Larry Taylor, Chicago’s Ambassador of West Side Blues and Soul, grew up on Mozart Street in a house full of music. His stepfather Eddie Taylor Sr. is revered for his groundbreaking bass lines and guitar licks behind Jimmy Reed. Young Larry learned his trade from Howlin’ Wolf’s drummers. For 30 years he played everywhere, from tiny Chicago hole in the wall clubs, to the 1977 New Legends of Blues tour of Europe organized by Willie Dixon. He’s played with stars like Luther Allison, Albert King, Carey and Lurie Bell, the Holmes Brothers, Big Walter Horton, John Lee Hooker Sr., Robert Jr. Lockwood, Otis Clay, Jimmy Rogers, Memphis Slim, and Sunnyland Slim. After drumming and singing on several Delmark and Wolf records, he made his debut as a front-line singer with the acclaimed 2004 CD, They Were in This House, a tribute to his blues ancestors and the 1960s-70s West Side soul music he grew up with. Working with Barry Dolins of the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, he organized a three-act West Side Revue, featuring his buddies and Taylor brothers and sisters, for the 2008 ChicagoBlues Fest.

Larry’s forceful, soulful singing and driving rhythms are waking up folks of all ages and ethnics and turning them on to music they almost forgot. In addition to his five-to-seven piece band and an occasional acoustic trio, Larry Taylor is available to speak on the role of blues in African-American history and the current state of blues and soul music..

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