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Melvin Taylor

Melvin TaylorMelvin TaylorMelvin Taylor

Melvin Taylor

Melvin TaylorMelvin TaylorMelvin Taylor

About

Mural of Melvin Taylor at Chicago Midway Airport

Born to Play Guitar


Melvin Taylor is one of the greatest guitarists in the history of rock, blues, and jazz. He is often referred to as a guitar players guitarist. 

This self taught master was influenced by many of history's true guitar pioneers including - Albert King, Jimmy Reed, Wes Montgomery, and Jimi Hendrix.  He has appeared on the same ticket with Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carlos Santana, George Benson, Buddy Guy, and BB King.

Melvin is a prolific composer,  producer and recording artist, in addition to being a seasoned live performer who has entertained audiences around the world with his virtuoso guitar style and breathtaking solos. His love of music shines through as he crosses over many genres mixing fluid jazz, blues, rock and soulful styles that create his unique sound. 

Melvin continues to thrill and entertain audiences around the globe.

Melvin Taylor, Eddie Shaw, Serge Rahoerson, B.B. King, Rolf Bührer Photo credit: Serge Rahoerson

Music Mentors

Melvin Taylor was born in 1959 in Jackson, Mississippi. His musical roots however have always been in Chicago, where he moved with his family when he was 3 years old. The proverbial musical prodigy, started playing guitar at age 6. He learned from his uncle Floyd Vaughan, and his great aunt, Rosetta Tharpe. Melvin was influenced and inspired by some of the world’s greatest blues players, many of whom lived in or near his Chicago neighborhood.

By the age of twelve, he was working in clubs. He taught himself slide playing, finger-picking, and flat-picking styles from listening to his favorite artists.  By the time he was a teenager, Melvin’s incredible ability and unique style was already grabbing attention on Maxwell Street. In 1980, he joined veterans Pinetop Perkins, and Willie “Big Eyes”  Smith of the Muddy Waters Band to form the Legendary Blues Band and tour Europe. Melvin made an immediate impact on the European circuit, and while in France, he cut his first two albums - Blues on the Run(1982), and Plays the Blues for You (1984).

Following his return to the US, Melvin recorded four additional CD’s for Evidence Music - Bang That Bell (1999), Dirty Pool (2002), Melvin Taylor and the Slack Band (2003), and Rendezvous With the Blues (2004).


Amazing technical proficiency, an impeccable sense of timing and phrasing, with full rich tones and a texture all his own, have placed Taylor firmly in the upper echelon of the world’s six string masters. Taylor is embarking on a career where few have the chops to follow.

Melvin Taylor on the Stairway To Blues Heaven in the historic Chess Records building.

Melvin Taylor on the Stairway To Blues Heaven in the historic Chess Records building. Photo credit: Eric Kriesant


Honorable Mentions


"One of the most exhilarating blues guitarists to emerge in the past decade 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

"This isn't just a 2-CD set of some unbelievable guitar work from a long-esteemed player of truly formidable skill but rather a treasury that proves beyond doubt that Melvin Taylor needs to be placed within the museum of the guitar greats: Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Chet Atkins, Frank Zappa, Earl Klugh, Jim Hall, Leo Kottke, Robert Fripp, Grant Green, Pat Metheny, all of 'em, regardless of style and genre."

-Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange about "Beyond the Burning Guitar"


"Taylor is blessed with the ability for fast and efficient runs, clean and with minimal distortion. He has full command over his instrument. What sets Taylor apart, is the way he hears sound. He has a keen lyrical sense and natural feel for melody."

-CriticalJazz.com about "Beyond the Burning Guitar"

Along with bassist Harlan Lee Terson, Melvin toured with the Chicago Blues Giants in 1982. Other band members, Lefty Dizz, Eddie Shaw and Ken Saydak.

-~ Noted in biography of Harlan Lee Terson - SOLID! Electric Bass

"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 wild man abandon and his trusty wa-wa pedal."

-Jazz Times



Melvin Taylor, Willie Love, Carlos Santana, Curtis Laybon

"Happiness is not a destination or an experience. It's a decision." 

 Carlos Santana

Shows

3/10/2023

Melvin Taylor's Birthday Celebration at Rosa's! - Chicago

9pm

Chicago, Illinois

Event Details

3/10/2023

Melvin Taylor's Birthday Celebration at Rosa's! - Chicago

Join us to celebrate Melvin Taylor's birthday with an evening of Blues at Rosa's Lounge.

For more information visit 

RosasLounge.com

9pm

Chicago, Illinois

3/23/2023

Melvin Taylor at Space - Evanston

8pm

Evanston, Illinois

Event Details

3/23/2023

Melvin Taylor at Space - Evanston

Join Melvin Taylor for an evening of Blues at Space.

For more information visit 

Evanstonspace.com

8pm

Evanston, Illinois

4/1/2023

Melvin Taylor at Rosa's Lounge - Chicago

9pm

Chicago, Illinois

Event Details

4/1/2023

Melvin Taylor at Rosa's Lounge - Chicago

Join Melvin Taylor for an evening of Blues at Rosa's Lounge.

For more information visit 

RosasLounge.com

9pm

Chicago, Illinois

4/4/2023

Melvin Taylor at Fitzgerald's - Berwyn

7pm

Berwyn, Illinois

Event Details

4/4/2023

Melvin Taylor at Fitzgerald's - Berwyn

Join Melvin Taylor at Fitzgerald's for WDCB Bluesday Tuesday with Tom Marker and an evening of Blues!

For more information visit Fitzgeraldsn...

Event Details

7pm

Berwyn, Illinois

4/24/2023

Melvin Taylor booked for Private Event

4/24/2023

Melvin Taylor booked for Private Event

More Events

Congratulations to John Mayall on his Grammy nominated album

John Mayall's new album The Sun is Shining Down!

I had a wonderful time touring with the great John Mayall!

Check out John's new GRAMMY nominated album, The Sun Is Shining Down! 

Featuring some great guest artists, including me on two tracks!


Listen to Melvin Taylor

Stream music and playlists with SoundCloud and wow your visitors with your tunes.

Video

Blue Jean Blues

Dirty Pool

Live from the historic Chess Records Studio

Melvin Taylor performs LIVE from Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation at the historic Chess Records studio in Chicago as part of 

(DE)TOUR Virtual Music Festival.

Star Spangled Blues

Photo Gallery

    Past Appearances

      TOURS

      March 18, 2022 - April 3, 2022

      We are pleased to announce Melvin Taylor's March European Tour!

      Event Details

      March 18, 2022 - April 3, 2022

      We are pleased to announce Melvin Taylor's March European Tour!

      18 March - Le Sonograf - Le Thor, France

      19 March - Le Jam - Montpellier, France

      21 March - Le Blues Autor Du Zinc - Beauvais, France

      24 March ...

      Event Details

      Melvin Taylor and the John Mayall on Tour!

      Event Details

      Melvin Taylor and the John Mayall on Tour!

      I had a great time with John Mayall helping him kick off the first length of his tour! It was an honor to play with him and I wish him all t...

      Event Details

      Social

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