Tasha Taylor

Biography

Tasha Taylor, born Latasha Taylor in Kansas City, Missouri, and raised in Dallas, Texas, is the youngest daughter of pioneering R&B and soul artist Johnnie Taylor. Growing up immersed in music, she traveled with her family on tour as a child, watching legends like The Jackson 5, Natalie Cole, Sister Sledge, and Johnnie Guitar Watson perform alongside her father, who chose Dallas as a home base due to its location on his tour routes. She attended Boston University but left early to pursue music and acting in Los Angeles, establishing herself as a multifaceted talent in blues, soul, and R&B.

Taylor's career spans singing, songwriting, producing, and acting, with early TV roles in shows like Living Single, Family Matters, and Moesha in the 1990s, followed by guest spots on House and Ugly Betty, and indie films such as Dimples and Heaven Ain’t Hard to Find. Her music career took off with her debut solo album Revival in 2003, followed by Taylormade (2010), Honey for the Biscuit (2016), the EP Push & Pull (2019), and her latest release Soul Kitty (2024). She signed with Warner Chappell Music and Epic Records in 2000, and later Ruf Records in 2016, touring with Ruf's Blues Caravan (resulting in the 2016 live album), the Blues Brothers with Jim Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, and sharing stages with icons like Aretha Franklin, Taj Mahal, Susan Tedeschi, and Joe Bonamassa at festivals including Detroit Blues Festival and New Orleans Jazzfest. Nominated multiple times by the Los Angeles Black Music Awards in 2019, she won for Best Female R&B Performer and Best Music Performer.

Known for her raw, emotional blues and soul style influenced by her father's legacy and a broad range of artists from Prince to Michael Jackson, Taylor emphasizes storytelling over technical perfection. She has composed for TV shows like Men in Trees and Lipstick Jungle, co-produced the musical SOUL: THE STAX MUSICAL playing Mavis Staples, and was set for a Broadway debut as Margie Hendrix in Unchain My Heart (2011). Her work continues to evolve, blending personal songwriting with collaborations that honor blues traditions while pushing her artistic boundaries.

Fun Facts

• Taylor was slated to make her Broadway debut in 2011 as Margie Hendrix in the Ray Charles musical 'Unchain My Heart,' creating the role after funding efforts took it from Pasadena to New York.
• She co-produced and portrayed Mavis Staples in the original musical 'SOUL: THE STAX MUSICAL' at Baltimore Center Stage, teaming up with film producer Stuart Benjamin.
• Her father's tour bus was often parked in the family driveway in Dallas, allowing brief home time between tours, with Tasha frequently watching performances from the side of the stage.
• Taylor plays guitar and began writing songs without labeling genres, influenced by diverse artists like Prince, Madonna, Michael Jackson, and her father's music.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Johnnie Taylor - Father and pioneering R&B artist whose tours and music heavily influenced her early exposure and style (Duet on 'Ain’t That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)' (1996)) [Childhood through career start (1970s-1990s)]

Key Collaborators

• Tommy Castro - Featured vocalist on his album (The Devil You Know (including duet 'The Whale Have Swallowed Me'))
• Jim Belushi and Dan Aykroyd - Featured vocalist with The Blues Brothers live shows and tours (Blues Brothers engagements) [2004-present]
• Jack Mack and The Heart Attack - Regular live performances (Rhythm & Blues Revue shows) [2000s-2010s]
• Tom Hambridge - Songwriting sessions in Nashville (Songs for Honey for the Biscuit)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia