Hound Dog Taylor facts for kids

Theodore Roosevelt "Hound Dog" Taylor (born April 12, 1915 – died December 17, 1975) was a famous Chicago blues guitarist and singer. He was known for his exciting slide guitar playing and energetic performances. He played a type of music called Chicago blues, which is a lively style of blues music.

Life of a Blues Musician

Taylor was born in Natchez, Mississippi, in 1915. Some records say he was born in 1917. He first learned to play the piano. When he was 20 years old, he started playing the guitar. In 1942, he moved to the city of Chicago.

Taylor had a special condition called polydactyly. This meant he had six fingers on both of his hands. The extra fingers were small and he could not move them.

Around 1957, Taylor became a full-time musician. He was not very famous outside of Chicago. In Chicago, he played in small clubs in mostly Black neighborhoods. He also played at the outdoor Maxwell Street Market. People knew him for his electric slide guitar playing. His style was similar to another blues musician named Elmore James. He often used inexpensive Japanese Teisco guitars. He was also known for his loud and lively "boogie" music.

In 1967, Taylor traveled to Europe. He performed with the American Folk Blues Festival. He played alongside other famous blues artists like Little Walter and Koko Taylor.

Starting Alligator Records

Bruce Iglauer worked for a record company called Delmark Records. He heard Taylor play with his band, the HouseRockers, in 1970. The band included Brewer Phillips on a second guitar and Ted Harvey on drums. Iglauer really liked their music. He tried to convince his boss to sign Taylor to a recording contract.

When Delmark Records did not sign Taylor, Iglauer decided to start his own record company. In 1971, he used $2,500 he had inherited to create Alligator Records. This new company recorded Taylor's first album, Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers. The album was recorded very quickly, in just two nights. It was the very first album released by Alligator Records. Alligator Records later became a very important blues music label.

Iglauer also helped manage and book shows for the band. They toured all over the United States. They performed with famous musicians like Muddy Waters, Freddie King, and Big Mama Thornton. The band became very popular in the Boston area. Taylor even inspired a young musician named George Thorogood. An album called Live at Joe's Place shows a performance they gave in Boston in 1972.

Later Albums and Legacy

Taylor and his band released their second album, Natural Boogie, in late 1973. This album was even more successful. It led to more tours and performances. In 1975, they toured Australia and New Zealand. They played with Freddie King and the duo of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.

Taylor's third album for Alligator was called Beware of the Dog. It was recorded live in 1974. However, it was released after he passed away. Alligator Records also released two more albums after his death: Genuine Houserocking Music and Release the Hound. Some live recordings that were not officially released also became available after Taylor died.

Hound Dog Taylor died in 1975 from lung cancer. He was buried in Restvale Cemetery, in Alsip, Illinois.

Awards and Recognition

In 1984, Hound Dog Taylor was honored after his death. He was added to the Blues Hall of Fame. The statement for his induction said that he was not a "master technician." But it also said that "the few things he could play, he could play like no one else could." He once told a writer named Bob Neff how he wanted to be remembered. He said: "He couldn’t play ..., but he sure made it sound good."

In 1997, Alligator Records released a special album. It was called Hound Dog Taylor: A Tribute. This album had 14 songs. Other musicians covered Taylor's songs on this album. Some of the artists included Luther Allison, Elvin Bishop, Cub Koda (with Taylor's band, the HouseRockers), Gov't Mule, and Sonny Landreth. A "Deluxe Edition" collection of his songs was released in 1999.

A live recording by George Thorogood of the song "The Sky Is Crying" is dedicated to Hound Dog Taylor. This song is on Thorogood's album Live (1986). Thorogood also recorded Taylor's song "Give Me Back My Wig" for his album The Hard Stuff (2006).

Discography

• Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers, 1971 (Alligator Records)
• Natural Boogie, 1974 (Alligator Records)
• Beware of the Dog!, 1976 (Alligator Records)
• Live at Florences, 1981 (JSP Records)
• Genuine Houserocking Music, 1982 (Alligator Records)
• Hound Dog Taylor, deluxe edition, 1999 (Alligator Records)
• Release the Hound, 2004 (Alligator Records)