Eddie Taylor was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was born on January 29, 1923, and died on December 25, 1985.

Biography

Edward Taylor was born in Benoit, Mississippi. As a young boy, he taught himself to play the guitar. In his early years, he played at places in Leland, Mississippi, where he taught his friend Jimmy Reed to play the guitar. His guitar style was based on the Mississippi Delta tradition. In 1948, Taylor moved to Chicago, Illinois.

Although Taylor did not become as famous as some other musicians in the Chicago blues scene after World War II, he was an important part of that time. He is especially known for being a musical partner for Jimmy Reed. He also worked with John Lee Hooker, Big Walter Horton, Sam Lay, and others. Earwig Music Company recorded him with Kansas City Red and Big John Wrencher for the album Original Chicago Blues. Later, he teamed up with Earring George Mayweather and recorded several songs, including "You'll Always Have a Home" and "Don't Knock at My Door." Some of these songs were released as singles, such as "Big Town Playboy" and "Bad Boy," which were popular in the 1950s. However, most of Taylor's singles were not widely successful.

In the 1970s, Taylor took part in the American Blues Legends '74 tour of Europe, organized by Big Bear Records. He appeared on the album of the same name and also recorded a solo album called Ready For Eddie.

Later, during a period when he was partly retired, Taylor was the lead guitarist for Peter Dames and the Chicago River Blues Band, which later became known as Peter Dames and the Rhythm Flames.

Taylor played lead guitar on several songs, including the title track, on the album Be Careful How You Vote by Sunnyland Slim. He also performed live with Sunnyland Slim on some tour dates in the 1980s.

Taylor’s wife, Vera, was a singer and songwriter. She was the niece of two blues musicians, Eddie "Guitar" Burns and Jimmy Burns. Taylor’s son, Eddie Taylor Jr., was a blues guitarist in Chicago. His stepson, Larry Taylor, is a blues drummer and vocalist, and his daughter, Demetria, is a blues vocalist in Chicago.

Taylor died on Christmas Day in 1985 in Chicago at the age of 62. He was buried in Restvale Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame after his death in 1987.

Discography

• 1958: "I'm Jimmy Reed" – Jimmy Reed (Vee-Jay)
• 1959: "I'm John Lee Hooker" – John Lee Hooker (Vee-Jay)
• 1967: "Soulin'" – Jimmy Reed (BluesWay)
• 1968: "Big Boss Man" – Jimmy Reed (BluesWay)
• 1969: "Carey Bell's Blues Harp" – Carey Bell (Delmark)
• 1969: "Down in Virginia" – Jimmy Reed (BluesWay)
• 1972: "Big Walter Horton with Carey Bell" – Big Walter Horton and Carey Bell (Alligator)
• 1973: "Last Night" – Carey Bell (BluesWay)
• 1975: "Street Talkin'" (Muse 5087), a collection of Vee Jay recordings, including seven songs by Elmore James and seven by Taylor
• 1981: "Big Town Playboy" (Charly 1015), a collection of Vee Jay recordings released under Taylor's name, except for "Good Hearted"