1998 BUFFALO MUSIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
Van Taylor
Jazz/R&B keyboardist and bandleader
BMHOF Class of 1998
Van Taylor has entertained all over the world at various Resorts and Embassies for over 30 years. He is a songwriter, and owner of Van Taylor Production music publishing company, and TM International an Internet music distributor company. Van is an artist developer, concert promoter and event coordinator. Van is the bandleader of the internationally known R&B/Jazz band “Taylor Made Jazz”. Van also is a teaching artist with Young Audience of Western New York and Young Audience of Rochester New York. Van offers basic educational knowledge about the business of music to high school students, Van also offers a workshop in jazz improvisation with his band Taylor made Jazz during school assemblies. Van also has a workshop on slave songs for the Underground rail road program talking about the meaning behind the music and the messages hidden within them.
Over the course of 30 years Van has helped educate hundreds of musicians, and thousands of children with musical workshops, and has provided shows for all branches and members of our US Embassies, their families and our allies by lifting their spirits and morale with musical performances. Van has produced several successful artists, and many of his music students have opened their own businesses with their own bands, creating hundreds of jobs and providing uplifting entertainment for our service men and women.
In 1972 Van managed a now legendary band in the western New York area called U.S.T. Topaze, noted for their flash and flare, moves and choreography. During this time van mentored many artist including one known a James Johnson, it was Van sister who pushed the idea. Mr. Johnson was also a big fan of UST Topaze; this group records many of their own songs that are now very popular. Google “UST Topaze” This group did the Back ground vocal work on his album along with many other musicians from the Lance Diamond band, the Williams brother provided horn arrangement Van wrote charts along with other to help record the Come Get Lp. Mr. Johnson later became the Artist Rick James and formed a group of his own called the Stone City Band.
In 1987 Van produced a hit television dance show called “City rhythm” the show aired on fox super station wnyb49. It featured, regional artist performing original music and national artist just getting started and dancer grooving to newly released songs. Van is a former board member of the Buffalo media resource group “Squeaky Wheels” Van is currently a board member for the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame, a 501c3 organization he was inducted into the hall of fame in 1998. He also serves as a Sponsorship Coordinator for the Historic Colored Musicians Club of Buffalo, NY, the oldest African-American owned Club, which is 501c3 Jazz Institution in the United States. This organization provides free music lessons for children in the community; they support Big Band Jazz and various small Jazz, Blues and R&B Bands. Their museum will open in October 2011. 2005 Van Initiated the production of the Queen City Jazz Festival along with George Scott, Will Holton and Danny Williams, The festival is now in its 6th annual presentation in downtown Buffalo New York, it Features regional artist in all genre of jazz and R&B music in support of the Historic Colored Musicians Club which is located at 145 Broadway in Buffalo New York Be sure to check out their unique History He also serves as a co-sponsor for their annual Queen City Jazz Festival, which is held on the last Saturday in July in Downtown Buffalo, NY.
During the 1990's Van Worked Internationally with Professor Armando Moreno the president of "FIDOF"the International Federation of Festivals Organizations, a Global initiative to support peace and harmony through Music. Van work with in many countries to help those in need through music. Van and his Band Member won the Diamond accord Award in 1997(http://www.morenofidof.org/)"FIDOF“. Fidof Appointed Van to overseas fund raising in India and Pakistan his mission was to help women and children in need in conjunction with the Duchess of York and Various members of the Royal Family of England
Van has served as a conference speaker on the business of music, marketing and international touring, to many music educational seminars and conferences over the years. During the late 1980s early 1990s Van served as regional conference coordinator for the Minnesota Black Music expo, the international Association of African American Music and the Western New York Music conference, He also served in Toronto as a Music Conference panelist and coordinator for the WNY Music Conference.
Van also advised Mr. Bill Bradberry, former City Administrator of Niagara Falls 2006,2007, on event music sponsorship and concert coordination to enhance tourism in Niagara Falls, NY.
In 2009 Van Taylor organized and produced “Concert From The Heart” the 1st cross genre concert bringing together classical, jazz rhythm and blues musicians to benefit the Food bank of Western New York, and the Buffalo City Mission. Featured was the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Taylor Made Jazz Concert Band, The Legendary Singer Lance Diamond, the Old School B Boys with The Mark Mazur Big little Band. One of the featured pieces performed that night with the BPO was a song Called Nice Day By Van Taylor an Original Composition, something the Orchestra very rarely performs, this song was featured by the BBC radio 30 years ago
In 2011 Van along with producer Richie Derwald produced a music video to support the Food Bank of western New York called Reach Out .
Van is currently producing the Artist Melissa Kate a Sultry Cabaret Entertainer and Vocalist, also the George Scott and Mr. Carol McLaughlin Big Bands, the Lance diamond Band and the R&B Legends The Exoutics.
Van is currently working with the traveling guitar foundation and the naniki jazz safari in the Caribbean areas
http://thenewtoday.gd/local-news/2013/07/03/james-clarkson-receive-top-award/
Van’s references can be found in the Marquis Who’s Who in the East, Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World; also in Men of Achievement in Cambridge, England.
