Drummer / Percussionist Birthday Calendar

Art Taylor, born Arthur S. Taylor, Jr. on April 6, 1929 in New York City, New York, was an American jazz drummer from the hard bop era.

From 1948 to 1957, Taylor played with the likes of Buddy DeFranco, Coleman Hawkins, Howard McGhee, Bud Powell, and George Wallington. He went to form his own group, the Wailers. Between 1957 and 1963 Taylor toured with Donald Byrd, recorded with Miles Davis and John Coltrane, and performed with Thelonious Monk; he also was a member of the original Kenny Dorham Quartet of 1957. In 1963 he moved to Europe, where he lived mainly in France and Belgium for 20 years, playing with local groups and with touring American musicians. He continued freelancing after returning to the United States, and in 1993 organized a second band called the Wailers.

Art Taylor died on February 6, 1995; he was 65.