Eddie Taylor Jr.

Born around 1971 in Chicago, Illinois, Edward Taylor grew up in a household steeped in blues tradition. His father, Eddie Taylor, performed as a guitarist and vocalist across Chicago venues and served for several years as a key sideman alongside Jimmy Reed. The younger Taylor learned guitar by practicing on an instrument his father had set aside, and he soon began performing contemporary Chicago blues, steadily building a following through material rooted in the city’s longstanding stylistic conventions. His sets regularly feature such earlier numbers as Robert Johnson’s “Stop Breakin’ Down,” Muddy Waters’ “Clouds In My Heart,” Syl Johnson’s “Sock It To Me,” Ricky Allen’s “Cut You Loose,” Magic Sam’s “Easy Baby,” and Eddie Taylor’s own “I Feel So Bad.” He also composes original pieces, among them “Red Hot Mama,” “Groovin’ With Eddie,” “Worried About My Baby,” “Can’t Take It No More,” and “Trying To Play A Mind Game.”

Taylor’s brothers Tim and Larry both play drums, while his sisters Edna, Brenda, and Demetria sing, following the example of their late mother, Vera Taylor; all five siblings contributed to his 2006 album Mind Game. In 2002 his youngest brother, Milton, provided further support by donating a kidney during a period of serious illness. Additional players who have appeared in Taylor’s band include blues harpist Martin Lane and guitarist Johnny B. Moore. Beyond fronting his own group, Taylor has worked as a sideman for Moore, Little Arthur Duncan, Easy Baby, Willie Kent, and Hubert Sumlin. Once recovered from the transplant, he returned to an extensive touring schedule.