otis taylor

Biography

Otis Taylor was born in Chicago in 1948 and moved to Denver as a child after his uncle was shot to death, growing up in a household where his parents were jazz fans.[1][3][5] Inspired by the Denver Folklore Center founded by Harry Tuft, he discovered Piedmont, Delta, country, and Chicago blues artists like Son House, Muddy Waters, and Mississippi Fred McDowell, learning guitar and harmonica in his teens.[1][2][4] He formed his first band, the Butterscotch Fire Department, followed by the Otis Taylor Blues Band, and briefly pursued opportunities in London with Blue Horizon Records in the late 1960s before returning to Boulder to play with artists like Tommy Bolin in T&O Short Line, Zephyr, and the 4-Nikators.[1][2][7]

In 1977, Taylor left music amid industry changes, building a successful career as a high-end antiques dealer and coaching one of the first African American bicycle racing teams, which ranked 4th nationally.[1][3][5] He returned in 1995 at the urging of bassist Kenny Passarelli, performing at Buchanan’s coffeehouse in Boulder with Passarelli and Eddie Turner, leading to his debut album When Negroes Walked the Earth (1997), praised as 'minimalist blues in the John Lee Hooker mode.'[1][4] His breakthrough White African (2001) addressed personal themes like his great-grandfather's lynching, earning four W.C. Handy Award nominations and 'Best New Artist Debut,' while developing his 'trance blues' style blending rhythmic guitar, banjo, mandolin, and harmonica with lyrics on racism, poverty, murder, and redemption.[1][3][5]

Taylor's career includes a 2000 Sundance Composers Lab fellowship, music for Hollywood films and TV, and albums like Definition of a Circle (2007, named Blues CD of the Year by Downbeat with Gary Moore) and Recapturing the Banjo (2008) highlighting black banjoists such as Keb’ Mo’, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Don Vappie, Guy Davis, and Corey Harris.[1][3] He founded the Trance Blues Festival in Boulder in 2010 and has released 15 albums as of 2023's Banjo, earning multiple Blues Music Awards and international recognition for pushing blues forward.[3][6][8]

Fun Facts

• Taylor briefly signed with Blue Horizon Records in London but parted ways due to creative differences, despite the label's work with early Fleetwood Mac.[1][2]
• He coached and funded one of the first African American bicycle racing teams, which ranked 4th nationally with two of the best African-American riders.[1][5]
• Upon receiving a Sundance Composers Lab fellowship in 2000, Taylor said, 'I feel like I just won the Miss America pageant.'[1]
• His great-grandfather was lynched, a personal history explored in songs on White African (2001).[1][5]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Son House - stylistic inspiration from Delta blues (heard at Denver Folklore Center) [early 1960s]
• Muddy Waters - Chicago blues influence (heard at Denver Folklore Center) [early 1960s]
• Mississippi Fred McDowell - early blues inspiration (heard at Denver Folklore Center) [early 1960s]
• Harry Tuft - founder of Denver Folklore Center providing early exposure (N/A) [1960s]

Key Collaborators

• Tommy Bolin - bandmate in T&O Short Line (T&O Short Line concerts) [1970]
• Kenny Passarelli - bass player urging return to music and producer (White African (2001)) [1995-2001]
• Eddie Turner - guitarist at return performance (Buchanan’s coffeehouse opening) [1995]
• Gary Moore - guest lead guitar (Definition of a Circle (2007)) [2007]
• Keb’ Mo’ - black banjo player collaborator (Recapturing the Banjo (2008)) [2008]
• Alvin Youngblood Hart - black banjo player collaborator (Recapturing the Banjo (2008)) [2008]
• Don Vappie - black banjo player collaborator (Recapturing the Banjo (2008)) [2008]
• Guy Davis - black banjo player collaborator (Recapturing the Banjo (2008)) [2008]
• Corey Harris - black banjo player collaborator (Recapturing the Banjo (2008)) [2008]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Ten Million Slaves (Recapturing The Banjo)
2. Ten Million Slaves (Otis Taylor Collection)
3. Nasty Letter (Otis Taylor Collection)
4. Nasty Letter (Truth Is Not Fiction)
5. Resurrection Blues (White African)
6. Buy Myself Some Freedom (Otis Taylor Collection)
7. Hey Joe (A) (Hey Joe Opus Red Meat)
8. Hey Joe (Recapturing The Banjo)
9. Live Your Life (Recapturing The Banjo)
10. My World Is Gone (My World Is Gone)

External Links

• Spotify