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The Indianapolis Jazz Foundation hosted a concert Nov. 13 at The Cabaret to support its artistic and education director, Rob Dixon, after the recent death of his wife, Sherry Ann Dixon.

The show featured an all-star lineup of Indianapolis musicians, many of whom are Dixon’s friends and collaborators. The organization also started a fundraising page to help Dixon with medical and funeral expenses.

Dixon capped off the night with a performance dedicated to his late wife.

See photos from the poignant event, captured by Ted Somerville.

Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.

Ted Somerville is a Mirror Indy freelance contributor. You can reach him at tedsomphoto@gmail.com.

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We Love Rob: Musicians rally behind Indy’s ‘musical mayor’ Rob Dixon

by Ted Somerville, Mirror Indy
November 14, 2025

<h1>We Love Rob: Musicians rally behind Indy’s ‘musical mayor’ Rob Dixon</h1> <p class="byline">by Ted Somerville, Mirror Indy <br />November 14, 2025</p> <p>The Indianapolis Jazz Foundation hosted a concert Nov. 13 at The Cabaret to support its artistic and education director, Rob Dixon, after the recent death of his wife, Sherry Ann Dixon.</p> <p>The show featured an all-star lineup of Indianapolis musicians, many of whom are Dixon's friends and collaborators. The organization also started a <a href="https://gofund.me/379b6c8e1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fundraising page</a> to help Dixon with medical and funeral expenses.</p> <p>Dixon capped off the night with a performance dedicated to his late wife. </p> <p>See photos from the poignant event, captured by Ted Somerville.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WE-LOVE-ROB-DIXON-BENEFIT-CONCERT_TS01.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67205" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Singer Goldie Ingram (right) performs for jazz musician Rob Dixon (left) during We Love Rob, a Nov. 13 benefit show at The Cabaret in downtown Indianapolis. The show helped raise money to cover medical expenses and funeral costs for Dixon's late wife, Sherry Ann Dixon. </figcaption></figure> <div class="wp-block-columns alignwide"> <div class="wp-block-column"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WE-LOVE-ROB-DIXON-BENEFIT-CONCERT_TS02-822x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67206" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Judith Thomas, president and CEO of Indy Arts Council, gave a speech during the We Love Rob show and fundraiser. </figcaption></figure> </p></div> <div class="wp-block-column"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WE-LOVE-ROB-DIXON-BENEFIT-CONCERT_TS03-682x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67207" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Saxophonist and producer Brandon Douthitt performs.</figcaption></figure> </p></div> </p></div> <figure class="wp-block-image alignfull size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WE-LOVE-ROB-DIXON-BENEFIT-CONCERT_TS04.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67208" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A memorial slideshow for Sherry Ann Dixon is displayed during the We Love Rob benefit show Nov. 13, 2025, at The Cabaret.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WE-LOVE-ROB-DIXON-BENEFIT-CONCERT_TS05-1024x759.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67209" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Pianist and bandleader Steve Allee makes a speech for Rob Dixon before performing.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WE-LOVE-ROB-DIXON-BENEFIT-CONCERT_TS06-1024x712.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67210" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rob Dixon wipes a tear during a speech by Indy Arts Council CEO &amp; president Judith Thomas.</figcaption></figure> <div class="wp-block-columns"> <div class="wp-block-column"> </div> <div class="wp-block-column"> </div> </p></div> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WE-LOVE-ROB-DIXON-BENEFIT-CONCERT_TS08.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67212" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">We Love Rob organizer Val Phelps throws her arms up during the end of the benefit show for Rob Dixon on Nov. 13, 2025, at The Cabaret.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WE-LOVE-ROB-DIXON-BENEFIT-CONCERT_TS07-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67211" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Audience members react to a speech.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WE-LOVE-ROB-DIXON-BENEFIT-CONCERT_TS09-1024x734.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67213" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Members of Premium Blend, led by Jared Thompson, perform.</figcaption></figure> <div class="wp-block-columns alignfull"> <div class="wp-block-column"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WE-LOVE-ROB-DIXON-BENEFIT-CONCERT_TS10-1024x856.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67214" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Suzanne Lichtman, a long-time Indy Jazz Fest volunteer, watches a performance.</figcaption></figure> </p></div> <div class="wp-block-column"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WE-LOVE-ROB-DIXON-BENEFIT-CONCERT_TS11-1024x780.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67215" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Drummer and We Love Rob organizer Kenny Phelps performs with the Jazz Collective.</figcaption></figure> </p></div> </p></div> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WE-LOVE-ROB-DIXON-BENEFIT-CONCERT_TS12-1024x679.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67216" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rob Dixon makes a gesture during a speech for him.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WE-LOVE-ROB-DIXON-BENEFIT-CONCERT_TS13-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67217" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Drummer Dorian Phelps performs with a band.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WE-LOVE-ROB-DIXON-BENEFIT-CONCERT_TS14-1024x665.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67218" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Vocal Ease performs during the We Love Rob benefit concert Nov. 13, 2025, at The Cabaret.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WE-LOVE-ROB-DIXON-BENEFIT-CONCERT_TS15.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67219" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Pianist and bandleader Pavel Polanco-Safadit performs.</figcaption></figure> <div class="wp-block-columns alignwide"> <div class="wp-block-column"> </div> <div class="wp-block-column"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WE-LOVE-ROB-DIXON-BENEFIT-CONCERT_TS17-719x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67221" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Singer Goldie Ingram performs.</figcaption></figure> </p></div> </p></div> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WE-LOVE-ROB-DIXON-BENEFIT-CONCERT_TS18-1024x704.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67222" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Drummer and We Love Rob organizer Kenny Phelps hugs an audience member as his wife and co-organizer Val Phelps looks on.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WE-LOVE-ROB-DIXON-BENEFIT-CONCERT_TS19.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67223" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Reggie Bishop (left), Rob Dixon (center), and Carrington Clinton (right) perform at the end of the We Love Rob benefit show Nov. 13, 2025, at The Cabaret.</figcaption></figure> <p><em>Ted Somerville is a Mirror Indy freelance contributor. You can reach him at <a href="mailto:tedsomphoto@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tedsomphoto@gmail.com</a>.</em></p> <p>This &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org/we-love-rob-musicians-rally-behind-indys-musical-mayor-rob-dixon/&quot;&gt;article&lt;/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org&quot;&gt;Mirror Indy&lt;/a&gt; and is republished here under a &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/&quot;&gt;Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;img src=&quot;https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/cropped-Mirror-Indy-square-logo-1.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;amp;ssl=1&quot; style=&quot;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&quot;&gt;</p> &lt;img id=&quot;republication-tracker-tool-source&quot; src=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=67144&amp;amp;ga4=G-X0R0QW371R&quot; style=&quot;width:1px;height:1px;&quot;&gt;&lt;script&gt; PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: &quot;https://mirrorindy.org/we-love-rob-musicians-rally-behind-indys-musical-mayor-rob-dixon/&quot;, urlref: window.location.href }); } } &lt;/script&gt; &lt;script id=&quot;parsely-cfg&quot; src=&quot;//cdn.parsely.com/keys/mirrorindy.org/p.js&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

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