Eddie Taylor Jr. facts for kids

Edward Taylor (born March 27, 1972 – died March 8, 2019), known as Eddie Taylor Jr., was an American Chicago blues musician. He was a talented guitarist, singer, and songwriter.

Eddie Taylor Jr. released six studio albums. He also had a collection of his most popular songs. All his music came out on Wolf Records, a record label from Europe. He played with many other musicians, including Johnny B. Moore. He also supported famous artists like Buddy Guy, Keith Richards, and Eric Clapton.

His father, Eddie Taylor, was also a well-known Chicago blues musician. Eddie Jr.'s step-brother, Larry Taylor, is a blues drummer. His sister, Demetria Taylor, is a blues singer. His mother, Vera, was related to other blues musicians, Eddie "Guitar" Burns and Jimmy Burns.

Life of a Blues Musician

Early Life in Chicago

Eddie Taylor Jr. was born in Chicago, Illinois, on March 27, 1972. His father, Eddie Taylor, was a famous blues musician. His father had moved to Chicago from the Mississippi Delta in 1949. Sadly, Eddie Jr.'s father passed away in 1985 when Eddie Jr. was only 13 years old.

At first, young Eddie wanted to be a rapper. But he soon realized that wasn't for him. His two older brothers, Larry and Tim, became blues drummers. His mother, Vera, also sang sometimes until she passed away in 1999. Even though Eddie heard a lot of Chicago blues music growing up, his family first bought him DJ equipment and drums.

Learning the Guitar

Eddie didn't start playing the guitar until after his father died. He later said, "I never meant to sound like him. I just picked up a guitar, and it started coming to me." He learned on one of his father's old guitars, a Gibson ES-335. It was hard work, and it took him over two years just to learn how to tune the guitar!

One day, another musician named John Primer borrowed his guitar. John had to re-tune it so he could play it. No one in Eddie's family or his friends offered to help him learn. By the time he was 18, Eddie started playing with other blues artists. These included Hubert Sumlin, Sam Lay, and Eddie Shaw. Eddie slowly found his own way of playing. He didn't listen too much to what other blues musicians were doing. He built his own reputation by using the classic Chicago blues style.

Musical Journey and Challenges

In 1998, Wolf Records asked Eddie Taylor Jr. to record an album. It was a tribute to his father. This album, called Lookin' for Trouble, even featured his mother singing on one song.

In 2002, Eddie faced a serious health challenge. He was diagnosed with high blood pressure and serious kidney problems. He spent two months in the hospital and had seven operations. His youngest brother, Milton, bravely donated a kidney to him. Eddie still needed special treatments for his kidneys regularly. A benefit concert was held to help pay his medical bills, as he didn't have health insurance. After his kidney transplant, Eddie eventually went back to performing live.

His next album, Worried About My Baby, came out in 2004. Both of his albums up to this point had his brothers, Larry and Tim, playing drums. Five of Eddie's brothers and sisters played on his next album, Mind Game (2006). Eddie also played music for the 2008 film, Cadillac Records.

Growing Reputation

Eddie Taylor Jr. became known as one of the few guitarists who could still play in the original Chicago blues style. His next two albums, I Got to Make This Money, Baby (2009) and From the Country to the City (2010), helped his reputation grow. He also became a regular performer at the Chicago Blues Festival.

He recorded his own versions of classic songs like "Stop Breaking Down" by Robert Johnson and "Clouds In My Heart" by Muddy Waters. He also wrote his own songs, such as "Red Hot Mama," "Groovin' With Eddie," and "Worried About My Baby."

Later Years

In 2012, a collection of his best work was released, called So-Called Friends: His Best 15 Songs. Before his next album, Eddie faced more health issues. He also went through a very sad time when he lost his son.

His album Stop Breaking Down was released in 2015. It included 10 cover songs and two of his own songs. This album used new guitar sounds that Eddie hadn't used before. It featured songs like "I'm a King Bee" by Slim Harpo and "The Sky Is Crying" by Elmore James. His own songs on the album were "Baby Please Come Home" and "You Gotta Pay The Price."

Eddie Taylor Jr. passed away on March 8, 2019, at the age of 46, due to serious heart problems.

Discography

See also

• List of Chicago blues musicians