A certified honking sax legend,
Sam "The Man" Taylor's non-stop drive and power worked perfectly in swing, blues, and R&B sessions. He had a huge tone, perfect timing, and sense of drama, as well as relentless energy and spirit.
Taylor began working with
Scat Man Crothers and the Sunset Royal Orchestra in the late '30s. He played with
Cootie Williams and
Lucky Millinder in the early '40s, then worked six years with
Cab Calloway.
Taylor toured South America and the Caribbean during his tenure with
Calloway. Then,
Taylor became the saxophonist of choice for many R&B dates through the '50s, recording with
Ray Charles,
Buddy Johnson,
Louis Jordan, and
Big Joe Turner, among others. He also did sessions with
Ella Fitzgerald and
Sy Oliver. During the '60s,
Taylor led his own bands and recorded in a quintet called
the Blues Chasers. He currently has one session available on CD, recorded in the late '50s with
Charlie Shavers and
Urbie Green.
–
Ron Wynn, Rovi