Ben Taylor (musician)

Career

On his first released album Famous Among the Barns and his EP #1, Taylor collaborated with friends Adam MacDougall and Larry Ciancia to form "The Ben Taylor Band." Ultimately deciding that this path (which yielded music that Taylor describes as "neo-psychedelic folk funk") did not represent his true musical nature, Taylor released a follow-up solo album that is much more acoustic in nature and more in line with his family roots. That solo effort, Another Run Around the Sun, featured backing vocals by his sister and mother, with Taylor as vocalist and guitarist, Peter Calo on Guitars, Larry Ciancia as drummer, and bass guitar by Kevin Bacon who also produced the album.

In 2012 Ben Taylor released the album "Listening" in the USA on Iris Records. In 2013 "Listening" was released as a European version on V2 records.

In 2013 Ben Taylor toured in Europe (Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands and UK). In 2014 he returned to Germany for a 10-dates tour presented by artist.people.promotion including stops in Berlin, Kiel, Hamburg, Bremen, Magdeburg, Cologne, Frankfurt, Duisburg, Heidelberg, Munich. He then toured in March and April through the USA. He was accompanied by the British singer Sophie Hiller.

In 2016 Ben Taylor's cover version of "Love Me Tender" was used for a TV-ad for a new fragrance by Ralph Lauren "Tender Romance".

Ben Taylor released on December, 02, 2016 the Christmas EP "Christmas Is Family" with four new recordings. 1. "Noel" written by Ben Taylor and David Saw, 2. "The Night Before Christmas" written by Ben's mother Carly Simon, 3. "Christmas Is Almost Here" written by Ben's uncle Livingston Taylor (brother of James Taylor), and 4. the classic Christmas tune "Silent Night". On all songs British singer Sophie Hiller can be heard. Carly Simon sings on "The Night Before Christmas" as well. The record was released by the German record label "Birdstone Records" on limited CDs and digitally worldwide. The EP is produced by Ben Taylor, Manfred Faust and Nic v. Vogelstein. Two songs (Nos. 1 + 4.) were recorded at the studio "Granny's House" near Hamburg, Germany. Two songs (Nos. 2+3) were recorded in Ben's own home studio.

Acting

Taylor's most recent role was that of Cal Cooper on American Dreams (2004). He has also appeared on the UK show Always and Everyone (1999).

Taylor's cover of Macy Gray's "I Try" was used in a Honey Nut Cheerios television commercial in Canada aired late 2008, early 2009.

Taylor recently appeared as himself on the ABC Family Reality summer hit, The Vineyard (2013)

Charitable work

Taylor appears on the CD Too Many Years contributing the original track "Listen to The Music" to benefit Clear Path International's work with land mine survivors.

Personal and early life

Taylor attended high school at Tabor Academy, a college preparatory boarding school in Marion, Massachusetts.

Taylor has been training in martial arts since he was a teenager. According to the December 2008 issue of Black Belt Magazine, Taylor has trained extensively in qigong, t'ai chi ch'uan, wing chun kung fu, and recently Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Renzo Gracie.

Taylor's sister, Sally Taylor, is also a musician and they have frequently worked together.

Bye Bye, Love: Original Soundtrack Album (1995, one track by Ben Taylor)

1. "I Will" (This song also available on "CD 6" from the Huh Music Service, 1995)

Green Dragon, Name a Fox (Recorded c. 1997) (Unreleased)

1. ""
2. "Paradise"
3. "Revenge"
4. "Broken Tonight"
5. "It May Take Some Time"
6. "Lie Down My Love"
7. "Well Enough Alone"
8. "Surround Me"
9. "I'm Doing Something Bad"
10. "Losing My Resistance"
11. "I Can't Believe It"
12. "Tower For Fools (Just In Time To Fall Down)"
13. "Jamie Loves the Ocean"

Famous Among the Barns (2003)

1. "Island"
2. "Let It Grow"
3. "I Am the Sun"
4. "Day After Day"
5. "No More Running Away"
6. "Safe Enough To Wake Up"
7. "Time of the Season"
8. "Just Like Everyone Else"
9. "A Good Day To Be Alive"
10. "Mushroom Dance"
11. "Rain"
12. "Tonight"

EP #1 (2004, EP)

1. "Day After Day" (edit)
2. "Island" (acoustic with Carly Simon)
3. "I'll Be Fine" (super rough mix)
4. "Surround Me" (acoustic version)

Another Run Around the Sun (2005)

1. "Nothing I Can Do"
2. "You Must Have Fallen"
3. "Think a Man Would Know"
4. "Someday Soon"
5. "One Man Day"
6. "Always"
7. "Digest"
8. "I'll Be Fine"
9. "Surround Me"
10. "Love"
11. "More Beautiful"

Deeper Than Gravity (2006, EP)

1. "Nothing I Can Do"
2. "I Try"
3. "Digest"
4. "You Belong To Me"
5. "Lady Magic"
6. "Glory Box"

The Legend of Kung Folk [Part 1 (The Killing Bite)] (2008)

1. "Wrong"
2. "She's Gone"
3. "Wicked Way"
4. "It's Only Love"
5. "Dangerous Girl"
6. "Something For Nothing"
7. "Wilderness"
8. "You're the One For Me"
9. "Space"
10. "After It's Over"

Listening (2012)

1. "Listening"
2. "Oh Brother"
3. "Not Alone"
4. "Giulia"
5. "Worlds Are Made of Paper"
6. "Vespa's Song"
7. "America"
8. "Dirty"
9. "Burning Bridges"
10. "You Could Be Mine"
11. "Next Time Around"
12. "America (Acoustic Bonus Track)"

Christmas Is Family (EP) (2016)

1. "Noel"
2. "The Night Before Christmas" duet with Sophie Hiller feat. Carly Simon
3. "Christmas Is Almost Here" duet with Sophie Hiller
4. "Silent Night"

Compilation appearances