Biography

Billy Taylor was born on July 24, 1921 in Greenville, North Carolina, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Mr. Church (2016), Film '72 (1971) and The World Unseen (2007). He was married to Theodora Taylor. He died on December 28, 2010 in New York City, New York, USA.

Jazz pianist.

Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1999.

He was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1992 by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington D.C.

One of the great bebop musicians, a contemporary of Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, with whom he performed at the famed Birdland club as house pianist in the 1950's. He became musical director for The David Frost Show in 1969 and later formed the Billy Taylor Trio for which he composed and arranged (including a piece of chamber music entitled 'Homage'). His best-known composition was the anthemic 'I Wish I Knew (How it Feels to be Free)'. He held a doctorate in music education and promoted jazz through his Jazzmobile movement from the 1960s.