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Gene Taylor (pianist)

January 01, 1970

Gene Taylor (July 2, 1952 – February 20, 2021) was an American pianist best known for his boogie woogie style. Over a career spanning more than 50 years he accompanied many musicians, produced several solo albums and was briefly part of Canned Heat.

Gene Taylor
Taylor with Canned Heat in 1976
Background information
Born(1952-07-02)July 2, 1952
Norwalk, California, U.S.
DiedFebruary 20, 2021(2021-02-20) (aged 68)[1]
Austin, Texas, U.S.
GenresBoogie rock
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Piano, guitar
Years active1968–2021
Websitewww.gene-taylor.com

Early life edit

Taylor began his musical training as a drummer at age eight[2] but two years later he had picked up both the guitar and his initial piano skills from boogie-woogie pianist-neighbours.[3][4] By the age of 16 he was an orphan and was essentially forced to fund himself - his receding hairline disguising his remarkable youth. He soon found himself working with some of the big names in the West Coast blues scene including Big Joe Turner and T-Bone Walker, aided by the fact that he "was cheap" and had a driver's license and was thus able to not only add piano parts but also make sure that the musicians reached their gigs.[5]

Harman and Canned Heat edit

In the mid-seventies he joined the James Harman Band[3] and had a stint as pianist for boogie group Canned Heat between November 1974 and May 1976. There are no known recordings of Taylor playing with Canned Heat during this period but ten songs were later recorded with part of the band, Taylor playing piano with Larry Taylor and Fito de la Parra. According to Canned Heat historian, Walter de Paduwa, Taylor's abrupt departure from the band came in 1976 when an apparently banal spat over a pizza at a restaurant in the south of France turned into a full blown argument. Taylor returning to Long Beach, California, then, two years later relocating to Toronto. He would remain based in Canada, on and off, until 1993, often playing with his friend Morgan Davis and the Downchild Blues Band.

1980s and 1990s edit

From 1981 to 1984 he first toured with The Blasters, with whom he formed one of his most lasting and important collaboration that would eventually yield three albums. In 1986 Taylor finally recorded his first solo album, Handmade. His The Return of the Formerly Brothers, recorded with Amos Garrett and Doug Sahm in 1987, won a Juno Award the following year for Best Roots & Traditional Album.

In 1993, Taylor relocated from Canada to Austin, Texas. Here he began to play with The Fabulous Thunderbirds,[6] a partnership which would last until 2006 and included two 'solo' albums with the band's leader Kim Wilson.[5] In 2002, he also found time to join the tours and recordings for the “Original Blasters Reunion”. He recorded an eponymous second solo album for Pacific Blues in 2003 partly accompanied by James Harman and Bill Bateman.[7] This album included a version of "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie".

Belgium edit

From 2007, Taylor was often based in Belgium, playing and recording with Fried Bourbon,[8] CC Jerome's Jet Setters, Dave Alvin and Jo' Buddy. He toured as the Gene Taylor Trio, with drummer Nico Vanhove, and the guitarist Bart De Mulder. He played at the Brussels Boogie-Woogie Festival of 2012, which took place at the Théâtre St Michel on November 24. Shortly after his death, the Dr Boogie show on Belgium's Classic 21 radio commemorated Taylor with an hour of programming and cited him as 'almost Belgian'.[9]

Death edit

On February 20, 2021, Taylor's housemate - the filmmaker Monty McMillan - found him dead in his bed in their home in Austin, Texas.[10] The cause of death was suspected to be hypothermia, as the house had been without heat in the dead of winter amid the 2021 Texas power crisis.[10]

Discography (selection since 1981) edit

References edit

  1. ^ Blackstock, Peter (February 21, 2021). "Gene Taylor, Austin pianist who played with Fabulous Thunderbirds and others, dies at 68". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  2. ^ Video on YouTube[dead link]
  3. ^ a b . James Harman. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
  4. ^ . Afternic.com. Archived from the original on Apr 2, 2009. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Gene Taylor, Boogie-Woogie Piano Player With the Blasters, Dies at 68". Bestclassicbands.com. 21 February 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  6. ^ [1] January 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ . Afternic.com. Archived from the original on Nov 9, 2007. Retrieved Feb 23, 2021.
  8. ^ "Fried Bourbon | Gratis muziek, tourneedata, foto's, video's". Myspace.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
  9. ^ "Dr Boogie - Réécoutez - RTBF Classic 21". Rtbf.be. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  10. ^ a b Blackstock, Peter. "Gene Taylor, Austin pianist who played with Fabulous Thunderbirds and others, dies at 68". Austin360.com. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  11. ^ "Chris Ruest & Gene Taylor – It's Too Late Now (2017, CD)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Gene Taylor - Let Me Ride In Your Automobile". YouTube. 2010-08-24. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
  13. ^ "Featured : Rhapsody". Blog.napster.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ . Ccjeromesjetsetters.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
  15. ^ "Junior Watson - If I Had A Genie CD Album". Cduniverse.com. 2003-06-06. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
  16. ^ "Jackson Delta With Gene Taylor – Live With Gene Taylor ( I Was Just Thinking That...) (1991, CD)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 13 April 2021.

External links edit

  • Gene Taylor's website
  • Gene Taylor discography at Discogs
  • Example of Gene's playing on YouTube, (accompanying Kim Wilson)
  • Gene Taylor singing as well as playing in a line-up approximating to the original Blasters on YouTube

January 01, 1970
gene, taylor, pianist, gene, taylor, july, 1952, february, 2021, american, pianist, best, known, boogie, woogie, style, over, career, spanning, more, than, years, accompanied, many, musicians, produced, several, solo, albums, briefly, part, canned, heat, gene,. Gene Taylor July 2 1952 February 20 2021 was an American pianist best known for his boogie woogie style Over a career spanning more than 50 years he accompanied many musicians produced several solo albums and was briefly part of Canned Heat Gene TaylorTaylor with Canned Heat in 1976Background informationBorn 1952 07 02 July 2 1952Norwalk California U S DiedFebruary 20 2021 2021 02 20 aged 68 1 Austin Texas U S GenresBoogie rockOccupation s MusicianInstrument s Piano guitarYears active1968 2021Websitewww gene taylor com Contents 1 Early life 2 Harman and Canned Heat 3 1980s and 1990s 4 Belgium 5 Death 6 Discography selection since 1981 7 References 8 External linksEarly life editTaylor began his musical training as a drummer at age eight 2 but two years later he had picked up both the guitar and his initial piano skills from boogie woogie pianist neighbours 3 4 By the age of 16 he was an orphan and was essentially forced to fund himself his receding hairline disguising his remarkable youth He soon found himself working with some of the big names in the West Coast blues scene including Big Joe Turner and T Bone Walker aided by the fact that he was cheap and had a driver s license and was thus able to not only add piano parts but also make sure that the musicians reached their gigs 5 Harman and Canned Heat editIn the mid seventies he joined the James Harman Band 3 and had a stint as pianist for boogie group Canned Heat between November 1974 and May 1976 There are no known recordings of Taylor playing with Canned Heat during this period but ten songs were later recorded with part of the band Taylor playing piano with Larry Taylor and Fito de la Parra According to Canned Heat historian Walter de Paduwa Taylor s abrupt departure from the band came in 1976 when an apparently banal spat over a pizza at a restaurant in the south of France turned into a full blown argument Taylor returning to Long Beach California then two years later relocating to Toronto He would remain based in Canada on and off until 1993 often playing with his friend Morgan Davis and the Downchild Blues Band 1980s and 1990s editFrom 1981 to 1984 he first toured with The Blasters with whom he formed one of his most lasting and important collaboration that would eventually yield three albums In 1986 Taylor finally recorded his first solo album Handmade His The Return of the Formerly Brothers recorded with Amos Garrett and Doug Sahm in 1987 won a Juno Award the following year for Best Roots amp Traditional Album In 1993 Taylor relocated from Canada to Austin Texas Here he began to play with The Fabulous Thunderbirds 6 a partnership which would last until 2006 and included two solo albums with the band s leader Kim Wilson 5 In 2002 he also found time to join the tours and recordings for the Original Blasters Reunion He recorded an eponymous second solo album for Pacific Blues in 2003 partly accompanied by James Harman and Bill Bateman 7 This album included a version of Pinetop s Boogie Woogie Belgium editFrom 2007 Taylor was often based in Belgium playing and recording with Fried Bourbon 8 CC Jerome s Jet Setters Dave Alvin and Jo Buddy He toured as the Gene Taylor Trio with drummer Nico Vanhove and the guitarist Bart De Mulder He played at the Brussels Boogie Woogie Festival of 2012 which took place at the Theatre St Michel on November 24 Shortly after his death the Dr Boogie show on Belgium s Classic 21 radio commemorated Taylor with an hour of programming and cited him as almost Belgian 9 Death editOn February 20 2021 Taylor s housemate the filmmaker Monty McMillan found him dead in his bed in their home in Austin Texas 10 The cause of death was suspected to be hypothermia as the house had been without heat in the dead of winter amid the 2021 Texas power crisis 10 Discography selection since 1981 edit2017 It s Too Late Now with Chris Ruest 11 2013 Roadhouse Memories solo 2010 Let Me Ride In Your Automobile with CC Jerome s Jetsetters 12 13 2009 Introducing with CC Jerome s Jetsetters 14 2008 605 Boogie Gene Taylor Blues Band featuring Dave Alvin live 2007 James Harman s Bamboo Porch with James Harman 2007 Hell Can Wait with Carlos Guitarlos 2007 Boogie Blend Blues with Fried Bourbon 2005 Painted On with The Fabulous Thunderbirds 2005 Live with The Fabulous Thunderbirds 2004 Come On In with The Downchild Blues Band winner at the 2005 Maple Blues Awards 2003 Lonesome Moon Trance with James Harman 2003 Going Home live with The Blasters 2003 Gene Taylor solo 2002 Trouble Bound live with The Blasters 2002 Testament with The Blasters 2002 Bogart s Bounce with JW Jones 2002 If I Had A Genie with Junior Watson Taylor plays on all but four tracks 15 2000 Mo Na kins Please with James Harman 1999 Kid Ramos with Kid Ramos 1998 Takin Chances with James Harman 1996 Icepick s Story with James Harman 1995 That s Life with Kim Wilson 1995 Roll Of The Dice with The Fabulous Thunderbirds 1995 In My Time with Charlie Musselwhite 1995 Black amp White with James Harman 1994 Tiger Man with Kim Wilson 1994 Cards On The Table with James Harman 1993 Two Sides To Every Story with James Harman 1992 King King live with The Red Devils 1992 Bluesology Pyramid Records compilation 1992 I Was Just Thinking That live album with Jackson Delta 16 1991 Do Not Disturb with James Harman 1990 Live In Japan as The Amos Garrett Doug Sahm Gene Taylor Band 1990 Collection with The Blasters 1989 Gone Fishing with The Downchild Blues Band 1988 Extra Napkins with James Harman 1987 Those Dangerous Gentlemen with James Harman 1987 The Return Of The Formerly Brothers The Amos Garrett Doug Sahm Gene Taylor Band 1987 Pigus Drunkus Maximus with Top Jimmy amp The Rhythm Pigs actually recorded in 1981 but delayed 6 years before issue 1987 Nobody But You with John Hammond 1987 It s Been So Long with The Downchild Blues Band 1986 Handmade solo 1986 Guitars Cadillacs Etc Etc with Dwight Yoakam 1985 Hard Line with The Blasters 1984 Streets of Fire Original Movie Soundtrack two songs with The Blasters that featured in the movie of the same name 1983 Thank You Baby with James Harman 1983 Non Fiction with The Blasters 1982 Over There live with The Blasters 1981 This Band Just Won t Behave with James Harman 1981 The Blasters with The Blasters References edit Blackstock Peter February 21 2021 Gene Taylor Austin pianist who played with Fabulous Thunderbirds and others dies at 68 Austin American Statesman Retrieved 22 February 2021 Video on YouTube dead link a b Bio James Harman Archived from the original on 2018 06 12 Retrieved 2013 03 16 pacificblues com Afternic com Archived from the original on Apr 2 2009 Retrieved February 23 2021 a b Gene Taylor Boogie Woogie Piano Player With the Blasters Dies at 68 Bestclassicbands com 21 February 2021 Retrieved 13 April 2021 1 Archived January 20 2008 at the Wayback Machine pacificblues com Afternic com Archived from the original on Nov 9 2007 Retrieved Feb 23 2021 Fried Bourbon Gratis muziek tourneedata foto s video s Myspace com Retrieved 2013 03 16 Dr Boogie Reecoutez RTBF Classic 21 Rtbf be Retrieved 13 April 2021 a b Blackstock Peter Gene Taylor Austin pianist who played with Fabulous Thunderbirds and others dies at 68 Austin360 com Retrieved February 23 2021 Chris Ruest amp Gene Taylor It s Too Late Now 2017 CD Discogs com Retrieved 13 April 2021 Gene Taylor Let Me Ride In Your Automobile YouTube 2010 08 24 Archived from the original on 2021 12 21 Retrieved 2013 03 16 Featured Rhapsody Blog napster com Retrieved 2013 03 16 permanent dead link Recordings Ccjeromesjetsetters com Archived from the original on 2012 02 24 Retrieved 2013 03 16 Junior Watson If I Had A Genie CD Album Cduniverse com 2003 06 06 Retrieved 2013 03 16 Jackson Delta With Gene Taylor Live With Gene Taylor I Was Just Thinking That 1991 CD Discogs com Retrieved 13 April 2021 External links editGene Taylor s website Gene Taylor discography at Discogs Example of Gene s playing on YouTube accompanying Kim Wilson Gene Taylor singing as well as playing in a line up approximating to the original Blasters on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gene Taylor pianist amp oldid 1217437397, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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