Big Apple proves fruitful for area native on MTV show

“I got laid off at work, and it presented to me an opening in my schedule. I did some research and learned that I could audition at all four cities and I told myself I was going to keep on trying if I’m not picked.”

Derek Dixie,

About his experience with MTV’s “Making His Band”

By GUY D’ASTOLFO

vindicator entertainment writer

The fourth time was a charm for Derek Dixie.

The Youngstown native and Wilson High School graduate auditioned four times for a spot on MTV’s new reality show, “Making His Band,” starring record producer-rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs.

On his fourth and final audition, which was in New York in March, he was selected.

“Making His Band” premiered Monday on the cable network. The show, which airs Mondays at 10 p.m., involves 42 musicians who were selected to live together while their numbers are whittled down each week to the final band, which will play on Diddy’s next album.

Dixie auditioned for the show four times in four cities — Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit and New York. Taping began right after the final audition and was wrapped up in May.

Dixie moved to Chillicothe in 2004 to attend school, and still lives there. He spoke to The Vindicator about his experience with “Making His Band,” although due to contractual agreements, he could not reveal how the show turns out.

“I got laid off at work, and it presented to me an opening in my schedule,” he said. “I did some research and learned that I could audition at all four cities and I told myself I was going to keep on trying if I’m not picked.”

The panel of judges, made up of talent scouts, musicians and other industry experts, were surprised that Dixie kept showing up.

“At the Chicago audition, they said, ‘Didn’t we just see you in L.A.?’,” he said.

Dixie’s persistence ultimately paid off, largely because he took to heart the advice of the judges after each audition. He worked on his weaknesses.

“I talked with them to see how to improve, and what they didn’t like about me. I took it all in. They made general statements to all of us about what they’re looking for,” he said.

Dixie was the last drummer selected for the show.

He said the weeks he spent taping “Making the Band” were interesting. “I met a lot of great musicians,” he said. “It was an experience I’ll never forget.”

Dixie said viewers should expect “some dramatics and some tension” as the show unfolds over the next few months.

The 27-year-old attended Youngstown State University and the Recording Workshop, a music production school in Chillicothe. He was hired at the Record Workshop after graduation.

While at Wilson High, Dixie was involved in marching band and jazz band. He gave credit to two of his teachers there — Robert Thomas and Elaine Carlson — for pushing him to succeed.