Chuck Taylor (Billboard writer and editor)
Encyclopedia
Chuck Taylor is an American music journalist. He was a writer and senior editor at Billboard magazine from 1995 to 2009. There, he held the titles of Senior Editor/Talent, Senior Writer, Radio Editor, columnist of AirWaves and, perhaps most notably, Single Reviews Editor since 1998; as well as Managing Editor of Top 40/AC for affiliated publication Billboard Radio Monitor, and senior editor/features and AC format editor for Billboard sister Radio & Records.
(journalism and speech/English), then lived and worked in Washington, D.C., for 11 years, including journalism jobs at the Washington Business Journal and Radio World.
In 2009, he signed on to co-author memoirs for Liz Derringer, the "rock wife" of musician Rick Derringer and an acclaimed music writer for such publications as Interview, Oui and High Times; and singer/songwriter Tinatin Japaridze, a native of the UUSR nation of Georgia, whose co-written Eurovision entry representing Iceland, "Is It True," came in second in the 2009 competition. It was sung by artist Yohanna. Both projects are aligned with literary agencies, with pending book publishing deals in 2010.
Taylor has written profiles for Billboard on numerous artists, including Celine Dion
, Britney Spears
, Diana Krall
, Elton John
, Sheena Easton
, Bette Midler
, James Taylor
, Tony Bennett
, Barry White
and Karen Carpenter
. In all, he has interviewed more than 400 entertainers and music executives. He also penned liner notes for "N Sync's Greatest Hits" and has been a regular contributor to Time-Life's multitude of themed music compilations.
He has been interviewed on an array of music and pop culture topics on such programs and networks as ABC's “20/20,” “CBS Evening News,” CNN FN, VH1's “Behind the Music,” MTV, BBC, A&E's Biography" and E!; and has been quoted in the New York Times, USA Today, TV Guide, People, Parade, Us, Entertainment Weekly and numerous others. He was extensively interviewed in the career manual, "How To Get A Job in the Music Industry," written in 2007 by Keith Hatschek.
Taylor's artist specialty over the past decade has been Céline Dion
. He has penned five front-page articles in Billboard about the singer, most recently for her 2007 "Taking Chances" disc, released Nov. 13. He wrote liner notes for the re-release of both Dion's "These Are Special Times" Christmas album and "A New Day Has Come" on Sony Records, and has been a media spokesman on VH1's "Behind the Music" and E!'s "True Hollywood Story" on Dion, and has been quoted in several publications regarding the artist, including The New York Times.
He is a voting member of NARAS (the Grammy Awards) and a published songwriter for Young Pals Music/BMI. His lyrical composition "Lost and Found," performed by Miz Metro, with music by Ayhan Sahin and Eve Nelson, was featured in an episode of MTV's "Made" in March 2008.
Broadcasting experience includes an on-air stint at country WWOD-AM/WKZZ-FM in Lynchburg, Virginia, his hometown, as well as voiceover work for commercials and theater. He hosted Billboard's weekly online countdown at billboardradio.com, from its inception in March 1998 through January 2006. The show was scripted by legendary Billboard veteran and author Fred Bronson.
He lives in Brooklyn Heights, New York.
Life
He graduated from James Madison UniversityJames Madison University
James Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
(journalism and speech/English), then lived and worked in Washington, D.C., for 11 years, including journalism jobs at the Washington Business Journal and Radio World.
In 2009, he signed on to co-author memoirs for Liz Derringer, the "rock wife" of musician Rick Derringer and an acclaimed music writer for such publications as Interview, Oui and High Times; and singer/songwriter Tinatin Japaridze, a native of the UUSR nation of Georgia, whose co-written Eurovision entry representing Iceland, "Is It True," came in second in the 2009 competition. It was sung by artist Yohanna. Both projects are aligned with literary agencies, with pending book publishing deals in 2010.
Taylor has written profiles for Billboard on numerous artists, including Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
, Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
, Diana Krall
Diana Krall
Diana Jean Krall, OC, OBC is a Canadian jazz pianist and singer, known for her contralto vocals. She has sold more than 6 million albums in the US and over 15 million worldwide; altogether, she has sold more albums than any other female jazz artist during the 1990s and 2000s...
, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, Sheena Easton
Sheena Easton
Sheena Easton is a Scottish recording artist. Easton became famous for being the focus of an episode in the British television programme The Big Time, which recorded her attempts to gain a record contract and her eventual signing with EMI Records.Easton rose to fame in the early 1980s with the pop...
, Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
, James Taylor
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
, Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
, Barry White
Barry White
Barry White, born Barry Eugene Carter , was an American composer and singer-songwriter.A five-time Grammy Award-winner known for his distinctive bass voice and romantic image, White's greatest success came in the 1970s as a solo singer and with the Love Unlimited Orchestra, crafting many enduring...
and Karen Carpenter
Karen Carpenter
Karen Anne Carpenter was an American singer and drummer. She and her brother, Richard, formed the 1970s duo The Carpenters. She was a drummer of exceptional skill, but she is best remembered for her vocal performances of idealistic romantic ballads of true love...
. In all, he has interviewed more than 400 entertainers and music executives. He also penned liner notes for "N Sync's Greatest Hits" and has been a regular contributor to Time-Life's multitude of themed music compilations.
He has been interviewed on an array of music and pop culture topics on such programs and networks as ABC's “20/20,” “CBS Evening News,” CNN FN, VH1's “Behind the Music,” MTV, BBC, A&E's Biography" and E!; and has been quoted in the New York Times, USA Today, TV Guide, People, Parade, Us, Entertainment Weekly and numerous others. He was extensively interviewed in the career manual, "How To Get A Job in the Music Industry," written in 2007 by Keith Hatschek.
Taylor's artist specialty over the past decade has been Céline Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
. He has penned five front-page articles in Billboard about the singer, most recently for her 2007 "Taking Chances" disc, released Nov. 13. He wrote liner notes for the re-release of both Dion's "These Are Special Times" Christmas album and "A New Day Has Come" on Sony Records, and has been a media spokesman on VH1's "Behind the Music" and E!'s "True Hollywood Story" on Dion, and has been quoted in several publications regarding the artist, including The New York Times.
He is a voting member of NARAS (the Grammy Awards) and a published songwriter for Young Pals Music/BMI. His lyrical composition "Lost and Found," performed by Miz Metro, with music by Ayhan Sahin and Eve Nelson, was featured in an episode of MTV's "Made" in March 2008.
Broadcasting experience includes an on-air stint at country WWOD-AM/WKZZ-FM in Lynchburg, Virginia, his hometown, as well as voiceover work for commercials and theater. He hosted Billboard's weekly online countdown at billboardradio.com, from its inception in March 1998 through January 2006. The show was scripted by legendary Billboard veteran and author Fred Bronson.
He lives in Brooklyn Heights, New York.