Greg "Fingers" Taylor

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Greg "Fingers" Taylor
Taylor performing at the 1996 Riverwalk Blues Festival
Taylor performing at the 1996 Riverwalk Blues Festival
Background information
Also known as"Fingers", The Harpoon Man
Born (1952-06-03) June 3, 1952 (age 69)
Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
GenresRock and roll, blues, country, Gulf and Western[1]
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, harmonica, keyboards
Years active1969–2014
Associated actsCoral Reefer Band,

Larry Raspberry and The Highsteppers, 

  Kim Wilson,
 Jimmy Buffett,
  Doug Deming,

James Taylor,

Mike Judge

Greg "Fingers" Taylor (born June 3, 1951) is an American harmonica player, best known for his work with Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band.[2]

Career[]

Greg Taylor was born in Wichita, Kansas, June 3, 1952 where he attended Wichita North High School.

Taylor and Buffett met in 1970 when Taylor was a student at The University of Southern Mississippi. Soon after the two met, Taylor joined Larry Raspberry and The Highsteppers. In 1974, Buffett called Taylor to ask him to join the first official Coral Reefer Band. Taylor continued to play in the band until 2000.

Taylor's nickname, "Fingers", was given to him in 1969 by John "Johnny Rock" Buffaloe (so nicknamed by Taylor) during their time in The Buttermilk Blues Band in Jackson, Mississippi. At the time, Taylor played keyboards for the band, hence the nickname "Fingers." Taylor began playing harmonica during his time in the band.

Taylor has released five studio albums: Harpoon Man (1984), Chest Pains (1991), New Fingerprints (1992), Old Rock 'n' Roller (1996) and Hi Fi Baby (2003). He has also released two compilation albums: Greatest Hits (1998) and Back to the Blues (2000).

Over the years, Buffett has recorded a couple of Taylor's songs. "Big Rig" was included on Buffett's 1976 album Havana Daydreamin' and Taylor and Buffett co-wrote "Miss You So Badly" included on Buffett's 1977 album Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes. Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band also included "Dixie Diner", originally recorded by Larry Raspberry and The Highsteppers, on Buffett's 1978 live album You Had to Be There.

Buffett and Taylor also teamed up on "Some White People (Can Dance)," a staple of Taylor's repertoire. The song was included on Taylor's 1989 album Chest Pains.

From 2000 - 2005 Greg "Fingers" Taylor toured and recorded extensively with pure trop rock singer/songwriter Don Middlebrook and his band Living Soul. Together they recorded four albums: "I Can't Spell Caribbean," "Changing Lanes," "Boat Drink Island," and "Traveling Music." Some of Taylor's finest work is found on "Traveling Music," particularly the song "Like a River She Rolls."

In 1998, Greg appeared with A1A – The Official and Original Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show on their debut album, "A1A Live." Greg performed with A1A many times throughout the '90s and 2000s.

As of 2006, Taylor was regularly touring with singer-songwriter, K.D. Moore and has done some shows with the Atlanta-based singer-songwriter Jim Asbell, and also toured in 2007 with singer-songwriter Hugo Duarte from North Carolina. Taylor is featured on K.D. Moore's 2004 live album Live at the Tin Goose Saloon, Moore's 2006 studio album Kickin' It Island Style and was a guest artist on Asbell's 2007 studio release, Tropiholics.

At the Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, on June 8, 2006, Taylor joined Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band on stage.

Taylor is now retired due to Alzheimer's disease. He resides in Pearl, Mississippi.

Discography[]

  • Harpoon Man (1984)
  • Chest Pains (1989)
  • New Fingerprints (1991)
  • Old Rock 'n' Roller (1996)
  • Greatest Hits (1998)
  • Back to the Blues (2000)
  • Hi Fi Baby (2003)[3][4]

References[]

  1. ^ Graff, Gary (March 27, 2018). "Jimmy Buffett's 20 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  2. ^ Fulton, Ken (May 1981). Music that's fun, funny, & funky. Boys' Life. pp. 76–77. Retrieved May 14, 2010.
  3. ^ Mike Demmers (November 18, 2003). "Cityhall:Hi Fi Baby". Cityhallrecords.com. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  4. ^ "Greg "Fingers" Taylor | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
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