Born in Xenia, Ohio, in 1906,[1] Dickenson wanted to be a plasterer like his father, but he abandoned the idea after injuring himself by falling off a ladder.
He appeared on the television program The Sound of Jazz in 1957 with Count Basie, Coleman Hawkins, Roy Eldridge, Gerry Mulligan, and Billie Holiday.
In 1953, he recorded The Vic Dickenson Showcase for Vanguard with Ed Hall on clarinet and Ruby Braff on trumpet.
[1] Dickenson is in Art Kane's photograph, A Great Day in Harlem, which includes trombonist Miff Mole.
[2] With Buster Bailey With Coleman Hawkins With Johnny Hodges With Claude Hopkins With Langston Hughes With Budd Johnson With Jo Jones With Al Sears With Dicky Wells With Joe Williams With Lester Young