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{{Infobox musical artist |
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| ⚫ | '''Billy Taylor''' (born [[July 24]], [[1921]]) is an |
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| Name = Billy Taylor |
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| Img = Replace this image male.svg |
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| Img_size = 150 |
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| Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist |
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| Birth_name = |
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| Born = {{birth date and age|1921|7|27}} |
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| Died = |
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| Origin = {{flagicon|USA}} <small>[[Greenville, North Carolina]], [[United States|USA]] |
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| Instrument = [[Piano]] |
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| Voice_type = |
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| Genre = |
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| Occupation = [[Pianist]], [[Composer]], Educator |
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| Years_active = [[1940]]s – Present |
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| URL = [http://www.billytaylorjazz.com/ www.BillyTaylorJazz.com] |
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| ⚫ | '''Billy Taylor''' (born [[July 24]], [[1921]] in [[Greenville, North Carolina]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[jazz]] [[pianist]], [[composer]], and educator. He is currently the Robert L. Jones Distinguished Professor of Music at [[East Carolina University]] in [[Greenville, North Carolina]]. Since 1994, he has been the artistic director for jazz at the [[John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts]] in Washington, D.C. |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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Taylor was born in [[Greenville, North Carolina]]. He graduated from [[Virginia State College]] with a B.S. in Music in [[1942]], and has been playing piano professionally since 1944, starting with [[Ben Webster]]'s Quartet on New York's 52nd Street. He later became the house pianist at [[Birdland (jazz club)|Birdland]], where he performed with the likes of [[Charlie Parker]], [[Dizzy Gillespie]] and [[Miles Davis]]. |
Taylor was born in [[Greenville, North Carolina]]. He graduated from [[Virginia State College]] with a B.S. in Music in [[1942]], and has been playing piano professionally since 1944, starting with [[Ben Webster]]'s Quartet on New York's 52nd Street. He later became the house pianist at [[Birdland (jazz club)|Birdland]], where he performed with the likes of [[Charlie Parker]], [[Dizzy Gillespie]] and [[Miles Davis]]. He was a protege of jazz pianist [[Art Tatum]]. In 1958, he was the Musical Director of NBC's ''The Subject Is Jazz'', the first ever television series on the subject of jazz. |
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Among his most notable works is "[[I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel to Be Free)]]", composed in 1954, and subsequently achieving more popularity with Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. [[Nina Simone]] covered the song in her 1967 album ''[[Silk and Soul]]''. It is widely known in the UK as a piano instrumental version, used for [[BBC1]]'s ''[[The Film programme|Film]]'' programme, hosted by [[Barry Norman]] and subsequently [[Jonathan Ross (television presenter)|Jonathan Ross]]. [[Derek Trucks]], [[The Lighthouse Family]] and [[Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra]] have also recorded versions. |
Among his most notable works is "[[I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel to Be Free)]]", composed in 1954, and subsequently achieving more popularity with Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. [[Nina Simone]] covered the song in her 1967 album ''[[Silk and Soul]]''. It is widely known in the UK as a piano instrumental version, used for [[BBC1]]'s ''[[The Film programme|Film]]'' programme, hosted by [[Barry Norman]] and subsequently [[Jonathan Ross (television presenter)|Jonathan Ross]]. [[Derek Trucks]], [[The Lighthouse Family]] and [[Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra]] have also recorded versions. |
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==Selective awards and recognitions== |
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His daughter, Kim Taylor-Thompson, is Professor of Clinical Law at [[New York University]]. His son, Duane Taylor, was an artist who died in 1988. |
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| ⚫ | With over twenty three honorary doctoral degrees, Dr. Billy Taylor is also the recipient of two [[Peabody Awards]], [[NEA Jazz Masters|NEA Jazz Masters Award]] ([[1998]]) an [[Emmy Award]], a [[Grammy Award]] ([[2004]])<ref>[http://theenvelope.latimes.com/factsheets/awardsdb/env-awards-db-search,0,7169155.htmlstory?searchtype=all&query=billy+taylor&x=14&y=8 Grammy Award Database]</ref> and a host of prestigious and highly coveted prizes, such as the [[National Medal of Arts]] ([[1992]]), the [[Tiffany Award]], a Lifetime achievement Award from [[Down Beat]] Magazine, and, election to the Hall of Fame for the International Association for Jazz Education. |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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Revision as of 04:18, 21 November 2007
Billy Taylor |
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Billy Taylor (born July 24, 1921 in Greenville, North Carolina) is an American jazz pianist, composer, and educator. He is currently the Robert L. Jones Distinguished Professor of Music at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. Since 1994, he has been the artistic director for jazz at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
Biography
Taylor was born in Greenville, North Carolina. He graduated from Virginia State College with a B.S. in Music in 1942, and has been playing piano professionally since 1944, starting with Ben Webster's Quartet on New York's 52nd Street. He later became the house pianist at Birdland, where he performed with the likes of Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis. He was a protege of jazz pianist Art Tatum. In 1958, he was the Musical Director of NBC's The Subject Is Jazz, the first ever television series on the subject of jazz.
Among his most notable works is "I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel to Be Free)", composed in 1954, and subsequently achieving more popularity with Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Nina Simone covered the song in her 1967 album Silk and Soul. It is widely known in the UK as a piano instrumental version, used for BBC1's Film programme, hosted by Barry Norman and subsequently Jonathan Ross. Derek Trucks, The Lighthouse Family and Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra have also recorded versions.
Selective awards and recognitions
With over twenty three honorary doctoral degrees, Dr. Billy Taylor is also the recipient of two Peabody Awards, NEA Jazz Masters Award (1998) an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award (2004)[1] and a host of prestigious and highly coveted prizes, such as the National Medal of Arts (1992), the Tiffany Award, a Lifetime achievement Award from Down Beat Magazine, and, election to the Hall of Fame for the International Association for Jazz Education.