|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZTAYLOR, Billy(b 24 July 1921, Greenville NC; d 28 December 2010, NYC) A first-rate jazz pianist who became better known as a writer, broadcaster and teacher. He obtained a degree in music, went to NYC and played with Ben Webster, Dizzy Gillespie, in Chicago with Stuff Smith, Eddie South; went to Europe with Don Redman '46; led his own quartet '49-50, fronted by Artie Shaw late '50 as his Gramercy Five; and led his own trios from '52. He made albums on Argo, Atlantic, Capitol, Mercury, Savoy, ABC-Paramount (including Introduces Ira Sullivan), others including Billy Taylor Trio '54 with Candido, later on Fantasy OJC; also Touch Of Taylor on Prestige, Sleeping Bee '69 on Pausa; Where've You Been '80 on Concord Jazz had Victor Gaskin on bass (b Roderick Victor Gaskin, 23 November 1934, the Bronx; d 14 July 2012, St. Croix, VIrgin Islands), Joe Kennedy on violin, Keith Copeland on drums. A trio set Music Keeps Us Young '96 was on Arkadia. He was co-founder of the Jazzmobile '65 which gave free concerts in the street. He was music director of the David Frost TV talk show, the first African-American to hold such a position (many years later he was still the only one). He published Jazz Piano '82, based on a radio series, and did a popular jazz segment on Charles Kuralt's CBS-TV Sunday Morning show. His presentation of jazz could be compared to Leaonard Bernstein's presentation of classical music in his famous video lectures. If jazz had had more likeable proselytizers like Billy Taylor, American music might be very different today, and for the better. |