Sam Taylor (saxophonist)

Samuel Leroy Taylor, Jr. (July 12, 1916 – October 5, 1990),^[1] known as Sam "The Man" Taylor, was an American jazz, rhythm and blues, and blues tenor saxophonist.^[2]

Taylor was born in Lexington, Tennessee, United States.^[3] He attended Alabama State University, where he played with the Bama State Collegians. He later worked with Scatman Crothers, Cootie Williams, Lucky Millinder, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Buddy Johnson, Louis Jordan and Big Joe Turner.^[2] Taylor was one of the most requested session saxophone players in New York recording studios in the 1950s.^[2] He also replaced Count Basie as the house bandleader on Alan Freed's radio series, Camel Rock 'n Roll Dance Party, on CBS.

Taylor played the saxophone solo on Turner's "Shake, Rattle and Roll". He also played on "Harlem Nocturne"; on "Money Honey", recorded by Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters in 1953; and on "Sh-Boom" by the Chords.

During the 1960s, he led a five-piece band, the Blues Chasers. In the 1970s, he frequently played and recorded in Japan.^[2]

Taylor died in 1990 in Crawford Long Hospital, in Atlanta, Georgia, at the age of 74.

Discography

Blue Mist (MGM), 1955
Music with the Big Beat (MGM), 1956
Out Of This World (MGM), 1956
Rockin' Sax and Rollin' Organ, with Dick Hyman (MGM), 1957
Jazz for Commuters (MetroJazz), 1958
More Blue Mist (MGM), 1959
Mist of the Orient (MGM) E4066, 1962
In Japan (MGM) SMM-1019
The Bad and the Beautiful (Moodsville), 1962
Misty Mood (Decca), 1962
It's a Blue World (Decca), 1963
Watermelon Man, with Frank Hunter and the Huntsmen (Epic), 1963
Somewhere in the Night (Decca), 1964
A Musical Portrait of Ray Charles, with Leroy Holmes and his Orchestra (MGM)
Love You Tokyo (Crown), GW-7001 C.M.P. Nov. 1967
Ima Wa Shiawasekai (Crown) GW-7002 C.M.P. Dec. 1968
Hana to Namida (Crown) GW-7005 Dec. 1969
Koga Melodies: Best Collection (Pony Canyon), c. 1970
Eternal Standard (Pony Canyon), c. 1971
Bokyo Shiretokoryojo (Crown) GW-7015 C.M.P. Nov. 1971
Hit Melodies From Shi Retoko to Nagasaki (Crown) GW-7055 C.M.P., July 1973
Onna No Sadame (Crown), GW-7070 C.M.P., Nov. 1974
The Blue Mood of Sam Taylor (MCA) MCA-9050-511974
Song of Street (Crown), GW-20051-52, 1975
Mood Tenor Sax, with Yokouchi Shoji, Kosugi Jinsan Three (Crown), GW-20139-40, 1975
Sam (The Man) Taylor Vol. 1 (Crown), GW-20239-40, 1978
Standard Best Collection Vols. I & II (Japan), 1999
Bluesy Sam Taylor (Polydor), SMP-2004
Blue Light Yokohama (Polydor), SMP-2043