Tut Taylor
Encyclopedia
Tut Taylor is an American
bluegrass
musician.
Taylor played banjo
and mandolin
as a child, and began playing dobro
at age 14, learning to use the instrument with a distinctive flat-picking style. Taylor was a member of The Folkswingers in the 1960s, who released three LPs; he recorded his debut solo effort in 1964. Later in the 1960s, he played with the Dixie Gentlemen
and in John Hartford
's Aero-Plain band.
Taylor became a local Nashville, Tennessee
fixture. In 1970, he co-founded the instrument shop GTR there, soon after releasing another solo album. He also co-founded the Old Time Pickin' Parlor, a Nashville venue noted for performances of old-time music
, as well as Tut Taylor's General Store.
In a March, 1992 interview, Neil Young
reported having bought Hank Williams' Martin D-28 Guitar from Tut Taylor.
At the Grammy Awards of 1995
, he was awarded the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album
for his work on The Great Dobro Sessions
with Jerry Douglas
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
musician.
Taylor played banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
and mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
as a child, and began playing dobro
Dobro
Dobro is a registered trademark, now owned by Gibson Guitar Corporation and used for a particular design of resonator guitar.The name has a long and involved history, interwoven with that of the resonator guitar...
at age 14, learning to use the instrument with a distinctive flat-picking style. Taylor was a member of The Folkswingers in the 1960s, who released three LPs; he recorded his debut solo effort in 1964. Later in the 1960s, he played with the Dixie Gentlemen
Dixie Gentlemen
The Dixie Gentlemen, who reached some level of prominence during the 1960s, were a bluegrass band whose musical style varied between traditional and progressive bluegrass.-Biography:...
and in John Hartford
John Hartford
John Cowan Hartford was an American folk, country and bluegrass composer and musician known for his mastery of the fiddle and banjo, as well as for his witty lyrics, unique vocal style, and extensive knowledge of Mississippi River lore...
's Aero-Plain band.
Taylor became a local Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
fixture. In 1970, he co-founded the instrument shop GTR there, soon after releasing another solo album. He also co-founded the Old Time Pickin' Parlor, a Nashville venue noted for performances of old-time music
Old-time music
Old-time music is a genre of North American folk music, with roots in the folk music of many countries, including England, Scotland, Ireland and countries in Africa. It developed along with various North American folk dances, such as square dance, buck dance, and clogging. The genre also...
, as well as Tut Taylor's General Store.
In a March, 1992 interview, Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
reported having bought Hank Williams' Martin D-28 Guitar from Tut Taylor.
At the Grammy Awards of 1995
Grammy Awards of 1995
The 37th Grammy Awards were presented March 1, 1995. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year.-Award winners:*Record of the Year**Bill Bottrell & Sheryl Crow for "All I Wanna Do"*Album of the Year...
, he was awarded the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album
Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album
The Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality works in the bluegrass music genre...
for his work on The Great Dobro Sessions
The Great Dobro Sessions
The Great Dobro Sessions is a 1994 country music and bluegrass album featuring an all-star line-up of 10 American resonator guitar players, produced by dobro players Jerry Douglas and Tut Taylor....
with Jerry Douglas
Jerry Douglas
Jerry Douglas may refer to:*Jerry Douglas , actor, who was on The Young and the Restless for 25 years*Jerry Douglas, country/bluegrass musician*Jerry Douglas , director and writer of adult films such as, Score...
.
Discography
- 12-String Dobro World Pacific 1816, 1963
- Dobro Country (with Clarence & Roland White), World Pacific, 1964
- Blues & Bluegrass With Dixie Gentlemen, Tune 1001, 1966
- Aereo-plainAereo-plainAereo-Plain is American musician John Hartford's groundbreaking bluegrass album released in 1971. It reached number 193 on the The Billboard 200 chart.-History:...
, Warner Bros, 1971, Reissued by Rounder, 1997 - Friar TutFriar TutFriar Tut is an album by Americana and Bluegrass dobro player Tut Taylor, released in 1972. Taylor is joined by Norman Blake, Sam Bush and David Taylor...
, Rounder 0018, 1972 - No Name Album, Flying Fish HDS704, 1974
- The HDS Sessions, HDS 701, 1975
- The Old Post Office, Flying Fish 008, 1975
- Norman Blake/Tut Taylor/Sam Bush/Butch Robins/Vassar Clements/David Holland/Jethro BurnsNorman Blake/Tut Taylor/Sam Bush/Butch Robins/Vassar Clements/David Holland/Jethro BurnsNorman Blake/Tut Taylor/Sam Bush/Butch Robins/Vassar Clements/David Holland/Jethro Burns is a studio album recorded by American musicians Norman Blake, Tut Taylor, Sam Bush, Butch Robins, Vassar Clements, David Holland, and Jethro Burns. It was released in 1975.From Hank Deane's original liner...
(1976) - Dobrolic Plectral Society, Takoma C1050, 1976
- The Great Dobro Sessions, Sugar Hill, 1994
- Flat Pickin' The Kitchen, Tutlee TL1001, 1997
- Flash Flood, Tutlee TL1002, 1998
- Steam Powered Aereo-TakesSteam Powered Aereo-TakesSteam Powered Aereo-Takes is a collection of outtakes, demos and jam-sessions from John Hartford's groundbreaking 1971 album Aereo-Plain, released in 2002. The music is a blend of traditional bluegrass musicianship, and the hippie spirit of the 70's...
, Rounder, ROUN0480, 2002 - Tut and Clarence Flatpicking, Tutlee TL1003, 2003
- Shacktown RoadShacktown RoadShacktown Road is an album by Americana and folk musicians Norman Blake, Nancy Blake and Tut Taylor, released in 2007. It was the first time Blake and Taylor recorded together since they were members of John Hartford's Aero-Plain band in the 1970s....
(2007) (with Norman BlakeNorman Blake (American musician)Norman Blake is an instrumentalist, vocalist, and songwriter. In a career spanning more than 50 years Blake has played in a number of folk and Country groups...
and Nancy Blake)
External links
- Tut Taylor official web site. Accessed February 2009.