Alvin Taylor

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Alvin Taylor
Genres Rock
Occupations Musician
Instruments Drums
Years active 1970s - present
Labels Capitol Records
Associated acts Elton John, George Harrison, Eric Burdon, Sly & the Family Stone, Bill Withers, Bob Welch

Alvin Taylor (born March 26, 1953) is an American drummer, producer and musical director, who is best known for his work with Elton John, Eric Burdon, George Harrison, Billy Preston and Bob Welch.

Early life and career

He Started playing drums at the age of 5, played in various local bands and began his professional career at 14, when he started touring with Little Richard. As part of Richard's band, Taylor played with Jimi Hendrix, Billy Preston and opened a show for the king of rock, Elvis Presley. He went on to play with PG&E on their number one record, Are You Ready. He turned down Jerry Goldstein's offer to play in the famous funk band War, but joined Eric Burdon's band, after Burdon left War. The Eric Burdon Band released a hard rock-packed album called Sun Secrets, which also shows Taylor on the cover. He was also featured on their unreleased album Mirage (released in 2008), is featured on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert (on February 9, 1974) and is mentioned in Burdon's 2001 book Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood. Soon after Taylor was asked by ex-Beatles guitarist George Harrison to both live in his castle and record his album Thirty Three & 1/3. Other musicians on the record include Richard Tee, Tom Scott and Willie Weeks. Shortly after he played on two albums by Billy Preston, along with Keni Burke, the Tower of Power Horn Section, Tony Maiden and Gloria Jones. Taylor was on the first ever airing of Saturday Night Live on October 11, 1975. He then joined Bob Welch's band and recorded the successful album French Kiss, which featured the hit single "Ebony Eyes".[1]

During the following years he appeared on albums by artists such as Elton John, Aalon, Jesse Colin Young, Les McCann, Lauren Wood, Gil-Scott Heron, The Originals, Syreeta, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Keni Burke, Stargard, Sammy Hagar, Billy Thorpe, America, Cher, Natalie Cole, Sly & the Family Stone, Bill Withers and on two more records by Bob Welch. On Danny O'Keefe's record American Roulette (1997) he also appeared besides Reggie McBride, Mike Melvoin and David Lindley. He also appeared on the album 1234 by The Rolling Stones member Ron Wood.[2] On Cher's album Prisoner (1979) he appeared besides Toto members Steve Lukather, Jeff Porcaro, David Hungate, David Paich as well as Paul Schaffer, Bob Glaub, Will Lee, Luther Vandross, Mike Baird, Paulinho Da Costa, Richard Tee and many others. Also in 1979 he played on Sammy Hagar's single (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay, featuring Leland Sklar, Barry Goudreau and Steve Cropper, who originally played on the Otis Redding version. In 1980, on Elton John's album 21 at 33, he appeared once again with Lukather and Paich. Other notable musicians include Bill Champlin, Chuck Findley and Lenny Castro.

Taylor then appeared on Bob Welch's album Man Overboard along with Randy Meisner, Wendy Waldman and Jack Nitzsche amongst others. In 1982 he played on Ron Wood's 1234. Other musicians on the record include Bobby Keys, Jim Horn, Jim Keltner, Charlie Watts, Carmine Appice, Ian McLagan, Bobby Womack and Waddy Wachtel.

Taylor has also worked with Tina Turner, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Diane Ross, Barry White, Duran Duran, Leo Sayer, Teena Marie, Michael McDonald, Brian Jackson, Leland Sklar and Brian Cadd.[3]

Since 2011 he is working with Ukulele Ray and regularly plays at NAMM.

Discography

Bill Withers

  • Menagerie (1977)
  • The Complete Sussex and Columbia Albums (2012, Compilation)
  • Original Album Classics (2013, Compilation)

Billy Preston

Bob Welch

Elton John

Eric Burdon

Sly & the Family Stone

Other Credits

  • The Originals - Communique (1976)
  • Syreeta - One to One (1977)
  • Danny O'Keefe - American Roulette (1977)
  • Aalon - Cream City (1977)
  • Stargard - What You Waitin' For (1978)
  • Cher - Prisoner (1979)
  • Pyrymyd - Pyrymyd (1980)
  • Billy Thorpe - Stimulation (1981)
  • Ron Wood - 1234 (1981)
  • America - View From The Ground (1982)

References

  1. ↑ "Allmusic"
  2. ↑ "Discogs"
  3. ↑ "MYPPK"

External links

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