Kenyon Dixon

Kenyon Dixon has earned recognition within circles of dedicated R&B enthusiasts who follow figures such as Tyrese, Marsha Ambrosius, and Alex Isley, several of whom have joined forces with the vocalist and composer or featured him on their concert bills. Since the early 2010s he has operated as a songwriter, supporting vocalist, and principal performer, steadily building an independent body of work in contemporary R&B that encompasses the albums Higher Ground (2015), Expectations (2021), and The R&B You Love (2023) along with assorted EPs and singles, among them the 2024 release “Far Away.”

Raised in the Watts section of South Central Los Angeles, Dixon spent his childhood in a strictly religious home where secular recordings were prohibited, even though both parents performed as church musicians. Early training in dance and musical theater eventually gave way to pursuits in singing, songwriting, and R&B production. During the opening years of the 2010s he supplied material for Tyrese and the TGT collaboration involving Ginuwine and Tank, contributing the single “Sex Never Felt Better.” His own 2014 EP Twenty Four appeared after TGT’s Three Kings and before Tyrese’s Black Rose, while Higher Ground arrived the following year and included two tracks featuring Alex Isley.

Toward the close of the decade Dixon issued We Should Talk, Niggas Get Emotional Too, and R&B Kenny, and he supplied background vocals for Kirk Franklin, Pharrell Williams, Usher, Jill Scott, and Nick Jonas. Appearances alongside Justin Timberlake led to his co-writing credit on “Perfect for Me,” included on the Trolls World Tour soundtrack. Solo output resumed in 2021 with Expectations, which showcased Isley, Avery Wilson, and Re'Lxuise. The 2022 album Closer, recorded with Gwen Bunn, D Smoke, Tiffany Gouché, and Susan Carol, placed emphasis on emotional closeness.

Issued in 2023, The R&B You Love served as a nostalgic homage to the style. Dixon’s track “Lucky” earned a nomination for Best Traditional R&B Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. In 2024 he appeared on Byron Juane’s “Timeless” and released the solo singles “Still” and “Far Away.”