Was Shooby Taylor a genius or an ordinary guy with a ton of heart?
Yes.
I love his music, and I respect what he went through to make it. Any artist or teacher can learn from the example of Shooby Taylor.
This video, containing a collection of his performances originally overdubbed on cassette tape, is cued up to ‘Take a Closer Walk with Thee”:
I don’t know much about Shooby Taylor, other than that he made a handful of homemade recordings between 1970-2010 or so.
Here are things I believe creatives, artists, and teachers can take away from Shooby Taylor’s example:
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- Despite getting the hook at the Apollo theatre and likely being widely misunderstood and under-appreciated, he persisted to make his music for whomever it might resonate. How many people are brave enough to share their work like Shooby did, without holding back?
2. He made use of whatever resources were available to him. He apparently scatted over the top of pre-existing recordings onto cassette tapes.
Regardless of your skill set or access to technology, training, accompanists, or other resources, how can you create and share your work by simplifying and using what you have?
3. Through his persistence, making recordings over time, he developed a personal language. This video includes transcriptions of his scat syllables:
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- He was able to insert himself into any musical scenario. That’s how strong his artistic voice was. That’s how fearless he was. That’s a reflection of his conviction, i.e., knowing exactly what he wanted to say. Here’s his take on Mozart, as an example:
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Anyone who makes or teaches art can learn today from the example Shooby Taylor set years ago.
Shooby Taylor leaned into is own creative voice. He was unapologetically himself. His work is an inspirational legacy.
Thank you Shooby!
Listening to Shooby Taylor never gets old for me
I shared some of his recordings with my son Dalton yesterday and witnessed his reaction to the revelation. Dalton listened and (wisely, IMHO) said, “That’s Deep”.
Your Musical Practice is a Mirror Of all the musicians I advise—pros, teachers, amateurs—self-confidence, or emotional intelligence, is the most noticeable factor in their musical progression and enjoyment.
Musical practice (and teaching or building a music career) holds up a mirror to us, challenging us to confront fear. To move forward, we must develop the ability to self-soothe, forgive, appreciate, and accept ourselves where we are. Otherwise, the same fear creates the same blocks in our relationships, money, health… A student sent me this today, illustrating the point perfectly: “I’m retired, my time is my own, and yet there’s never quite enough time in a day to do all that I want to do (practicing). Plus the fear, the dread, that nothing I play will sound the way it does in my head, in my imagination of myself. I believe I can play wonderful things, but I know that if I try to play those things, I’ll be forced to see that I can’t. So it’s hard for me to move out of my comfort zone. That’s how I see myself anyway.” IMO, she has already begun to move forward by acknowledging what’s holding her back and expressing it honestly. Because once she gives it a name, she can move gently through it. *** Shooby Taylor showed that there is a fine line between genius and heart. You are more than enough. If you keep showing up with heart and conviction, you will be a revelation to those ready to receive it. Shooby Taylor was booed and laughed off the stage. He kept going anyway—a warrior for love and music. May we all be more like Shooby. |
