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 126-150 of 279 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 85592 12/23/1953 Melancholy me Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 85593 12/23/1953 Somebody bad stole de wedding bell Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 85804 2/1/1954 Come rain or come shine Pearl Bailey instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 85805 2/1/1954 Alla en el rancho grande Pearl Bailey instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 85806 2/1/1954 What happened to the hair (on the head of the man I love) Pearl Bailey instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 85807 2/1/1954 I wouldn't walk across the street Pearl Bailey instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 86366 6/4/1954 Later Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 86367 6/4/1954 Lullaby of Birdland Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 86481 6/29/1954 Soft touch George Williams Orchestra ; Bart Varsalona instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 86482 6/29/1954 Block buster George Williams Orchestra ; Bart Varsalona instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 86483 6/29/1954 You can't stop love George Williams Orchestra ; Bart Varsalona instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 86484 6/29/1954 Saturday night function George Williams Orchestra ; Bart Varsalona instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 86982 10/29/1954 [Unknown title(s)] George Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 86983 10/29/1954 Song from Desiree (We meet again) George Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 86984 10/29/1954 Tiger rag mambo George Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 86985 10/29/1954 [Unknown title(s)] George Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 87814 4/22/1955 Come and dance with me Al Sears and his Rock 'n' Rollers instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 87815 4/22/1955 Come a-runnin' Al Sears and his Rock 'n' Rollers instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 87816 4/22/1955 Tom, Dick 'n Harry (Instrumental) Al Sears and his Rock 'n' Rollers instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 87817 4/22/1955 Tina's canteen (Instrumental) Al Sears and his Rock 'n' Rollers instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 87917 5/9/1955 Jack hammer drill George Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 87918 5/9/1955 Rocking the blues George Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 87919 5/9/1955 Too much moon George Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 89964 5/16/1956 Camel rock Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 89965 5/16/1956 Up and down Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
(Results 126-150 of 279 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Taylor, Sam," accessed January 8, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105513.

Taylor, Sam. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 8, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105513.

"Taylor, Sam." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 8 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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