Singer and Record Producer. He was a member of the soul band from Vancouver, British Columbia Canada, Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers. In the early 1960's, while in San Francisco, he met Little Daddy and the Bachelors, made up of vocalist Tommie Melton, guitarist Tommy Chong, bassist Wes Henderson, pianist Bernie Sneed, drummer Floyd Sneed. While in Calgary they were known as the Calgary Shades, Shades referenced that the group was interracial. They also billed themself as "Four Niggers and a Chink", before changing their name to Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers. The group signed with Gordy Records in 1965 and recorded for the Gordy Records division of Motown Records in 1968, they had a top 30 hit single, "Does Your Mama Know About Me", it peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100. Also in 1968 the group released "I Am Your Man", "The Bells I Hear", and "Malinda". As a producer and solo artist, he contributed to several soul recordings, both inside and outside of Motown. He was a veteran singer and producer who mentored and who brought The Jackson 5 to Motown. After the Jackson 5 signed to Motown in March 1969, he became the group's first producer, he producied the Jackson 5's earliest recordings. After his group disbanded, he recorded "Taylor Made Soul" on Motown in 1969, it sold very little. He left Motown by 1971 due to a financial dispute. 15 years ago he moved to Beijing for a job, he then relocated to Hong Kong, where he sang at friends' nightclubs. His last known recording was the unreleased "Humanity," a tribute to the late rock guitarist Dick Wagner. His greatest talent was teaching people how to sing. He died from cancer.
Singer and Record Producer. He was a member of the soul band from Vancouver, British Columbia Canada, Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers. In the early 1960's, while in San Francisco, he met Little Daddy and the Bachelors, made up of vocalist Tommie Melton, guitarist Tommy Chong, bassist Wes Henderson, pianist Bernie Sneed, drummer Floyd Sneed. While in Calgary they were known as the Calgary Shades, Shades referenced that the group was interracial. They also billed themself as "Four Niggers and a Chink", before changing their name to Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers. The group signed with Gordy Records in 1965 and recorded for the Gordy Records division of Motown Records in 1968, they had a top 30 hit single, "Does Your Mama Know About Me", it peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100. Also in 1968 the group released "I Am Your Man", "The Bells I Hear", and "Malinda". As a producer and solo artist, he contributed to several soul recordings, both inside and outside of Motown. He was a veteran singer and producer who mentored and who brought The Jackson 5 to Motown. After the Jackson 5 signed to Motown in March 1969, he became the group's first producer, he producied the Jackson 5's earliest recordings. After his group disbanded, he recorded "Taylor Made Soul" on Motown in 1969, it sold very little. He left Motown by 1971 due to a financial dispute. 15 years ago he moved to Beijing for a job, he then relocated to Hong Kong, where he sang at friends' nightclubs. His last known recording was the unreleased "Humanity," a tribute to the late rock guitarist Dick Wagner. His greatest talent was teaching people how to sing. He died from cancer.
Bio by: Babe
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