Eddie Taylor
A bedrock Chicago blues guitarist whose steady, driving rhythms powered the recordings of Jimmy Reed and defined the post-war sound.
1923–1985 (age 62)·American electric blues guitarist and singer·Birthday: January 29·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Eddie Taylor (1923–1985) built the rhythmic backbone of postwar Chicago blues. A Mississippi-born guitarist and singer, he moved north and developed a driving, churning guitar style that anchored Jimmy Reed's biggest records. Taylor's insistent beat propels 'Big Boss Man' and 'Bright Lights, Big City,' providing the steady foundation for Reed's harmonica and drawling vocals. He recorded his own material for Vee-Jay, including the gritty 'Bad Boy,' but his deepest influence came as a sideman. Taylor's playing did not simply accompany other musicians—it gave structure and pulse to an entire sound. Fellow blues musicians respected him profoundly for this craft, even though mass recognition stayed out of reach. He died in 1985 at age sixty-two.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Eddie was born in 1923, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eddie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1923
#1 Movie
The Covered Wagon
Eddie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1923Born
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1928Started school
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1936Became a teenager
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Could drive
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1941Could vote
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1944Turned 21
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1953Turned 30
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 40
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 50
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 60
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1985Died at 62
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
Key Achievements
- His rhythmic guitar work was the backbone of Jimmy Reed's major hits, including 'Big Boss Man' and 'Bright Lights, Big City'.
- Recorded a series of influential solo singles for Vee-Jay Records in the 1950s, such as 'Bad Boy' and 'Ride 'Em On Down'.
- His distinctive playing style directly influenced a generation of blues and rock musicians, including John Lennon and Keith Richards.
- Was a key member of the Aces, the seminal Chicago blues band that also included Louis and Dave Myers.
Did You Know?
He taught his childhood friend Jimmy Reed how to play guitar.
His song 'Bad Boy' was later covered by the British rock band The Yardbirds.
He was known for using a capo high on the guitar neck to create a distinctive, taut sound.
After a period of obscurity, he experienced a career revival in Europe during the 1970s blues boom.
“The rhythm is the story, and the story has to move.”
