Artist description Otis Taylor: vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo, electric banjo, harmonica, mandolin Kenny Passarelli: bass, keyboard Eddie Turner: Lead Guitar Cassie Taylor: backup vocals

Music Style Blues, Folk, Americana

Musical Influences John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Leadbelly

Similar Artists John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Leadbelly

Artist History In the early '50s, before Otis Taylor was 10 years old, his love of Folk music was born. Hanging out at the Denver Folklore Center, he bought his first instrument, a used ukulele. The uke doesn't show up on White African (NorthernBlues Music), Taylor's new album, released March 6, 2001, but he does sing and play acoustic guitar, harmonica, mandolin, banjo, and electric banjo. In fact, the Blue Star Guitar Company created the electric banjocaster, dubbed "Otis Taylor," a tribute to Taylor’s exceptional musicianship. An additional testament to Taylor was made by Real Blues Magazine which stated, "We're obviously listening to a man who commands attention and respect as his story-telling ability is uncanny in evoking images in the mind of the listener, plus his level of mastery of instruments is rare . . . He's totally connected to his heritage/history but sounding like no one I've ever heard." In 1964, Taylor formed his first group, the Butterscotch Fire Department Blues Band, which was soon followed by the Otis Taylor Blues Band. After playing out and recording in the London scene in the late '60s, Taylor returned to Colorado as part of the combo the T&O Short Line with the legendary singer/guitarist Tommy Bolin. Stints with the 4-Nikators and Zephyr followed before taking a lengthy hiatus from the music business in 1977.Taylor returned to public performances and recording in the mid '90s after prodding by his mentor, producer, and all-star bass player, Kenny Pasarelli. The new activity led to 1998's critically acclaimed When Negroes Walked The Earth, featuring Taylor's unapologetic folk-blues lyrics and heart-stirring performance. Playboy Magazine assessed, "Besides having one of the greatest titles, Otis Taylor's When Negroes Walked the Earth offers minimalist blues in the John Lee Hooker mode." In summer 2000, Taylor’s talent was further recognized with a fellowship to the Sundance Institute Music Composers Laboratory, a mentoring program for professional musicians, where he collaborated with some of the world’s top film composers. Now in March 2001, Taylor will assume the mentor role as an instructor for Ottawa's Blues in the Schools Project.With White African, his tradition of having more than just great album titles continues. His new collection of songs deals with bigotry, injustice and the pains of love and death. While Taylor is soft-spoken in person, the messages in his music are loud and clear, and seize the listener's undivided attention.

Group Members Otis Taylor: vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo, electric banjo, harmonica, mandolin Kenny Passarelli: bass, keyboard Eddie Turner: Lead Guitar Cassie Taylor: backup vocals

Instruments vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo, electric banjo, harmonica, mandolin, keyboards, bass, electric guitar, backup vocals

Albums White African (Released '01), When Negroes Walked the Earth (Released '98)

Press Reviews Otis Taylor - "White African""This is the Real Blues with a capital R and a capital B,...intense and moving..." -Stephen T Davidson mnblues.com "Taylor has found beauty, even if it is a very savage beauty." -Dave Marsh "...the sort of record Robert Johnson or Leadbelly would make if they were around today..." -Ottawa Citizen "Everything about White African is stellar..." -Genevieve Williams Blues Revue "It ain't no rock and roll masquerading as blues... It ain't no disc filled with blues cliche licks." -Art Schuna WORT Radio in Madison, Wisconsin "...this is the most haunting and harrowing disc..." -John Taylor mnblues.com "...White African is, in many ways, as good as the blues gets." -Michael Koster Thirsty Ear "If this album doesn't make is to the blues top 10 for 2001 I'd be very surprised." -Doug Gallant The Guardian, Charlottetown, PEI "The album reinvents the raw honesty and simplicity borne out of the African-American experience..." -G. Brown Denver Post "...'White African' is clearly the thinking man’s blues. It is also absolute brilliance." -Alec Kirkcaldy The Wire Magazine "Otis Taylor plays the rural blues in the fashion of Robert Johnson..." -Jon Worley Aiding and Abetting "No one writes music like this. NO ONE!" -Michael Allison THEGLOBALMUSE.COM "If you are ready for music capable of grabbing you by your soul and heart put Otis Taylor in your player." -Holler, newsletter of the Colorado Blues Society "The Denver-based bluesman managed to cut the best blues album of the year. His band has forged an original sound (hard to find in the blues these days) based on a show, deep groove...white african is his first truly great album." - Albuquerque Journal December 29, 2000 "Taylor's second eclectic release continues to plow new ground with meaning and style. Art backed by content makes for a new blue horizon line here, as Taylor brings a refreshing viewpoint to the blues mix. A major talent he is!" -Tom Mazolini, Blues by Bay Radio Show "We're obviously listening to a man who commands attention and respect as his story-telling ability is uncanny in evoking images in the mind of the listener, plus his level of mastery of instruments is rare..he's totally connected to his heritage/history but sounding like no one I've ever heard." - Andy Grigg, Real Blues "Taylor's spare, trance-blues songs are hypnotic - they stick in your mind (and your craw) even after you turn them off. The subject matter, often emphasizing black history vignettes, is as gritty as the minimalist, edgy music, and there's an almost out-of-control feel, any angry voice screaming for respect, simmering beneath the surface." - Blues Access "his blues went so deep they turned azure or indigo." - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel "His songs are a defiant social commentary by a man who carries his racial heritage proudly." - Blues & Rhythm "His voice is a versatile, modern, but authentic bluesman's, gruff but tenderly soulful, pleading and growling." - Blues Rag

Location Toronto, Ontario - Canada

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