Gene Taylor is an extraordinary blues piano-player and
singer, born in Los Angeles, California, in 1952. At the
age of eight, he came under the influence of a family of
blues and boogie-woogie players who moved in next door to
his house. After starting out with the drums, he switched
to the piano and the guitar at age ten. He learned very
quickly playing by ear and, at age 11, he began performing
in a 'family band' with his best friend Jim Payne and Jim's
parents. They worked occasional neighborhood functions,
giving Gene his first experience as a 'paid musician'---playing
and singing country music.
Having lost both his parents and brother by the age of 15,
Gene was firmly committed to the life of a musician. After
obtaining his driver's license at age 16---and looking much
older, thanks to an already-receding hairline---he started
finding local work with such L.A.-based blues legends as
Big Joe Turner, T-Bone Walker, Lowell Fulson, and Pee-Wee
Crayton. In his own words, "Well, I was playing good
boogie-woogie and pretty fair blues at this point, and going
to blues jams with my fake ID (identification). The word
got out that I wanted to work! Since I was young and would
work cheap, I was hired by these guys sometimes as a 'fill-in'
on local gigs for the older piano players who weren't available
or wanted too much money!" ( laughter) "But I
was a quick learner and I had a car---all the better to
drive the older guys around!" (more laughter) This
experience was invaluable to Gene's musical foundation.
And during this period, he met both James Harman and Phil
and Dave Alvin---who later formed The Blasters.
After working for James Harman during most of 1974, Gene
was asked to join Canned Heat. He was a member of this legendary
band from November, 1974 until May, 1976---giving him his
first international exposure.
After leaving Canned Heat, Gene worked as a solo performer
around Long Beach, California. He had a 2-year 'house-gig'
at a notorious Long Beach bar called the Falcon's Nest,
owned by a now-deceased gangster. At this lively spot, Gene's
audience occasionally included various Los Angeles-area
celebrities---most notably, actor Robert Blake and poet
Charles Bukowski.
In 1978, Gene immigrated to Toronto, Canada, to play music
with his friend Morgan Davis, a well-known Canadian bluesman.
He was based in Canada from 1978-1993---though he continued
to perform with other artists world-wide. During his years
in Canada, Gene found time to play and record with the Downchild
Blues Band, Chris and Ken Whitely, and the one-and-only
Ronnie Hawkins (founder of The Band). During this period
he also was a member of The Amos Garrett, Doug Sahm, Gene
Taylor Band---releasing a Juno Award-winning album, "The
Return Of The Formerly Brothers" (1987) and another
recording, "Live In Japan" (I990).
While working with his good friend James Harman again, in
1981, Gene was asked to join the Blasters---a band comprised
of four friends from his teenage years (Phil and Dave Alvin,
John Bazz, and Bill Bateman). He played with The Blasters
for 4 1/2 years, recording four critically-acclaimed albums
for Warner Brothers records and appearing on every important
music television show of the period. In 1984 The Blasters
were also featured in Walter Hill's major motion-picture,
"Streets Of Fire", for Universal Films. Gene also
released his first solo record, 'Handmade', in 1986. If
this wasn't enough, he also toured with the late Rick Nelson,
between Blasters engagements. After leaving the Blasters
at the end of 1985, and recording 'Handmade', Gene worked
around Canada as a solo artist and with the Downchild Blues
Band---a band that, years before, had inspired their fellow-Canadian
Dan Akroyd to create the "Blues Brothers". In
1992 Gene played on the live Red Devils recording, "King
King" (produced by Rick Rubin for Def American records)---since
this band was founded by his old friend Bill Bateman, the
drummer with the original Blasters. He also did 2 more Blasters
tours in 1991 and 1992.
In 1993, Gene relocated to Austin, Texas, and joined The
Fabulous Thunderbirds, remaining with this internationally-acclaimed
band until September of 2006. During his almost-14 years
with the T-Birds, he toured the world constantly and recorded
two studio albums and one live album with the band---plus,
a live DVD! He also played on 2 of T-Bird leader Kim Wilson's
solo CD's. In 2003, Gene released a self-titled CD on the
Pacific Blues label and participated in all the tours and
recordings of the 'Original Blasters Reunion' from 2002-2003.
He has also appeared on a recording (2006) with his dear
friend, legendary L.A. bluesman, Carlos Guitarlos---and
of course, Gene continues to record and perform with his
friend of over 35 years, 'Icepick James' Harman (13 records
and counting!).
