Gustafer Yellowgold

Gustafer Yellowgold is a fictional character created by American songwriter and illustrator, Morgan Taylor. Gustafer is the main character in a series of minimally animated music videos brought to life in both live concerts and its DVD/CD series.^[1][2][3][4]

The illustrated music video collection chronicles the exploits of Gustafer, a friendly yellow alien who has come to Earth from the Sun to live out an explorer's life in a slightly psychedelic version of the Minnesota woods. The live concerts feature Morgan Taylor performing the songs next to a large video screen containing his moving illustrations.

The property is marketed and categorized as children's family entertainment, but unlike other kid's fare, it has an unusual cross-over success, as Taylor's live show has opened for popular alternative music acts such as Wilco and The Polyphonic Spree.^[5] The Gustafer Yellowgold Show has performed over 400 live concerts since its conception to an ever-growing cult following across the United States.

History

The project began in late 2003 as a series of small, illustrated picture books. The illustrations for the books were soon animated and released as a DVD entitled Gustafer Yellowgold's Wide Wild World in Summer 2005 by Apple-Eye Productions, a company started by Taylor and his wife Rachel Loshak. Taylor began performing the concerts that same summer in small venues in New York City's Lower East Side. By 2008, Taylor was listed as "Best Kids' Performer" by New York Magazine.^[6] In March 2008 "Gustafer Yellowgold's Mellow Sensation" began its 22 week Off-Broadway run at Daryl Roth's DR2 theater in Manhattan.^{[7][8] [9]}

Morgan Taylor also played bass for The Autumn Defense on their 2004 tour.

In 2008, Morgan Taylor received the Grand Prize in the Children's Music category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest for the Gustafer Yellowgold tune "Mint Green Bee".^[10] In the same year "The Bluebird Tree", another Gustafer Yellowgold song, was a Session 1 finalist.^[11]

2011 is shaping up to be a busy year for Morgan Taylor and Gustafer Yellowgold. The brand new DVD/CD set "Gustafer Yellowgold's Infinity Sock" will be released on March 1 ^[12] and Morgan will be debut the live-version of "Gustafer Yellowgold's Infinity Sock" at a 6-week Off-Broadway limited run at Manhattan's DR2 Theatre ^[13]

Discography

• Gustafer Yellowgold's Wide Wild World (2005) original pressing, now out of print
• Gustafer Yellowgold's Wide Wild World (2007) re-packaged, re-released with additional songs - "A Cooler World" and "Rocket Shoes"
• Gustafer Yellowgold's 'Have You Never Been Yellow'? (2007)
• Gustafer Yellowgold's Mellow Fever (2009)
• Gustafer Yellowgold's Infinity Sock (March 1, 2011)
• Gustafer Yellowgold's Year in the Day (April 3, 2012)
• Gustafer Yellowgold's Wisdom Tooth of Wisdom (2014)

References