Vincent "Vinnie" Taylor (July 31, 1948 – April 19, 1974) was an American lead guitar player best known from the group, Sha Na Na. His birth name was Christopher Hempstead Donald. He graduated from Kent School in 1965 and

Columbia College Columbia College may refer to one of several institutions of higher education in North America: Canada * Columbia College (Alberta), in Calgary * Columbia College (British Columbia), a two-year liberal arts institution in Vancouver * Columbia In ...

in 1971. In February 1971 he replaced guitarist Larry "Israel" Packer. He played with the band until he died from an accidental heroin overdose after a concert at University Hall at the University of Virginia on April 17, 1974. Escaped convict

Elmer Edward Solly Elmer Edward Solly (September 5, 1945 – November 30, 2007) was convicted of manslaughter in 1970 for the death of two-year-old Christopher Welsh. Solly escaped from custody in 1974 and spent the next 27 years living under numerous pseudonyms. ...

assumed the name Vinnie Taylor while a fugitive and performed under this

stage name A stage name is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musicians. Such professional aliases are adopted for a wide variety of reasons and they may be similar, or nearly identical, to an individu ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taylor, Vince 1949 births 1974 deaths 20th-century American guitarists American rock guitarists American male guitarists Columbia College (New York) alumni Deaths by heroin overdose in Virginia Kent School alumni Sha Na Na members 20th-century American male musicians