The Jazz Life of Dr. Billy Taylor

By Billy Taylor and Teresa L. Reed

Legendary jazz ambassador Dr. Billy Taylor's autobiography spans more than six decades, from the heyday of jazz on 52nd Street in 1940s New York City to CBS Sunday Morning. Taylor fought not only for the recognition of jazz music as "America's classical music" but also for the recognition of black musicians as key contributors to the American music repertoire. Peppered with anecdotes recalling encounters with other jazz legends such as Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, Art Tatum, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, and many others, The Jazz Life of Dr. Billy Taylor is not only the life story of a jazz musician and spokesman but also a commentary on racism and jazz as a social force.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Release date: Apr 18, 2013
• ISBN: 9780253009173

Billy Taylor

After graduating from film school, Billy Taylor worked as an electrician on Lifetime Network’s “Good Sex with Dr. Ruth.” Feeling a need to be closer to what was happening in front of the camera, Billy became a dolly grip and spent the next decade on dozens of movies and television programs including “Pee Wee’s Playhouse” and “My Cousin Vinny.” After a back injury ended his grip career he worked for a boutique Wall Street consulting firm. Tiring of that, he and his wife moved to South Central Texas where he began writing full time. He is now a stay-at-home dad and writes between diaper changes, which he finds surprisingly similar to much of the work he did while on the set of a film.