Troy Taylor (record producer) facts for kids

Troy Christopher Taylor is an American music producer, singer, and songwriter. He was born in New Haven, Connecticut. Troy Taylor is famous for discovering and guiding the R&B singer Trey Songz.

He used to be part of a music production group called The Characters. In 2002, he started his own music company, Songbook Entertainment. The next year, he signed Trey Songz to his label. Throughout his career, Taylor has worked with many big R&B stars. These include the Isley Brothers, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston, and Boyz II Men.

Career

Early Music Life

Troy Taylor grew up in a family of musicians in New Haven, Connecticut. This meant he was around music from a very young age. He started by singing in local talent shows. Then, he learned to play keyboards and understand music deeply.

In 1988, he finished college at Hartford Conservatory. He earned a degree in jazz music and record production. He was eager to join the music world. Later, a music executive named Timmy Regisford helped him sign with Motown Records. Motown is a very famous record label.

1990s: Motown and "The Characters"

In 1990, when he was 21, Troy Taylor signed a deal with Motown. He was supposed to record his own music. But he decided to focus on writing and producing songs for other artists instead. He had some great sessions with a group of young singers. They later became the famous R&B group Boyz II Men.

Two of Taylor's early songs, "Little Things" and "Your Love," were on Boyz II Men's first album, Cooleyhighharmony. This album sold over 12 million copies!

In the 1990s, Taylor was also part of a production team called The Characters. He worked with another songwriter and producer, Charles Farrar. They helped many artists like Brownstone, SWV, and Kenny Lattimore. They also made remixes for songs by Brandy and Babyface. Their work on the song "Jezzebel" for Boyz II Men's album II helped them win a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. Later, songwriter Johntá Austin joined their team. Together, they created the hit song "Sweet Lady" for Tyrese.

2000-Present: Songbook Entertainment and Trey Songz

The Characters group ended in 2002, but they still worked together sometimes. Troy Taylor then started his own company, Songbook Entertainment. This company focused on writing songs, publishing music, and helping new artists grow.

In 2000, Taylor met a young singer named Tremaine Neverson (who later became Trey Songz). Tremaine was performing in talent shows in Virginia. He became the first artist Taylor signed to his new company. Taylor spent five years helping Tremaine develop his skills.

During this time, Taylor also worked on projects for other big names. These included Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Ginuwine, and the Isley Brothers. He even received an award for his work on Aretha Franklin's 2003 album. Taylor often shared stories about recording music at Aretha Franklin's home studio. He said she could record ten full songs without stopping!

In 2016, Taylor was asked to write and produce songs for the TV show Star. In 2020, he worked with gospel artist Koryn Hawthorne on her album I Am. He helped create two songs, "Speak To Me" and "Pray," which became popular on the Billboard Gospel Charts. He even worked with his old partner Johntá Austin again on these songs.

Discography

• Shelved Debut Album (1990/1991)
• The 90s Demos EP (2021)

Awards and nominations