Montana Taylor
| Montana Taylor | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Arthur Taylor |
| Born | 1903 Butte, Montana, United States |
| Died | 1954 (aged 50–51) |
| Genres | Boogie-woogie, Piano blues |
| Occupation(s) | Pianist, singer |
| Instruments | Piano, vocal |
| Years active | 1923-1929, 1946 |
| Labels | Vocalion |
Arthur "Montana" Taylor (1903 – 1954) was an American boogie-woogie and piano blues pianist, best known for his recordings in the 1940s, and regarded as the leading exponent of the "barrelhouse" style of playing.[1]
Life and career
Taylor was born in Butte, Montana, where his father owned a club. The family moved to Chicago and then Indianapolis, where Taylor learned piano around 1919. Later he moved to Cleveland, Ohio. By 1929 he was back in Chicago, where he recorded a few tracks for Vocalion Records, including "Indiana Avenue Stomp" and "Detroit Rocks".[1]
He then disappeared from the public record for some years, during which he may have given up playing piano. However, in 1946 he was rediscovered by jazz fan Rudi Blesh, and was recorded both solo and as the accompanist to Bertha "Chippie" Hill. The later recordings proved he had lost none of his instrumental abilities, and had developed as a singer.[1]
Taylor's final recordings were from a 1946 radio broadcast and after that he was reported working as a chauffeur.[2]
Montana Taylor died in 1954.
In 1977, Taylor's complete recordings were compiled by Martin van Olderen for the Oldie Blues label. Included were two then recently discovered radio performances from 1946.[2] In 2002 Document Records released the complete recordings on CD.
Discography
Singles
- 1929 - "Whoop and Holler Stomp" b/w "Hayride Stomp" (Vocalion) - 78 rpm
- 1929 - "Indiana Avenue Stomp" b/w "Detroit Rocks" (Vocalion) - 78 rpm[3]
Albums
- 1977 - Montana's Blues (Oldie Blues) - compilation LP with Montana Taylor's complete recordings
- 2002 - Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order 1929-1946 (Document Records) - compilation CD with Montana Taylor's complete recordings
