Sam "The Man" Taylor

Sam "The Man" Taylor earned recognition as a certified honking sax legend whose relentless drive and sheer power aligned seamlessly with swing, blues, and R&B recording dates. His enormous tone, impeccable timing, flair for drama, and boundless energy defined his approach. In the late '30s Taylor joined Scat Man Crothers and the Sunset Royal Orchestra. Early in the following decade he performed alongside Cootie Williams and Lucky Millinder before spending six years in Cab Calloway's band, during which he traveled through South America and the Caribbean. Throughout the '50s Taylor became the preferred saxophonist for numerous R&B sessions, appearing on dates with Ray Charles, Buddy Johnson, Louis Jordan, and Big Joe Turner, among others, as well as with Ella Fitzgerald and Sy Oliver. In the '60s he fronted his own groups and cut material with the quintet the Blues Chasers. One of his late-'50s sessions, featuring Charlie Shavers and Urbie Green, remains available on CD.