24 HOURS AT A TIME
Record World Magazine, USA Interview by Michael Peace
TODD TAYLOR PAYS TRIBUTE TO TOY CALDWELL AND DOUG GRAY FOUNDING MEMBERS OF
“THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND”
Todd Taylor grew up in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and he cut his teeth on southern rock, believe it or not. Record World columnist Michael Peace interviewed Todd about his new upcoming single and music video, 24 Hours at a Time, which was written by Toy Caldwell.
MICHAEL PEACE
Todd, tell me about your relationship with Toy and what his influence was on you and your music.
Todd Taylor
I was 6 years old when I started playing the banjo, and I always listened to MTB and loved Toys Guitar Style when I was 13 I meet Toy and we became good friends I would hang out at his house with him and play banjo and he played guitar with me and we would fish in his lake and have a good ole time when he was not touring and I was not touring back then I did play bluegrass but I always played rock as well on my banjo southern rock are anything different I would sit and make up the banjo arrangements for a lot of classic rock songs then copy write the arrangements because no one had ever did that in those days and Toy and I would rock out I remember telling Toy I was going to take the banjo to the rock n roll top-40 and he said do it you have a style of your own and I credit Toy for also telling me to do that and it paid off big time for me being the first person in history to take the banjo as a solo instrument and show the world its not just for bluegrass and that’s how I ended up being known for pioneering rock banjo.
Michael Peace
Where did you record that first album? And tell me how that came about.
Todd Taylor
I spoke to Toy about it, and I recorded it at his studio in Moore, SC, in the old school house where MTB had been recording.
Duane Evans produced that album, which was called Something Different. Duane had purchased the studio from MTB, but they still recorded there, and that was after the Capricorn Records days. Duane Evans is one of the best producers and musicians in the world. He was also a member of the Benny Mardones Band, and he played piano and produced for Benny as well. Benny's biggest hit was Into the Night, which is still the most played song today. I also know Doug Gray and Paul Riddle.
Michael Peace
You have had a lot of success in your career, and this past year and into the new year, you have had over 8 hits with your unique style of singing and banjo style. Can you tell me about your style of rock banjo and how you approach it?
Todd Taylor
Well, I always just played my own style. I developed and picked up stuff I would hear and a lot of licks like Toy would play, but I put my own twist on them, and I call it the Todd Taylor style, which you can hear Toys influence on my style in this song 24 Hours at a Time.
Michael Peace
Todd, what made you want to cover this song and put the Todd Taylor rouch on it?
Todd Taylor
Well, I would say I have always loved Toy, Doug, and Paul and loved what they did. Just like Toy had his own unique style on the guitar, he and his brother played with their thumbs; no one could ever come close to that. Just like Doug Gray, no one could ever sing like Doug Gray, and no one could play drums like Paul Riddle. Well, that is how I am, and the same is true of what I do. Its a good gift, but we are all just Spartanburg SC boys, and I respect them for the influence they had on me and spending time with Toy in Pauline SC at his home; he is the one that told me to do it taje the banjo to the top 40, and I have always loved that song Toy wrote 24 hours at a time.
Michael Peace
Todd, where will the video be filmed?
I will be filming it in my hometown of Spartanburg, SC. I have filmed many of my videos here over the past year. I just finished recording the song in my studio,