Graeme Taylor (born 2 February 1954 in
Stockwell, South-West London) is a British guitarist.
Taylor played lead guitar with 1970s medieval/rock band
Gryphon
The griffin, griffon, or gryphon ( Ancient Greek: , ''gryps''; Classical Latin: ''grȳps'' or ''grȳpus''; Late and Medieval Latin: ''gryphes'', ''grypho'' etc.; Old French: ''griffon'') is a legendary creature with the body, tail, and ...
,
and leading folk rock bands including the
Albion Band
The Albion Band, also known as The Albion Country Band, The Albion Dance Band, and The Albion Christmas Band, were a British folk rock band, originally brought together and led by musician Ashley Hutchings. Generally considered one of the m ...
and
Home Service
Home Service is a British folk rock group, formed in late 1980 from a nucleus of musicians who had been playing in Ashley Hutchings' Albion Band. Their career is generally agreed to have peaked with the album ''Alright Jack'', and has had an ...
. With Gryphon he had 4 best-selling LPs, and toured the US, supporting
Yes at Madison Square Gardens, and the
Mahavishnu Orchestra
The Mahavishnu Orchestra were a jazz fusion band formed in New York City in 1971, led by English guitarist John McLaughlin. The group underwent several line-up changes throughout its history across its two periods of activity, from 1971 to 1976 a ...
at the Houston Astrodome. In 1975, he played on
Steve Howe
Stephen James Howe (born 8 April 1947) is an English musician, best known as the guitarist in the progressive rock band Yes across three stints since 1970. Born in Holloway, North London, Howe developed an interest in the guitar and began to le ...
's debut solo album ''
Beginnings
Beginnings may refer to:
Literature
* ''Beginnings'' (collection), a 1988 collection of short stories and poems by Gordon R. Dickson
* ''Beginnings'' (Honorverse), a 2013 collection of short stories in the Worlds of Honor series
* ''Beginnings ...
'', with two other members of Gryphon, Malcolm Bennett and
Dave Oberlé
Dave Oberlé (born 9 January 1953 in Farnborough, London, Farnborough, Kent, England) is percussionist and lead vocalist with the 1970s band Gryphon (band), Gryphon. After the band split up in 1977, Oberlé went on to help launch the heavy rock ma ...
.
Taylor played a major role in the creation and performance of the music for ''
The Mysteries
''The Mysteries'' is a version of the medieval English mystery plays first presented at London's National Theatre in 1977. The cycle of three plays tells the story of the Bible from the creation to the last judgement.
Background
It is based lar ...
'' at the
National Theatre in 1977 a production - to a text adapted by the poet
Tony Harrison
Tony Harrison (born 30 April 1937) is an English poet, translator and playwright. He was born in Beeston, Leeds and he received his education in Classics from Leeds Grammar School and Leeds University. He is one of Britain's foremost verse w ...
- that was revived in 1999, with Taylor in the role of musical director, arranger and composer of additional music.
Having spent many years playing guitars in the pit orchestras of many
West End musicals, Taylor became a member of the touring bands for both
John Tams
John Tams (born 16 February 1949) is an English actor, singer, songwriter, composer and musician born in Holbrook, Derbyshire, the son of a publican. He first worked as a reporter for the '' Ripley & Heanor News'' later working for BBC Radio De ...
and
Rolf Harris
Rolf Harris (born 30 March 1930) is an Australian entertainer whose career has encompassed work as a musician, singer-songwriter, composer, comedian, actor, painter and television personality. He often used unusual instruments in his performan ...
, and runs his own studio in South London.
References
External links
Graeme Taylor's website
British rock guitarists
British male guitarists
1954 births
People from Stockwell
Living people
The Albion Band members
Gryphon (band) members
Home Service members
{{UK-guitarist-stub