abdul-Malik, Oliver Nelson, Quincy Jones, Jack McDuff, Joe Williams, Frank Foster, and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, but is probably best known for his tenure in Count Basie's band, which lasted almost two decades. Dixon continued to play in the "ghost band" after Basie's death.^[3]