Matt Taylor (musician)
Encyclopedia
Matt Taylor is an Australian blues musician. He is best known for his work with long-lasting blues band Chain
and for the hit song "I Remember When I Was Young".
, Queensland
, in 1948. He grew up in a working-class family in the suburb of Spring Hill
. His father, who had emigrated from Liverpool
, was a tram-driver.
Taylor began listening to blues records in high school, and taught himself the guitar and harmonica. In February 1966 he joined the Bay City Union, one of Australia’s first electric blues bands. They moved to Melbourne in December 1966 and achieved some success playing in dance halls and clubs. They recorded a single "Mo’reen" and "Mary Mary" released on the Festival label in 1968. Among the other members of this band was Glenn Wheatley
, who was also their manager.
The Bay City Union broke up in May 1968. Taylor joined the Wild Cherries
in October 1968, but left the following month. During 1969 and 1970, he played with progressive heavy rock / blues bands Horse and Genesis.
From September 1970 to October 1971, Taylor was the front-man for the blues band Chain
, which had a hit single ("Black and Blue") and album ("Toward the Blues") during this period. He then quit the music industry and went to live on a commune led by Fred and Mary Robinson at Beechworth
.
In 1973 he returned to the music scene as a solo artist, releasing three albums over the next three years, and scoring a major hit with the single "I Remember When I Was Young". He was one of the first artists to record for Mushroom Records
, and was managed by Michael Gudinski
.
He moved to Balingup, Western Australia, in 1975, to re-join the Robinsons in a new commune, but was eventually expelled after serious disagreements emerged. He then formed a new band, Western Flyer, with a more country-flavoured sound. Western Flyer produced two albums and had some success between 1977 and 1979.
Since 1976, Taylor has lived in Perth, Western Australia
. He has continued to tour and record with various line-ups of Chain
, as well as releasing two solo albums and touring as a solo artist.
Taylor has played with a wide range of Australian artists, including: Phil Manning
, Dave Hole, Lucky Oceans, Broderick Smith, Lobby Loyde and Greg Lawrie. He has supported major American blues artists like B.B. King, Albert King, Freddie King, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Willie Dixon, Albert Collins.
Albert Collins said of him: “You play the blues, but it’s like no other blues I’ve ever heard in my life”.
In May 2010 Taylor was inducted into the WAM Hall of Fame.
KKKLK
Matt Taylor and Phil Manning Band
Matt Taylor Band
Matt Taylor Phil Manning Band
Chain (band)
Chain are an Australian blues band formed in Melbourne as The Chain in late 1968 with a lineup including guitarist, vocalist Phil Manning; they are sometimes known as Matt Taylor's Chain after lead singer-songwriter and harmonica player, Matt Taylor...
and for the hit song "I Remember When I Was Young".
Biography
Matt Taylor was born in BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, in 1948. He grew up in a working-class family in the suburb of Spring Hill
Spring Hill, Queensland
Spring Hill is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 2 km north of the central business district. Parts of Spring Hill can be considered to be extensions of the Brisbane CBD.-Schools:Spring Hill is serviced by a number of schools...
. His father, who had emigrated from Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, was a tram-driver.
Taylor began listening to blues records in high school, and taught himself the guitar and harmonica. In February 1966 he joined the Bay City Union, one of Australia’s first electric blues bands. They moved to Melbourne in December 1966 and achieved some success playing in dance halls and clubs. They recorded a single "Mo’reen" and "Mary Mary" released on the Festival label in 1968. Among the other members of this band was Glenn Wheatley
Glenn Wheatley
Glenn Dawson Wheatley is an Australian artist manager and entertainment industry executive.Wheatley began his career as a musician in Brisbane in the mid-1960s and in the late 1960s became nationally famous as a member of leading pop-rock band The Masters Apprentices...
, who was also their manager.
The Bay City Union broke up in May 1968. Taylor joined the Wild Cherries
Wild Cherries
The Wild Cherries was an Australian rock group, which started in late 1964 playing R&B and became "the most relentlessly experimental psychedelic band on the Melbourne discotheque / dance scene" according to commentator, Glenn A...
in October 1968, but left the following month. During 1969 and 1970, he played with progressive heavy rock / blues bands Horse and Genesis.
From September 1970 to October 1971, Taylor was the front-man for the blues band Chain
Chain (band)
Chain are an Australian blues band formed in Melbourne as The Chain in late 1968 with a lineup including guitarist, vocalist Phil Manning; they are sometimes known as Matt Taylor's Chain after lead singer-songwriter and harmonica player, Matt Taylor...
, which had a hit single ("Black and Blue") and album ("Toward the Blues") during this period. He then quit the music industry and went to live on a commune led by Fred and Mary Robinson at Beechworth
Beechworth, Victoria
Beechworth is a well-preserved historical town located in the north-east of Victoria, Australia, famous for its major growth during the gold rush days of the mid-1850s...
.
In 1973 he returned to the music scene as a solo artist, releasing three albums over the next three years, and scoring a major hit with the single "I Remember When I Was Young". He was one of the first artists to record for Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records is an Australian recoJrd company formed by Michael Gudinski and Ray Evans in Melbourne in 1972. After its sale in 1998, it merged into Festival Mushroom Records. From 2005 to 2009, it is one of the record labels operated by Warner Bros...
, and was managed by Michael Gudinski
Michael Gudinski
Michael Solomon Gudinski, AM is an Australian entrepreneur and businessman currently based in Melbourne who is a leading figure in the Australian music industry...
.
He moved to Balingup, Western Australia, in 1975, to re-join the Robinsons in a new commune, but was eventually expelled after serious disagreements emerged. He then formed a new band, Western Flyer, with a more country-flavoured sound. Western Flyer produced two albums and had some success between 1977 and 1979.
Since 1976, Taylor has lived in Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. He has continued to tour and record with various line-ups of Chain
Chain (band)
Chain are an Australian blues band formed in Melbourne as The Chain in late 1968 with a lineup including guitarist, vocalist Phil Manning; they are sometimes known as Matt Taylor's Chain after lead singer-songwriter and harmonica player, Matt Taylor...
, as well as releasing two solo albums and touring as a solo artist.
Taylor has played with a wide range of Australian artists, including: Phil Manning
Phil Manning (musician)
Philip John "Phil" Manning is an Australian blues singer-songwriter and guitarist. Manning has been a member of various groups including Chain and has had a solo career. As a member of Chain, Manning co-wrote their January 1971 single "Black and Blue", which became their only top 20 hit...
, Dave Hole, Lucky Oceans, Broderick Smith, Lobby Loyde and Greg Lawrie. He has supported major American blues artists like B.B. King, Albert King, Freddie King, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Willie Dixon, Albert Collins.
Albert Collins said of him: “You play the blues, but it’s like no other blues I’ve ever heard in my life”.
In May 2010 Taylor was inducted into the WAM Hall of Fame.
Albums
Matt Taylor (Solo)KKKLK
- Straight as a Die - MushroomMushroom RecordsMushroom Records is an Australian recoJrd company formed by Michael Gudinski and Ray Evans in Melbourne in 1972. After its sale in 1998, it merged into Festival Mushroom Records. From 2005 to 2009, it is one of the record labels operated by Warner Bros...
(L 34955) (August 1973) - Music - Mushroom (L 35229) (August 1974)
- Old, New, Intuitive - Mushroom (L 35609) (September 1975)
- Trouble In The Wind - Walls To McGoo Collectors Range (No.9) (1992)
- Pyramids and Spirals - Newmarket Music (March 1995)
- The Awakening - Forever (5FORCDS) (1997)
Matt Taylor and Phil Manning Band
- Oz Blues - Full Moon (FML 12002) (June 1981)
Matt Taylor Band
- Always Land On Your Feet - Forever (February 1983)
- No Trouble at All - (2008)
Singles
Matt Taylor (Solo)- "I Remember When I Was Young"/"Krishna Loves You Too" - Mushroom (K-5251) (September 1973)
- "Fair Dinkum Aussie Blues"/"Alone" - Mushroom (K-5514) (May 1974)
- "Somebody Stole My Hair"/"Hound Dog Dust Bag" - Mushroom (K-6092) (September 1975)
Matt Taylor Phil Manning Band
- "Spring Hill"/"The Line" - (1981)
Further reading
- Burrows, Toby, and Phil Riseborough. I Remember When I Was Young: the Matt Taylor Story. Nedlands, W.A.: The Hilliard Press, 2009. ISBN 978-1-4092-9421-4