Gene Taylor (musician)
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Gene Taylor (born 2 July 1952, Norwalk, California) is a prolific and widely acclaimed blues rock and boogie-woogie pianist.
He reputedly starting out as a drummer at age 8[1] but two years later he had picked up his initial piano skills from boogie-woogie pianist-neighbours [2]. Around the age of 16 he began working with some of the big names in the West Coast blues scene including Big Joe Turner and T-Bone Walker. In the mid seventies he joined the James Harman Band [3] and had a stint as pianist for boogie super-group Canned Heat between November 1974 and May 1976. From 1981 to 1984 he toured with The Blasters, and in 1986 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. Between 1993-2007 Taylor played with The Fabulous Thunderbirds[4] amongst various other projects. He recorded an eponymous second solo album for Pacific Blues in 2003 partly accompanied by James Harman and Bill Bateman[5]. This album included a version of the boogie piano classic " Pinetop's Boogie Woogie".
Since 2007 he has been based in Belgium, playing and recording with Fried Bourbon.
[edit] Discography (selection since 1981)
- 2007: James Harman's Bamboo Porch (with James Harman)
- 2007: Hell Can Wait (with Carlos Guitaros)
- 2007: Boogie Blend Blues (with Fried Bourbon)
- 2005: Year - Maple Blues Awards, 2005 (with The Downchild Blues Band)
- 2005: Painted On (with The Fabulous Thunderbirds)
- 2005: Live (with The Fabulous Thunderbirds)
- 2004: Come On In (with The Downchild Blues Band)
- 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)
- 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 & 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)
- 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 Jimmy & the Rhythm Pigs)
- 1987: Nobody But You (with John Hammond)
- 1987: It's Been So Long (with The Downchild Blues Band)
- 1986: Handmade (solo)
- 1985: Hard Line (with The Blasters)
- 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)
James Harman is also a pupil at middleton Grange School in Christchurch New Zealand. He is a active member of the babysitting club and is also a child in the learning centre.
