Bio: TASHA TAYLOR
Pedigree will tell—in rhythm and soul, it’s bred in the bone.
Tasha Taylor, the youngest daughter of pioneering R&B artist, Johnnie Taylor is having a breakout year with the release of her first solo CD, TAYLORMADE.
And the magic will continue into 2011, when Tasha will make her Broadway debut, creating the role of Margie Hendrix in “Unchain My Heart,” the new musical based on the life and music of Ray Charles, set to open in the spring.
An entertainment triple threat, Tasha is a multi-talented musician, actor and performer. As a musician she is the complete package, an accomplished singer, songwriter, musician and now, the executive producer of TAYLORMADE.
One of Stax Records’ major artists, Johnnie Taylor, remained on the road for four decades.
“I just remember being on the side of the stage…A LOT!” remembers Tasha. “Watching dad work shows with so many great artists…The Jackson 5, Natalie Cole, Sister Sledge, Johnnie Guitar Watson…and so many others over the years.”
Johnnie chose Dallas, Texas, Tasha’s childhood home, as home base because it was smack dab in the path of his winter and summer tours. Dallas provided the opportunity to spend some time at home with his family, parking the tour bus in the back driveway.
Dallas gave up everything it had to offer, and subsequently Tasha moved to the northeast, enrolling in the Theater Department at Boston University. After semesters of polish and Shakespearean training, Tasha recommitted herself to follow her father’s muse. Was Hollywood or New York going to be her new home? A flip of a coin sent her west.
Within a relatively brief time, she acquired on the job training, and the accoutrements of an entertainment career, coaches, agents, managers, producers, the gamut of services available to those who come to town with Talent.
Tasha adds, “My dad always told me that it was called show business for a reason. It’s 90% business and 10% show. If you don’t know your business…you’re in trouble!”
She has been busy as a featured guest on acclaimed network fare such as “House,” and “Ugly Betty,” and in indie films, “Dimples” and “Heaven Ain’t Hard to Find.” As a composer, her original music has been featured on “Men In Trees” and “Lipstick Jungle.” Tasha also performs live in concert, showcasing her fabulous voice in venues as diverse as the Detroit Blues Festival, New Orleans’ Jazzfest and for Friends of New Orleans at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
She has shared the bill with rhythm, blues and soul icons such as Aretha Franklin, Allen Toussaint, Taj Mahal, Carla Thomas, Susan Tedeschi and Buckwheat Zydeco, and Voice of the Wetlands—Tab Benoit and Donald Harrison. She also performs regularly with Jim Belushi and Dan Aykroyd in their Blues Brothers engagements and on the road with Jack Mack and The Heart Attack.
This year Tasha hooked up with producers Stuart Benjamin, Rob Arbittier and Gary Adante and headed for the recording studio to cut a new soul album in loving memory of her dad who passed away in 2000. Employing some of the hippest, heavy-duty cats she could wrangle, with award-winning bassist Nate Watts as musical director, the result, TAYLORMADE, is thirteen, funky, unforgettable tracks, written, co-produced, arranged and performed by Tasha Taylor including a badass “Merry Christmas Baby” coming out in October, just in time for the holiday season. There is only one cover song on Tasha’s incredible album. On it, she duets with her father Johnnie, in a throwback to his first million-selling hit on Stax, “Who’s Making Love,” who even accompanies her on the video!
You can’t stop the rhythm of the music if the beat is in your soul. The lineage remains intact…and Daddy would be proud. So, if you haven’t heard of Tasha Taylor yet, you should have. And after TAYLORMADE and her Broadway debut…you will!
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Tasha Taylor / Blog
Tasha Taylor releases : 'I Got Love'
"I GOT LOVE" FROM TASHA TAYLOR'S TAYLORMADE CD RELEASED TO URBAN AC . First single from Album was Urban Radio Top 10 Favorite
Los Angeles CA, - "I Got Love," the second single from the CD TAYLORMADE, by Tasha Taylor, is being released to Urban AC Radio. The youngest daughter of Stax Soul Icon Johnnie Taylor, released her sophomore album this summer and "Queen," the premiere single from the album, was #1 most added upon release. A live performance video to "I Got Love" is now available for viewing at TashaTaylor.com and at YouTube/TashaTaylor. There are no auto-tuned vocals here! Radio.com raves "Resounding vocal power found in Taylormade...Taylor would make any parent proud with vocal power that packs an R&B soul-stirring punch!...Tasha Taylor is truly an example of offspring who has taken talent to the next level...and when it comes to the next generation of blues, R&B and Soul, then there is little to worry about, as long as Tasha Taylor stands at the helm." New Jersey PD Arthur Shorter adds, "Listening to Tasha Taylor...Real instruments, Real singing...it's like a breath of fresh air!" Tasha's music is infused with the spirit of her legendary father and TAYLORMADE includes a funky duet by "Taylor and Taylor" - daughter and father-reprising Johnnie's first million-selling Stax Records' hit, "Who's Making Love." Tasha has been tagged as a New! Artist to Watch by Clear Channel and has been featured on AOL/Spinner, MSN Music and CBS Radio Station websites throughout the summer. Tasha executive produced the album this summer at Noisy Neighbors Studio in Los Angeles with Stuart Benjamin, Rob Arbittier and Gary Adante producing. Award-winning bassist Nathan Watts was musical director of the impeccable tracks which feature Tasha Taylor on lead and background vocals, guitars and keys; Kerry Griffin on drums; Kyle Bolden and Jon Taylor on guitar, Rahn Coleman, Roman Johnson, Rob Arbittier and Mike Finnigan on keys, Kevin Ricard on percussion; and Joey Berkley, Zane Musa, Stephan Baxter, Nolan Shaheed, Brian Pareschi and Gerard Carelli on horns. TAYLORMADE is available at Amazon.com, CDBaby and iTunes. You can hear "I Got Love" at SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/tashataylor/sets/tasha-taylor-taylormade-album/. Contact: prpgroup@aol.com for broadcast quality files. Follow Tasha on: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tashataylormusic YouTube:
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Tasha Taylor /Soul Train Interview
Sound Check: Tasha Taylor – Taylormade posted in Culture at Oct 22, 2010
tasha_taylorThe scion of one of Soul Train’s favorite Soul Men is making way for her sound to be heard. Tasha Taylor, daughter of Johnnie Taylor has been tasked with the chore of carrying the torch of the man whose hits include “Disco Lady”, while defining herself as an individual. What better way to walk the line than to take another of his most popular songs, put your own spin on it, but make the video a duet? Tasha’s rendition of “Who’s Making Love” takes an already grooving, bluesy jam and throws her own soul-seasoning into the mix. Not a single ounce of flavor is lost as her powerful voice resonates over the synths and horns.
Tasha, her brother and her mother spent years on the road with Johnnie, but later settled in Dallas, Texas to enjoy a more conventional childhood. Though Johnnie only had an 8th grade education himself, he took pride in the fact that he was able to send his children to a posh private school where their creative interests could be fostered. With a musician as a dad and mother who was a former model and actress, showbiz beckoned the Taylor kids. Keeping music close to her heart, Tasha studied theater throughout school, becoming a President’s Scholar.
Her hard work and passion paid off in the form of two albums, 2005’s Revival and this year’s effort, Taylormade. Tasha was waiting to take delivery of the first run of Taylormade the day of our interview–an exciting day for any indie artist. Add into the mix that her first run on Broadway kicks off in early 2011 and you’ve got a woman who’s ready to show the world how talented she really is.
SoulTrain.com: What was it like growing up as a child of a Soul music icon?
Tasha Taylor: Ooh, good question. It was very cool in a lot of ways and it was challenging in a lot of ways. You know my dad was on the road all the time so it definitely affected our family unit. And then both my brother and I are musician/singer/songwriters so it is just kind of interesting how each of us had a different relationship with my dad and his music when we each got involved in the road show at different levels as we got older. But as kids it was me, my mom, my dad, and my brother kind of traveling around as a family and that was really cool but also really hard for my mom. At a certain point we decided to stay home and he went on the road and that became an interesting dynamic for our family. But he’s my biggest hero; I mean musically I listen to him more than anyone else. It was always, singing was always a job until I was like 11 or 12 I started listening to his music like what’s the big deal? What does he do again?
SoulTrain.com: That was actually my next question, because growing up your like okay, yeah that’s my mom, that’s my dad, whatever, shrug. But I was going to ask at what point did it register that he was kind of a big deal?
Tasha Taylor: Like around 11 or 12, I guess. It lead to an understanding that he was a big deal, but more what is his music, what is he doing and what do I think about it? [I thought] let me actually take some of it and do some research and begin studying his stuff. Immediately I found things that I loved and it was newer stuff and then I started getting into the blues stuff that was like way before my time, that I didn’t know about that I really, really love. Mostly the oldest stuff is my favorite stuff of his–of my dad’s. At about 13 or 14 I started writing songs and I started listening to him probably right before that–musically at least, I never listened to the advisement that he gave me because he’s my dad, what does he know? (Laughs) I mean that’s not totally true…
Visit Tasha online at Tashataylor.com and check out the video for “Who’s Making Love.” Right now, here’s her single “Queen”.
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TAYLORMADE
Bio: TASHA TAYLOR
Pedigree will tell—in rhythm and soul, it’s bred in the bone. Tasha Taylor, the youngest daughter of pioneering R&B artist, Johnnie Taylor is having a breakout year with the release of her first solo CD, TAYLORMADE. And the magic will continue into 2011, when Tasha will make her Broadway debut, creating the role of Margie Hendrix in “Unchain My Heart,” the new musical based on the life and music of Ray Charles, set to open in the spring. An entertainment triple threat, Tasha is a multi-talented musician, actor and performer. As a musician she is the complete package, an accomplished singer, songwriter, musician and now, the executive producer of TAYLORMADE. One of Stax Records’ major artists, Johnnie Taylor, remained on the road for four decades.
“I just remember being on the side of the stage…A LOT!” remembers Tasha. “Watching dad work shows with so many great artists…The Jackson 5, Natalie Cole, Sister Sledge, Johnnie Guitar Watson…and so many others over the years.” Johnnie chose Dallas, Texas, Tasha’s childhood home, as home base because it was smack dab in the path of his winter and summer tours. Dallas provided the opportunity to spend some time at home with his family, parking the tour bus in the back driveway. Dallas gave up everything it had to offer, and subsequently Tasha moved to the northeast, enrolling in the Theater Department at Boston University. After semesters of polish and Shakespearean training, Tasha recommitted herself to follow her father’s muse. Was Hollywood or New York going to be her new home? A flip of a coin sent her west. Within a relatively brief time, she acquired on the job training, and the accoutrements of an entertainment career, coaches, agents, managers, producers, the gamut of services available to those who come to town with Talent. Tasha adds, “My dad always told me that it was called show business for a reason. It’s 90% business and 10% show. If you don’t know your business…you’re in trouble!” She has been busy as a featured guest on acclaimed network fare such as “House,” and “Ugly Betty,” and in indie films, “Dimples” and “Heaven Ain’t Hard to Find.” As a composer, her original music has been featured on “Men In Trees” and “Lipstick Jungle.” Tasha also performs live in concert, showcasing her fabulous voice in venues as diverse as the Detroit Blues Festival, New Orleans’ Jazzfest and for Friends of New Orleans at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. She has shared the bill with rhythm, blues and soul icons such as Aretha Franklin, Allen Toussaint, Taj Mahal, Carla Thomas, Susan Tedeschi and Buckwheat Zydeco, and Voice of the Wetlands—Tab Benoit and Donald Harrison. She also performs regularly with Jim Belushi and Dan Aykroyd in their Blues Brothers engagements and on the road with Jack Mack and The Heart Attack. This year Tasha hooked up with producers Stuart Benjamin, Rob Arbittier and Gary Adante and headed for the recording studio to cut a new soul album in loving memory of her dad who passed away in 2000. Employing some of the hippest, heavy-duty cats she could wrangle, with award-winning bassist Nate Watts as musical director, the result, TAYLORMADE, is thirteen, funky, unforgettable tracks, written, co-produced, arranged and performed by Tasha Taylor including a badass “Merry Christmas Baby” coming out in October, just in time for the holiday season. There is only one cover song on Tasha’s incredible album. On it, she duets with her father Johnnie, in a throwback to his first million-selling hit on Stax, “Who’s Making Love,” who even accompanies her on the video! You can’t stop the rhythm of the music if the beat is in your soul. The lineage remains intact…and Daddy would be proud. So, if you haven’t heard of Tasha Taylor yet, you should have. And after TAYLORMADE and her Broadway debut…you will!
Reply