Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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TAYLOR, Hound Dog

(b Theodore Roosevelt Taylor, 12 April '17, Natchez MS; d 17 Dec. '75, Chicago IL) Blues singer; also guitar, piano. Ran away from home before he was 10; worked in juke joints, picnics etc through South, with Elmore James others; with Sonny Boy Williamson on King Biscuit Time radio show c'42, went to Chicago. Recorded for Firma '62, formed HouseRockers trio with Brewer Phillips' rhythm guitar also serving as a bass line, Ted Harvey on drums: Bruce Iglauer managed them, roadied them and recorded them for his new Alligator label. Hound Dog played slide on a "supercheap' Japanese guitar, using a brass-lined piece of steel chair leg; he told awful (often incomprensible) jokes, called his intense good-time music rock and roll, though purists called it blues. Worked every Sunday afternoon for ten years at Florence's club; other clubs and festivals incl. European tour '67, also Australia. Albums: Hound Dog Taylor & The HouseRockers '71, Natural Boogie, Beware Of The Dog '74 (made at live gigs for radio broadcasts); Genuine Houserocking Music has tracks from '71, 73. "When I die, they'll say, {he couldn't play shit, but he sure made it sound good!}' Also tracks on King Of The Slide Guitar on JSP with Johnny Littlejohn (b 16 April '31, Lake MS)