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 1-25 of 279 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-067727 10-in. 8/26/1941 Foo-gee Sunset Orchestra ; Julius Watson ; Doc Wheeler Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-067728 10-in. 8/26/1941 How 'bout that mess Sunset Orchestra ; Doc Wheeler Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-067729 10-in. 8/26/1941 Take a tip Sunset Orchestra ; Doc Wheeler Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-067730 10-in. 8/26/1941 Baby, I just want you Frohsine Stewart ; Sunset Orchestra ; Doc Wheeler Jazz/dance band, with vocal solo instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-068152 10-in. 11/6/1941 Gabby Sunset Orchestra ; Doc Wheeler Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-068166 10-in. 11/6/1941 Big and fat and forty-four Hardway Four ; Sunset Orchestra ; Doc Wheeler Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal quartet instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-068167 10-in. 11/6/1941 Sarghum switch Sunset Orchestra ; Doc Wheeler Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-068168 10-in. 11/6/1941 Leave the rest to me Sunset Orchestra ; Doc Wheeler Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-073487 10-in. 3/30/1942 Who threw the whiskey in the well? Hardway Four ; Sunset Orchestra ; Doc Wheeler Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal quartet instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-073488 10-in. 3/30/1942 Me and my Melinda James Otis Lewis ; Sunset Orchestra ; Doc Wheeler Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-073489 10-in. 3/30/1942 Tunies' tune Sunset Orchestra ; Doc Wheeler Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-073490 10-in. 3/30/1942 Keep jumpin' Sunset Orchestra ; Doc Wheeler Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Columbia CO40919 10-in. 6/28/1949 Oh I'm evil Kirby Walker Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Columbia CO40920 10-in. 6/28/1949 High brow blues Kirby Walker Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Columbia CO40920 10-in. 6/28/1949 Juke box time Kirby Walker Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Columbia CO40922 10-in. 6/28/1949 Shut up Kirby Walker Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Columbia CO48077 10-in. 6/25/1952 I'll be sittin' I'll be rockin' Larry Darnell Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Columbia CO48078 10-in. 6/25/1952 Singin' my blues Larry Darnell Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Columbia CO48079 10-in. 6/25/1952 Better be on my way Larry Darnell Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Columbia CO48080 10-in. 6/25/1952 No time at all Larry Darnell Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Columbia CO48335 10-in. 8/21/1952 You belong to me Annie Laurie ; Leroy Kirkland Orchestra Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Columbia CO48336 10-in. 8/21/1952 Stop talkin' and start walkin' Annie Laurie ; Leroy Kirkland Orchestra Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Columbia CO48337 10-in. 8/21/1952 Give me half a chance Annie Laurie ; Leroy Kirkland Orchestra Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Columbia CO48338 10-in. 8/21/1952 I ain't got it bad no more Annie Laurie ; Leroy Kirkland Orchestra Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Columbia CO48457 10-in. 10/8/1952 Just want your love Big Maybelle ; Leroy Kirkland Orchestra Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
(Results 1-25 of 279 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Taylor, Sam," accessed January 4, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105513.

Taylor, Sam. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 4, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105513.

"Taylor, Sam." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 4 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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