Gene Taylor

Acoustic Bass icon Acoustic Bass

December 22, 2001 (Age 72) died

March 19, 1929 Birthday

Toledo, Ohio, U.S. Birthplace

About

Gene Taylor was a jazz double bassist. He worked with Horace Silver from 1958 - 1963 and appeared on several of his albums, including 1964's "Song for My Father." He then joined Blue Mitchell's Quintet and later toured with Nina Simone. From 1968 - 1976 Taylor worked with Judy Collins. He also recorded as a sideman with Junior Cooks, Barry Harris, Coleman Hawkins, and Duke Pearson. Gene Taylor passed away in Sarasota, Florida in 2001.

Trivia

Gene Taylor wrote the words and music to Nina Simone's song "Why (The King of Love is Dead)" which was performed after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Gene Taylor spent time teaching music in New York public schools.

Early Life

Calvin Eugene "Gene" Taylor was born in 1929 in Toledo, Ohio. He began his career in Detroit, Michigan.