Sam Taylor

Samuel Leroy Taylor, Jr. (July 12, 1916 – October 5, 1990), known as Sam "The Man" Taylor, was an American jazz, rhythm and blues, and blues tenor saxophonist.

Taylor was born in Lexington, Tennessee, United States. He attended Alabama State University, where he played with the Bama State Collegians. He later worked with Scatman Crothers, Cootie Williams, Lucky Millinder, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Buddy Johnson, Louis Jordan and Big Joe Turner. Taylor was one of the most requested session saxophone players in New York recording studios in the 1950s. He also replaced Count Basie as the house bandleader on Alan Freed's radio series, Camel Rock 'n Roll Dance Party, on CBS.

Taylor played the saxophone solo on Turner's "Shake, Rattle and Roll". He also played on "Harlem Nocturne"; on "Money Honey", recorded by Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters in 1953; and on "Sh-Boom" by the Chords.

During the 1960s, he led a five-piece band, the Blues Chasers. In the 1970s, he frequently played and recorded in Japan.

Taylor died in 1990 in Crawford Long Hospital, in Atlanta, Georgia, at the age of 74.

Birth and Death Data: Died October 5, 1990

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1941 - 1965

Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor saxophone, saxophone, alto saxophone

Notes: Sam "The Man" Taylor.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 51-75 of 279 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia CO57391 10-in. 2/13/1957 You made me love you Screamin' Jay Hawkins Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Columbia CO57392 10-in. 2/13/1957 Yellow coat Screamin' Jay Hawkins Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Columbia CO57393 10-in. 2/13/1957 Hong Kong Screamin' Jay Hawkins Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Columbia CO57394 10-in. 2/13/1957 Darling please forgive me Screamin' Jay Hawkins Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 1017 10-in. 3/4/1953 Good lovin' The Clovers instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 1018 10-in. 3/4/1953 I confess The Clovers instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 1065 10-in. 5/17/1953 It should have been me Mickey Baker ; Ray Charles ; Connie Kay ; Lloyd Trotman instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 1066 10-in. 5/17/1953 Losing hand Ray Charles instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 1067 10-in. 5/17/1953 Heartbreaker Ray Charles instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 1068 10-in. 5/17/1953 Sinner's prayer Ray Charles instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 1069 10-in. 5/17/1953 Mess around Ray Charles instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 1070 10-in. 5/17/1953 Funny (but i still love you) Ray Charles instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 1087 10-in. 6/28/1953 Lucille The Drifters ; Clyde McPhatter instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 1104 10-in. 8/9/1953 The way i feel The Drifters ; Clyde McPhatter instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 1105 10-in. 8/9/1953 Money honey The Drifters ; Clyde McPhatter instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 1109 10-in. 8/18/1953 Feelin' sad Ray Charles instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 1152 10-in. 11/12/1953 Such a night The Drifters ; Clyde McPhatter instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 1153 10-in. 11/12/1953 Warm your heart The Drifters ; Clyde McPhatter instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 1154 10-in. 11/12/1953 Bip bam The Drifters ; Clyde McPhatter instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 1203 10-in. 2/4/1954 Honey love The Drifters ; Clyde McPhatter instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 1248 10-in. 3/25/1954 I'm living my life for you LaVern Baker instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 1251 10-in. 3/25/1954 I can't hold out any longer LaVern Baker instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 1315 10-in. 8/26/1954 All righty oh sweetie The Clovers instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 1332 10-in. 10/20/1954 Tomorrow night LaVern Baker ; The Gliders instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 1334 10-in. 10/20/1954 Tweedlee dee LaVern Baker ; The Gliders instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
(Results 51-75 of 279 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Taylor, Sam," accessed January 5, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105513.

Taylor, Sam. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 5, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105513.

"Taylor, Sam." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 5 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105513

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