One of the most exhilarating blues guitarists to emerge in the past decade...[he} is more a blues innovator than a purist, mixing jazz chords and rock influences into his tapestry of electric blues.
__Rolling Stone Magazine
A volcanic guitarist...the sort of virtuosity that drags an audience into a world of risks and chances and excitement.
__The New York Times
Taylor's arsenal consists of blinding speed, a feverish wah-wah pedal, a range of tones that leaps from groans to squeals, and notes bent so dramatically that his guitar sounds like it's retching. Taylor succeeds because he's a virtuoso who pushes the limits of his own skills.
__Living Blues Magazine
Taylor throws off incredibly intricate runs and wrings impossible textures and
tones out his of hollow-body with a casualness that belies his virtuosity.
__Knight Ridder Papers
Taylor's weapons are his dizzying speed, his sweeping runs, his wildman abandon
and his trusty wah-wah pedal. He stuns with both.
__Jazz Times
Influences
Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters, BB King, Albert King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, George Benson, Albert Collins, Wes Montgomery, "Pinetop" Perkins, Carlos Santana, Robert Johnson
Melvin Taylor is a Blues/Jazz/Rock guitar virtuoso and unique performer. To describe a talent such as Melvin, one would have to list – amazing, skillful, dazzling, and eclectic or an even more concise definition of, phenomenal. His explosive and erupting blues-based rock style mixed with fuzz-tone rock licks and smooth jazz runs leaves you wanting to connect him with such greats as B.B. King, Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimi Hendrix. As several critics have written, Melvin Taylor is “a volcanic guitarist…”; “…he can also rock hard and has enough sensitivity for jazz.” His execution of lightening speed runs, infused with jazz embellishments reminiscent of Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Jimi Hendrix, and Kenny Burell are mind boggling. The most dynamic aspect of his sound is his ability to combine so many of these styles into well constructed solos causing his own unique interpretation.
Melvin Taylor was born in 1959 in Jackson, Mississippi. His father moved north to Chicago when Melvin was three years old looking to provide a better life for his family. The move introduced Melvin to the melting pot of Blues, Jazz, Rock n’ Roll and R&B early on. As a young boy into his teens and young adult life, he began performing on Maxwell Street as well as clubs for local up and coming headliners in and around the Chicago area.
Growing up in the Taylor home, Melvin’s first influences came from his grandmother who played guitar; his mother’s twin brother played guitar, as well as most of his uncles. In fact, it was his uncle that put a guitar in his hands at a very young age. He watched, listened and paid close attention to his family that was immersed in music and whose roots were planted in the blues. Drawn to the sounds of the sixties and seventies, there was no way getting around the love and desire which surrounded him. Blues was his passion. As he grew, so did the creative genius. When he realized his ability to merge the Blues with other genres of music, Melvin Taylor created the unique sound of Melvin Taylor.
When Joe Willie "Pinetop" Perkins came looking for a guitarist for his European tour, Melvin seized the opportunity and joined the Legendary Blues Band for a year making an impact in the European circuit. While in France he cut two albums, Blues on The Run in 1982 and Plays the Blues For You in 1984. Both very popular in Europe. An established musician throughout Europe, Melvin Taylor is now under new management, Make It Happen Productions (“MIH”) is heading toward a new journey in his life, a road to provide audiences throughout the U.S., Canada, South America and Europe with a newer more refined and revised virtuoso performer. Melvin takes his audience into a transcendental ride through a myriad of shifting moods, slides and tempos. Look for Melvin Taylor’s new CD to excite, ignite, setting a new milestone of 21st century entertainment.
CLOWNFACE is in the house!! hey, i've got this craving for some "WHO KNOWS" video up in here...pretty-pretty-pretty please! (once Mr. Hendix hears about that, i'll bet he'll open his eyes and smile) anyhow, sorry you got stuck w/ our tab (that kinda stuff happens sometimes) but next time i'll make it up to you--DOUBLE! LOVE YA! XO
Thank you very much for letting me join your circle of friends. I hope to see you out on the road real soon. Keep the blues alive and keep on keeping the faith! Peace and Love! Shirley King, Daughter of The Blues
