Joe Taylor

Artist Information

Biography

It all started in the 90’s (although Joe's been singing and playing guitar since he was fourteen!) when he cut his teeth in the business singing and writing for the James Band in Toronto, Canada in the late 90’s. In 2000, he teamed up with Jeff Ross to form Taylor Ross, and saw five songs from Heartfelt Graffiti go into rotation regionally in Canada and the US.

Rockin’ out at The Vox after a long day at Toybox Studios in Toronto, Paul Shubot and Alfie Di Pucchio discovered his unique sound. Described by listeners as “soulful and timeless”; “classic rock at its’ finest” - Joe’s “electrifying and powerful voice” inspired Alfie and Paul to head to the studio. They insisted on capturing Joe’s rock-solid sound that very night. The ensuing recording launched Joe’s career as a solo artist. A live showcase recorded at Cogeco Channel 3 in music-hip Kingston soon followed; broadcast all over Ontario.

The fall of 2000 marked Joe’s arrival in the Big Apple. A debut solo gig at CBGB’s 313 Gallery was swiftly followed by one at The Knitting Factory’s Tap Room. Joe continues to play NYC venues including The Bitter End, Kenny’s Castaway, The Triad Theater, The Red Lion, C-Note, and The Back Fence.

Joe continued to perform throughout the United States at several colleges and universities, festivals, and nightclubs. He expanded into such major cities as Chicago, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Boston, Houston, and Philadelphia, and even found time to have a Tim Horton’s or two back home in Canada. Joe’s radio interviews have been broadcasted on local and regional radio stations as well as on the Internet.

In December 2006, Joe met with Los Angeles producer Jeff Gross (Brian Wilson, Styx, CNN, Sony Music, Rick Springfield, Bob Saget, Dermot Mulroney) and Grammy-Winning engineer Matthew Spindel (Santana, Don Henley, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Hornsby, Motley Crue, Rick Springfield, All-4-One, Vince Neil, George Benson, Tom Scott, Scorpions, KISS, WAR) to work on a demo CD for their label, Red Road Music. Three songs were born from that demo (available on iTunes) titled, Save Me – Save Me, Here And Gone, and The Sweetest Tune.

2008 and 2009 were some pivotal years for musician, Joe Taylor! The Sweetest Tune, was featured on the NBC daytime drama Days of Our Lives in 2008 and made it to the Top 10 on Ottawa’s MAJIC 100FM in 2009! The New York Times recognized Joe as “The Subway Idol” and featured him in not one, but two video stories following him as he auditioned for a coveted spot in New York City’s Music Under New York. In the spring of 2009 marked the debut of the video, All Around the World, a single that emerged from the Save Me EP. It was directed by Stuart E. Cropley and Jim Matlosz.

In 2010 Joe started to take his new-formed band on the road!

2011 marks the arrival of Joe’s full-length CD from Red Road Music titled, Anything’s Possible. And, he proved that anything IS possible with hard work and fantastic writers and musicians. “What a blast it was! I had help from Hillary Bernstein (Sony Music), Kevin Fisher (The Rascal Flatts and Sarah Evans), Matt Bissonette (Joe Satriani, David Lee Roth, Lita Ford, Julian Lennon, Steve Perry, Brian Wilson, Don Henley, Rick Springfield, Peter Frampton, and Ringo Starr), Jim Hanft, and Michael Lord (Alias, What About Brian, Desmond Child, RIAAF Certified Gold Record for American Idol) to write these songs. Jeff and Matthew were able to bring in Drummer Matt Laug (Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill), Michael Holowatch (Elliot Carlson Botero, Kokolo Afrobeat Orchestra, Random Test Reggae Band, Athenea Henderson, Eryn Schewell, and the Mario Sebastian Project along with bassist Erben Perez) Bass player Lance Morrison (Don Henley and Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill) and Guitarist George Nastos (Rick Springfield) to record them. Matt Bissonette not only came in as a writer, but also laid down some bass, while arranging and performing amazing backing vocals.” Gene Grimaldi (Lady Gaga, Sean Kingston, Toni Braxton, Hannah Montana, Patti LaBelle, Mary J. Blige) mastered the CD while Kym DeGenaro laid out the artwork for the CD.

Listeners have said Joe’s sound penetrates deep within the heart – “an electrifying and powerful voice which reminds us of classic rock at its finest”, “a mix of Rod Stewart, Don Henley, and Steve Perry”, “soulful and timeless.”

Catch Joe and his band in a city near you!

Instrumentation

Kevin Hunter - Guitar
Chris Infusino - Drums
Carras Paton - Bass
Lars Potteiger - keys

Discography

Album: Anything's Possible 2011
Video: "All Around the World" 2009
Album: Save Me 2009
Single: "Save Me" 2009
Single: "All Around the World" 2009
Single: "The Sweetest Tune" 2009
Album: Try 2006
Single: "Try" 2005
Promo: "Heartfelt Graffiti" TaylorRoss 2004
Promo: "James Band" James Band 1999
Promo: "Undertow" Undertow 1997

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• MySpace
• You Tube

Audio

• Contagious
  Listen  
• Tired Of Waitin'
  Listen  
• Possible
  Listen  
• Pictures Off The Wall
  Listen  
• All Around The World
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Tired Of Waitin'

Video

all around the world 6-12-09-desktop.mp4

IMG_1367-1.MOV

Photo Gallery

Press

• CTV - Subway Idol [+ Show ]
  

  Toronto-born, New York City-based musician Joe Taylor has earned a coveted spot as a finalist in MUN...Toronto-born, New York City-based musician Joe Taylor has earned a coveted spot as a finalist in MUNY's 'Subway Idol.'
  
  Canadian singer underground for NY 'Subway Idol'
  Updated Sat. May. 24 2008 9:15 AM ET
  
  Lindsay Zier-Vogel, entertainment writer
  
  Most of us go to the subway to get to our places of work, but for Toronto-born, New York-based musician Joe Taylor the subway is his office.
  
  This lanky blonde-haired singer-songwriter has just made it through "Subway Idol," an annual competition that whittles down hundreds of applicants for 20 highly coveted spots on the Music Under New York (MUNY) roster.
  
  The New York Times got wind of Taylor's aspirations and followed him to his MUNY audition. In the four-minute clip, Taylor hauls his guitar and amp into the cab and wanders the marble halls of Grand Central Terminal. The highlight of this winning audition is watching Taylor rock out before an enthusiastic crowd.
  
  Rocking out in Toronto
  
  Taylor first tested his pipes in Toronto, singing and writing for the rock band James Band. His big break came after music big shots Paul Shubot and Alfie Di Pucchio heard him play a gig in Toronto. They recorded his unique sound that very night, launching his career as a solo artist.
  
  Since moving down to NYC in 2001, Taylor released a demo through Red Road Music and now performs all over the US, bringing his retro-pop-rock tunes to audiences in Chicago, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Boston, Houston, and Philadelphia.
  
  Taylor is thrilled to be added to the MUNY roster, noting that he now holds a lifetime permit to play his folk rock tunes in the subway system. "There's something really similar about Toronto and New York," he says of the vibe in his hometown and his adopted city. "Maybe that's why I love both of them."
  
  A Grand Central Audition
  
  Where previous MUNY artists wowed the judges with novel acts -- barbershop quartets, baroque harps, Brazilian folkloric violin, even the musical saw -- Taylor arrived at Grand Central terminal with nothing more than his six string and an amp.
  
  "Everybody's got a spiel or a schtick," he says from his home in New York, "but I just do my thing. I don't do anything any better than anyone else out there, but I think [what makes my music appealing] is its honesty."
  
  With a voice like Canada's own Sam Roberts, Taylor fired up the Grand Central crowd, getting them clapping in time with his catchy pop tune, "All Around the World."
  
  "I have to say, with the 500-or-600 foot ceilings, you got damn good acoustics," he laughs.
  
  Taylor's favourite acoustic location is in front of the shuttle that runs from Grand Central to Times Square. "It's like playing in a big shower," he says. "The sound bounces off the walls with that brilliant echo-y sound."
  
  But when he's amp'd up, Taylor declares Penn station the hands-down best venue to get a crowd worked up.
  
  Playing underground isn't all stunning acoustics and fabulous crowds. Taylor still has to battle the roar of incoming trains, the din of passengers and the clamour of outside traffic.
  
  He also notes that in the middle of the summer, there'll be a lot of sweat, both his and that of his commuter audiences. "And the funky smells from the New York City subway system," he adds as yet another summertime challenge.
  
  Coins and smiles
  
  When he's looking for an equal ratio of coins and smiles, Taylor plays his folk rock tunes on weeknights just after rush hour. Though, the very best time to play, reveals Taylor, is Saturday and Sunday afternoons, "That's definitely when you get the most smiles."
  
  Weekends also provide a large cross section of the public -- kids, elderly folk, teenagers, hipsters, business folk. After having played so many gigs in bars and clubs across the States, Taylor says it's a treat to be able to connect with a larger demographic.
  
  On weekends or weekdays, Taylor is honoured to offer an escape for New York commuters. "If I can crack a smile outta somebody, even for a few seconds, and remove anxiety from [someone's] daily life, then I've done my job."
  
  "All Around the World"
  
  So what does Taylor do to get people to stop and listen? "I just do my thing," he says, adding that playing underground is a great place to try out new material.
  
  "I can test out where my songs are at by people's reactions. They have no reason in the world to stop and listen to what I'm doing, but if they do, I know something's working."
  
  The one song that always gets the crowd going is "All Around the World," the same song he crooned under the domed ceiling at Grand Central Terminal. "Sometimes lyrics can really catch someone right at the right time," he says.
  
  Whether he's above or below ground, Taylor stays true to his own lyrics: "What you give is what you get," he both says and sings. "The more you put yourself out there, the more you receive."
  
  Listen to Joe's music on his MySpace page www.myspace.com/joetaylorsongs
  
  Watch his 'Subway Idol' audition at The New York Times online www.nytimes.com click on video archive.
  
  

• New York Times - Subway Idol [+ Show ]
  

  New York Times "Subway Idol" http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=1800c6b0c780fb0f8d2d703681ab9815...New York Times "Subway Idol"
  http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=1800c6b0c780fb0f8d2d703681ab98158cb33559

• Chicago NBC Channel 5 [+ Show ]
  

  http://nbc5streetteam.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/musician-joe-taylor/ My one guilty pleasure (well...http://nbc5streetteam.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/musician-joe-taylor/
  
  My one guilty pleasure (well, I have more than one but this all I’ll admit to right now) is loving General Hospital. I’m too busy to watch it regularly but as long as I see at least 5 minutes per week I’m good. But today, for the first time in my life I’ll be tivo-ing (is that a word?) Days Of Our Lives. Not because I want to watch it, but because of the song that will be featured in the coffee shop scene. The song is called “The Sweetest Tune” and it’s sung by one of the sweetest musicians I’ve ever interviewed, Joe Taylor.
  
  
  If you’re not familiar with him, he’s a marvelous songwriter/singer currently based in New York. You can hear his music here. There’s a sweet video done by the New York Times about musicians auditioning to perform in the NY subway that features him - watch it here. Did he make it? Find out here.
  
  He periodically performs in Chicago - hopefully, you’ll have the chance to experience his music live soon.
  
  Type my name in the search bar to see/hear more of my posts including interviews with Alanis Morissette, The Bravery, Lovehammers, Triumph’s Rik Emmett, Matthew Santos, Shooting Star, Mike Tafoya comedian Lee Camp & more.
  

• What Else People Are Saying [+ Show ]
  

  “Joe Taylor has the kind of voice and presence that will make you sit up and take note” “An amazing ...“Joe Taylor has the kind of voice and presence that will make you sit up and take note” “An amazing singer!”
  
  Matty Spindel
  Grammy Winning - Engineer for Santana
  Los Angeles, CA
  
  
  “Doing a search on reverbnation.com I came across Joe Taylor’s profile. Hearing the track ‘Life’ first, I was immediately impressed with the sound and quality of artists he represents. I visited his full profile and read his amazing biography and listened to more tracks. His music takes me back to some of the music I grew up on and admire so much. He will definitely be making it into my favorites…”
  
  Randell Box
  www.bestofbands.com
  New York, NY
  
  
  
  
  “Joe Taylor is a refreshing new talent writing some great songs and I'm very excited about his next release. I'm really proud to play his music on my show.”
  
  Gene Godfrey
  Radio DJ – Classic FM 88.9 WBZC
  Philadelphia, PA
  
  
  
  “Joe Taylor has a talent for creating wonderfully powerful and compelling melodies like few writers I have met. And on top of that, he has the vocal chops to carry them off. His emotionally charged vocals are undeniable and harken back to the great vocalists of decades past. A great talent yet to be discovered by the masses.”
  
  Hillary Bernstein
  Writer and Publisher
  Sony Music
  Los Angeles, CA
  
  “Over the past 30 years I’ve heard thousand of bands and haven’t heard a progressive rock/pop voice like Joe’s before.”
  
  Beth Shandles
  Writer, Photographer, and Booking Agent
  Chicago Music Guide and B.S. Entertainment
  Chicago, IL
  
  “Joe Taylor had a retro rock solid voice that could be heard from outside of the venue last Tuesday night at the Star Series Songwriter Sessions at the Eighth and Rail.”
  
  Carla Merrill
  Photographer and Reporter for The Corner News
  Opelika, AL
  
  
  

• What People Are Saying [+ Show ]
  

  What People are Saying --------------------------------------------------------------------------...What People are Saying
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  
  
  "Thoughtful and soulful."
  
  STEWART BRODIAN
  Radio Programmer WDIY
  
  Allentown, PA.
  
  
  
  "Joe has a great ability to connect with the audience especially his voice. The song writing is classic and has what has been lost over the past 15 years of popular musical culture."
  
  CRAIG PALMER- Publicist and on the Board Of Directors for the Brooklyn Opera Company”, New York City
  
  
  
  "Joe Taylor brings to us from Toronto his wonderful Canadian songwriting style which is only outdone by his incredible vocals."
  
  LARRY OAKES Founder-
  SINGER/SONGWRITER SESSIONS
  
  New York City
  
  
  
  "Though we usually don't book musicians or actors that don't have major representation, we are strongly considering Joe for a Canada A.M. slot as he has a very professional
  
  attitude towards performance and a powerful, powerful voice."
  
  JON TAYLOR-
  Producer-Canada A.M., Toronto, Canada
  
  

• Kinetic Playground Review [+ Show ]
  

  Kinetic Playground Review The Sweet sound of Joe Taylor's vocals and soulfully strummed cords from...Kinetic Playground Review
  The Sweet sound of Joe Taylor's vocals and soulfully strummed cords from his friendly guitar could be heard oozing out of The Kinetic Playground doors Friday night as 'the strokes' concert filtered out into the streets and poured into the Hot Rockin' establishment next door. Joe performed with expressively poignant and heartfelt lyrics from his own music mixed in with covers from Boston's,"More than a Feeling" to Journey's "Lights" as he magnetized this 'Kinetic' energized crowd and brought them down to their knees cheering for more. Lighters raised into the air and arms swaying back and forth...This is what "Life" is called for Joe Taylor! (Track from "Try" cd) Locals and performers both agree that The Kinetic Playground is truly a wonderful establishment to experience great live entertainment...4/7/06 joetaylorsongs.com
  - By Jewels (Sunday 4/9/06 11:16 AM)
  
  

Setlist

Originals - Set #1
1. Save Me
2. Walk Away
3. A New Day Has Come
4. Here And Gone
5. All Around The World
6. Rock Bottom
7. The Sweetest Tune
8. Changes
9. Harder Then Stone
10. A Year From Now
11. Don't You Ever Change
12. Under That Shady Tree

Originals - Set #2
1. Life
2. The Inside
3. Let It Shine
4. The City Won't Break Me
5. Try
6. Top Of The World
7. High Or Low
8. Why Do I Get So High?
9. Acceleration
10. A Time For Change
11. Wait And See
12. Tears Are Coming Down
13. Live Your Life

Covers - 45-Minute Sets
Set One
1. Have You Ever Seen The Rain?
2. Moondance
3. These Eyes
4. Blackbird
5. One
6. Wonderwall
7. Dear Mr. Fantasy
8. Let It Ride
9. Have I Told You Lately
10. It's Still Rock 'n Roll To Me
11. Lights

Set Two
1. Every Breath You Take
2. With Or Without You
3. Brown Eyed Girl
4. Don't Look Back In Anger
5. Unchained Melody
6. Feeling Alright
7. Money
8. Undun
9. Down On The Corner
10. Leaving On A Jet Plan
11. I Saw Her Standing There
12. More Then A Feeling
13. Don't Stop Believin'

Set 3
1. Crying
2. What Do You Want From Me
3. Hey Soul Sister
4. Viva La Vida
5. This Love
6. Sweet Caroline
7. Yellow
8. Calling All Angels
9. Hard to Handle
10. You Can't Always Get What You Want
11. I Won't Go Home Without You
12. Break Even

Basic Requirements

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