Eddie Taylor Jr. was born March 27th, 1972 in Chicago. His father, Eddie Taylor Senior, played blues guitar and sang mainly in Chicago and was for many years a valued sideman in Jimmy Reed’s band. Taylor Jr. also took up guitar, teaching himself to play on an old instrument discarded by his father.
Playing and singing contemporary Chicago blues, Eddie Jr. gradually developed his own name and reputation, building a repertoire that owes much to the traditions of the place and genre. These older songs include Robert Johnson’s ‘Stop Breakin’ Down’, Muddy Waters’ ‘Clouds In My Heart’, Syl Johnson’s ‘Sock It To Me’, Ricky Allen’s ‘Cut You Loose’, Magic Sam’s ‘Easy Baby’ and Taylor Sr.’s ‘I Feel So Bad’. He also writes original material, with notable tracks including ‘Red Hot Mama’, ‘Groovin’ With Eddie’, ‘Worried About My Baby’, ‘Can’t Take It No More’ and ‘Trying To Play A Mind Game’.
Taylor’s older brothers, Tim and Larry, both play drums and three sisters, Edna, Brenda and Demetria, all sing as did their late mother, Vera Taylor. All five siblings appear with Taylor on his 2006 release Mind Game. In 2002, his youngest brother, Milton, was supportive in a markedly different way, donating a kidney when Taylor suffered serious illness.
Among other musicians who have worked in Taylor’s band are blues harpist Martin Lang and guitarist Johnny B. Moore. In addition to leading his own band, Taylor has also played in support of artists such as Moore, Little Arthur Duncan, Easy Baby, Willie Kent and Hubert Sumlin. Eddie performed with his brother Larry, Hubert Sumlin, Barrelhouse Chuck, Kim Wilson, and Billy Flynn on the soundtrack to the movie “Cadillac Records”. That group was reunited with the addition of Ronnie Baker Brooks to perform at President Obama’s first inaugural celebration.
Eddie Taylor Jr passed away last weekend.
Playing and singing contemporary Chicago blues, Eddie Jr. gradually developed his own name and reputation, building a repertoire that owes much to the traditions of the place and genre. These older songs include Robert Johnson’s ‘Stop Breakin’ Down’, Muddy Waters’ ‘Clouds In My Heart’, Syl Johnson’s ‘Sock It To Me’, Ricky Allen’s ‘Cut You Loose’, Magic Sam’s ‘Easy Baby’ and Taylor Sr.’s ‘I Feel So Bad’. He also writes original material, with notable tracks including ‘Red Hot Mama’, ‘Groovin’ With Eddie’, ‘Worried About My Baby’, ‘Can’t Take It No More’ and ‘Trying To Play A Mind Game’.
Taylor’s older brothers, Tim and Larry, both play drums and three sisters, Edna, Brenda and Demetria, all sing as did their late mother, Vera Taylor. All five siblings appear with Taylor on his 2006 release Mind Game. In 2002, his youngest brother, Milton, was supportive in a markedly different way, donating a kidney when Taylor suffered serious illness.
Among other musicians who have worked in Taylor’s band are blues harpist Martin Lang and guitarist Johnny B. Moore. In addition to leading his own band, Taylor has also played in support of artists such as Moore, Little Arthur Duncan, Easy Baby, Willie Kent and Hubert Sumlin. Eddie performed with his brother Larry, Hubert Sumlin, Barrelhouse Chuck, Kim Wilson, and Billy Flynn on the soundtrack to the movie “Cadillac Records”. That group was reunited with the addition of Ronnie Baker Brooks to perform at President Obama’s first inaugural celebration.
Eddie Taylor Jr passed away last weekend.
Eddie bring his blues to the people, Regent Theater, Arlington MA 2017
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