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| Laura Taylor |
| Chances are you heard Laura Taylor long before you first stepped into a disco in the late 1970's.
The New Haven, Conneticutt born talent is the product of a rich musical background - her mother is a Julliard graduate, who still plays concert piano, and her late father was a successful business man, and a gifted singer. Together they instilled in Laura a love for music which has been the guiding force in her life. At the age or seventeen, Laura was awarded a scholarship to study opera at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. She soon discovered that jazz, not opera, was her first love. Still in her teens, she began her professional career performing in small clubs, eventually going on to commercial and studio work. Laura was the solo voice on the national campaign for United Airlines' Fly the Friendly Skies of United - and also the now famous Wouldn't You Really Rather have a Buick? campaign. |
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| Laura signed her first record deal with Miami's Criteria Studios own label - Good Sounds Records - whose parent company and distributor was T. K. Records. This opened the door for Laura's dual talents as singer and songwriter. Her first album was 1978's "Dancin' In My Feet." The title song, "Dancin' In My Feet," became the theme song for the nationally syndicated TV show "Disco Magic" and the 12" single rose to #4 on Billboard's national disco chart. The second 12" single "All Through Me" also made the Billboard and Record World charts. This was followed by a long association with Criteria Studios, which included vocal contracting and singing for George Martin on the soundtrack of "Honkey Tonk Freeway," a demo for Bee Gee Maurice Gibb, and background work for Tom Dowd on the Firefall "Elan" album, for which she was presented a platinum album. |
| During this period she can also be heard on fellow disco diva Teri DeSario's "Pleasure Train" album which featured the hit "Ain't Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You."
During her time in Florida, Laura also electrified Miami Dolphins fans with her accapella version of "The Star Spangled Banner," on three separate occasions. As the disco-era died Laura continued her songwriting and performing. It would be over a decade before she would record another record and her true musical tastes and preferences would then be in vogue. In the early 1980's Laura's skill as a songwriter brought her to a career high point when Diana Ross recorded her song "Think I'm In Love" on her "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?" album. The song was also selected as the flip-side of one of Diana's single releases. This resulted in Laura being presented with her second platinum album. Enthusiasm for Laura both as a singer and songwriter led to appearances on "The Midnight Special," "The Dinah Shore Show" and "The Merv Griffin Show," where she showcased several of her original songs. During the 1980's and 1990's, like Pamala Stanley, Laura took to the club scene. She continued writing and began performing jazz and classic standards in smoky venues to enthusiastic audiences. During this time Laura appeared in many great jazz venues across the country. She also opened for comedian Don Rickles in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, and headlined in the Starlight Theater in the Desert Inn Resort and Casino. Her group, The Laura Taylor Trio worked in New York City and Atlantic City, including a special concert in Carnegie Recital Hall. In 1997 she recorded her first compact disc of new material and standards. "Mountain Greenery" The disc proved that Laura's voice, (and incredible looks!), were still intact. The disc received rave reviews and made her the hit of the Vegas jazz set. The album included such legends as Pete and Conte Candoli, Joe Lano and Jack Sheldon. In 1999 Laura re-teamed with Joe Lano for a holiday classic. "Songs Of The Winter Season" brings Christmas and winter together in a joyous celebration. The eclectic collection features such standards as Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song," Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" and "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" and Jerry Herman's "We Need A Little Christmas." In late 2000 Laura recorded her most recent album. "Cry Me A River: A Tribute To Julie London" is her most ambitious project to date. Recorded in the famous Julie London style with Laura's voice and accompanyment by only Joe Lano on guitar and Tom Warrington on bass the album rings true to the sultry stylist of the 1950's. Laura’s notable collaborations with close friend and very talented guitarist Joe Lano prompted an admirer, Doctor Howard Hoffman, to suggest that the Julie London/Barney Kessel recordings would be a natural for the two of them. Howard, like many others, was under the impression that Kessel was the only guitarist on these two famous recordings. Kessel was, in fact, guitarist on "Julie Is Her Name, Vol. 1," which included "Cry Me A River," but the very talented (though perhaps lesser known) Howard Roberts did the "Julie Is Her Name, Vol. 2," recording that, according to Joe, had many guitarists rushing to emulate what Roberts had done. Laura and Joe began listening to those wonderful recordings to decide whether to further pursue the idea. But the conclusion was easy-the songs fabulous and still timely, and the fit was right. Typical of their collaborations, Joe and Laura next met with guitar, piano, voice, pencils and score sheets to discuss song selection, key choices and arrangement concepts. Julie made so many fabulous recordings that priorities had to be established. In addition to Julie’s most famous recording, "Cry Me A River," Laura and Joe needed to narrow the choices to songs which they could put their own signature on without compromising the original intent of the London-guitar-bass-renditions. Laura and Joe started to work their usual magic! Some songs were done closely adhering to the original, while others received an entirely different approach. Joe suggested a bossa nova style for "Gone With The Wind," a rhythm unknown in the U .S. in the 1950's and Laura brought her bossa nova concept of "I'm Glad There Is You" to the mix, based on an arrangement she conceived while playing and singing at The Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. To my knowledge, "I’m In The Mood For Love" has never been recorded as a waltz, another concept Joe and Laura developed in the living room that eventful day. Each song, however, was approached with a respect for Julie’s original interpretation and the warmth and intimacy she created. Two more ingredients were needed to augment this project-the talents of recording engineer T-Bone Demman and his Sonsong’s Studio, where Joe and Laura had recorded two previous and wonderful CDs and one more musician. The instrumentation of "Volumes 1 & 2 of Julie Is Her Name" was the same for both sessions- voice-guitar-bass. The Los Angeles-based Tom Warrington was the one to fill the bass chair. Tom’s articulate yet warm, full sound was the perfect compliment to complete the project. The project is dedicated to the memory of Julie London (Sept. 26, 1926 - Oct. 18, 2000) who unfortunately passed away during the final stages of production. May she rest in peace.... Laura is alive and well and currently resides in Las Vegas. She was gracious and charming when I contacted her regarding her inclusion in The DiscoMuseum. I treasure my autographed picture she sent me and have nearly worn out my copies of her C.D.'s. With love and respect we wish her the best in the future! |
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