Butch Taylor

Butch Taylor (born Clarence Francis Taylor on April 13, 1961) is a composer, writer, keyboardist and long time guest musician with Dave Matthews Band.

For the American basketball player, see Butch Taylor (basketball).
Butch Taylor
Taylor (top left) with Dave Matthews Band in 2005
Taylor (top left) with Dave Matthews Band in 2005
Background information
Birth nameClarence Flanaghan Taylor
Also known as"Mr. Chops"
Born (1961-04-13) April 13, 1961
Shawsville, Virginia, United States
GenresRock, jazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, writer
Instrument(s)Keyboards, guitars

Early life

Butch Taylor was born in Shawsville, Virginia on April 13, 1961. Taylor attended James Madison University, Virginia where he played trumpet in the JMU Jazz Ensemble. It was there he met future Dave Matthews Band saxophonist, LeRoi Moore. He studied for a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in music.

Taylor later played in Richmond, Virginia-based jazz fusion band Secrets with drummer Carter Beauford, saxophonist LeRoi Moore, trumpeter John D'earth, vocalist Dawn Thompson, bassist Keith Horne, keyboardist Dane Bryant, saxophonist Eddie Williams and virtuoso guitarist Tim Reynolds.[1]

Dave Matthews Band

Although not a formal member of the band, he acted as a permanent member of the group from 1998 until 2008, making contributions on both studio and live albums. Taylor played on the band's studio albums Before These Crowded Streets (1998) and Stand Up (2005). His first time guesting with the band live was on June 5, 1998 at Foxborough Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts and he would continue guesting sporadically for the next few tours.[2] From May 18, 2001 to April 1, 2008 Taylor played every Dave Matthews Band show. He played a total of 488 concerts with the group until announcing his departure from touring on May 27, 2008.[3][4][5] The band's official fan club, the Warehouse Fan Association, released this message:[6]

Keyboardist Butch Taylor has decided to leave Dave Matthews Band. We are saddened by this sudden news but he has our full support. He’s given so much to us and our audience through the years and he will be missed.

Taylor joined the band on September 24, 2017 for the Concert for Charlottesville, the band's home town, at Scott Stadium, a benefit concert to raise funds for the victims killed and injured during the Unite the Right rally held from August 11–12, 2017.[7] The band labeled the event as "An Evening of Music and Unity."[8][9] This marked the first time Taylor guested with the band since April 1, 2008. The set also featured Stevie Wonder on vocals.

In 2018 Taylor joined the band once again in the studio to record 3 songs for their latest album Come Tomorrow.[10][11]

Current work

Between 2009 and 2015 Taylor played on studio albums for Richmond, Virginia indie rock band Carbon Leaf. In 2012 Taylor started Robert Jospé Express with Charlottesville jazz drummer Robert Jospé.[12]

Taylor is the pianist for the Free Bridge Quintet, the faculty jazz quintet at the University of Virginia.[13] He also serves as a professor of jazz piano at the university.

Taylor currently lives in Scottsville, VA. He is divorced and has three adult sons. He is currently the Chief Engineer/Producer/Composer at Ravensworth Studios also in Scottsville.[14]

Discography

Studio

Live

with Carbon Leaf

With Nikhil Korula
  • Solo Sessions EP (2013)[21]

With Robert Jospé Express

With Robert Jospé
  • Just Lookin' (2019)[23]

References
  1. "Butch Taylor Exits DMB". jambands.com. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  2. "DMBAlamanc - 1998.06.05". DMBAlamanc. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  3. "DMBAlmanac - Butch Taylor". DMBAlmanac. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  4. "Butch Taylor Leaves Dave Matthews Band". AntsMarching.org. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  5. "Butch Taylor leaves Dave Matthews Band". DontBurnThePig.org. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  6. "Butch Taylor Leaves dmb". JamBase. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  7. Heim, Joe (September 6, 2017). "Local Dave Matthews Band announces Charlottesville fundraising concert". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  8. "DMBAlmanac - A Concert for Charlottesville". DMBAlmanac. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  9. "Dave Matthews Band Welcome Stevie Wonder, Butch Taylor and John D'Earth at Hometown Unity Concert". jambands.com.
  10. "Discogs - Dave Matthews Band - Come Tomorrow". Discogs.com. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  11. "Allmusic - Dave Matthews Band - Come Tomorrow". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  12. "Focus Talk with Musician Butch Taylor". WINA News Radio. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  13. "UVA Today - All About That Jazz". University of Virginia.
  14. "UVA Department of Music". Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  15. "Wolfgangs - Dave Matthews Band - Live at Soldier Field". Wolfgangs.com.
  16. "ConcertVault - Dave Matthews Band - Live at Soldier Field". concertvault.com.
  17. "Happy Birthday Dave Matthews: 'The Central Park Concert'". jambase.com. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  18. "discogs.com - Carbon Leaf - Nothing Rhymes With Woman (Album) album cover Carbon Leaf – Nothing Rhymes With Woman". discogs.com. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  19. "Vogue - Carbon Leaf". vogue.com. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  20. "Discogs - Carbon Leaf – Love Loss Hope Repeat Reneuax". Discogs.com. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  21. "iTunes - Solo Sessions EP". iTunes. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  22. "Robert Jospé Express". robertjospe.com.
  23. "iTunes store - Robert Jospe - Just Lookin'". iTunes store.
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