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Artist Bio:
With Otis Taylor, it's best to expect the unexpected. While his
music, an amalgamation of roots styles in their rawest form, discusses
heavyweight issues like murder, homelessness, tyranny, and injustice,
his personal style is lighthearted. "I'm good at dark, but I'm not a
particularly unhappy person," he says. "I'd just like to make enough
money to buy a Porsche."
Part of
Taylor's appeal is his contrasting character traits. But it is
precisely this element of surprise that makes him one of the most
compelling artists to emerge in recent years. In fact, Guitar Player
magazine writes, "Otis Taylor is arguably the most relevant blues
artist of our time." Whether it's his unique instrumentation (he
fancies banjo and cello), or it's the sudden sound of a female vocal,
or a seemingly upbeat optimistic song takes a turn for the forlorn,
what remains consistent is poignant storytelling based in truth and
history. On his sixth CD, Double V, Taylor unleashes intimate tales as
he produces an aural excursion inspired by an unconventional childhood.
In
addition to traditional touring and recording, Taylor spearheads a
Blues in the Schools program called "Writing the Blues." Conceived by
his wife, he appears at elementary schools and universities around the
country to offer advice, enlighten, and mentor students about the
blues. "I start by asking them to write down what makes them sad;
fears, disappointments, losses, whatever. It is just amazing to see
some of these nuggets, these incredible thoughts. They are often simple
sentences but so real, so sad, so true, so pure." For Taylor, it's an
opportunity to connect with others and help others to connect with
themselves. And, it allows him to do his part in ensuring that the
blues, and the ability to share life experiences will continue in the
next generation.
http://www.otistaylor.com/indexA.html
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