In honor of African-American Music Appreciation Month, Taylor’s Lindsay Love-Bivens and GRAMMY-winning artist Judith Hill visited the newly opened Nashville museum, which celebrates the pioneering influence of African-American artists on American music genres.
Gabriel O’Brien is a cinematographer and audio engineer, as well as a longtime Taylor player. One of the administrators of the Taylor Guitars Owners Group on Facebook, he owns 10 Taylors and sold many more while formerly working as the sales manager at Larry’s Music Center in Wooster, Ohio. He is the owner of Upperhand Studios. His spirit animal is a taco.
Michael Natter is best known for his collaboration with Grammy-winning singer-songwriter (and Taylor artist) Jason Mraz. Their hit single, “I Won’t Give Up,” is one of four co-writes from Mraz’s platinum-selling Love is a Four Letter Word album. Michael’s wife, Nancy, joined Michael to co-write the title tracks on the debut albums for X Factor winners Alex & Sierra (It’s About Us) and American Idol winner Nick Fradiani (Hurricane). The Natters teamed up again with Mraz on two cuts from his Yes! album.
Josquin Des Pres is a musician, songwriter, and music entrepreneur whose credits include co-writing numerous songs with Bernie Taupin (Elton John) and with songwriters Winston Sela, Michael Natter and several American Idol finalists. Des Pres has also composed songs and themes for over 40 television shows, produced more than 60 CDs for major and independent record labels, and written several books about the music industry.
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Chris Sorenson
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Shawn Persinger
Shawn Persinger, a.k.a. Prester John, owns a Taylor 410, two 310s, a 214ce-N, an 8-string baritone, and a GS Mini Bass. His music has been described as a myriad of delightful musical paradoxes: complex but catchy; virtuosic yet affable; smart and whimsical. His book The 50 Greatest Guitar Books has been hailed as a monumental achievement by readers and critics.
After five decades in the guitar business, Bob has learned that while some things are worth waiting for, responsiveness and urgency are key drivers of innovation.
Sara Niemietz and Linda Taylor’s Superman, the Latin Alternative Music Conference, Taylor Soundcheck with Liv Slingerland, Vinyl Confessions with Maggie Baugh, and more.
A news roundup from the Taylor community: Guitars 4 Vets, recovering a lost guitar, remembering Nanci Griffith, and artist updates from Nashville and beyond.
The GRAMMY-winning artist/producer comes up for air during a fertile creative stretch to share why a good acoustic guitar is an indispensable songwriting tool and what he likes about the new Taylor GT.
The Taylor social media channels have been bustling lately, from the insider interviews on Taylor Primetime to live artist performances on our Instagram.
Scott Paul is Taylor’s Director of Natural Resource Sustainability. Explore previous articles from Wood&Steel about Taylor’s sustainability-focused efforts below.
After attending the recent international conference for the CITES convention in Panama, Scott Paul reports on how the growing focus on tree species could impact the future of musical instruments.
As Taylor’s urban wood initiative expands to include red ironbark, Scott Paul explains the value of our work with West Coast Arborists and how eucalyptus trees became so prolific in California.
A decade after buying an ebony mill in Cameroon, our efforts to ensure an ethical ebony supply chain have led to new scientific discoveries and a scalable community planting program that’s on the verge of doubling in size.
With two planting projects in the works, Taylor’s collaboration with partners like West Coast Arborists sheds light on the challenges and benefits of creating a circular economy around urban trees.
Our innovative efforts to preserve the future of ebony, koa and urban trees reveal three profoundly different approaches. Yet all are linked by our commitment to improving local ecosystems and the communities that rely on them.
Scott Paul explains the value of urban trees and how Taylor’s collaboration with a California-based arborist can support the regreening of city and suburban areas.
In August of 2019, CITES voted to exempt rosewood musical instruments from requiring CITES permits. Scott Paul was there and explains what it means for instrument makers and owners.
Scott Paul traces the technological progress that has enabled the status of wood species to be assessed more accurately and reveals why that’s good news for ebony. Plus, our ebony initiative in Cameroon reaches a new milestone.
Scott Paul explains why forest restoration and reforestation are becoming major themes within international forest policy circles and how Taylor fits into the conversation with ebony and koa reforestation projects.
Jim Kirlin chronicles Taylor’s six years of work to transform an ebony mill in Cameroon, learn about ebony ecology and developing a planting program. Plus: A preview of Taylor’s new ebony guitar slides.
CITES Regulations and a Public-Private Partnership
Scott Paul reports on Taylor’s efforts to amend CITES rosewood regulations and a new public-private partnership agreement with the government of Cameroon to support the replanting of ebony.
Together with Pacific Rim Tonewoods and other important partners in Hawaii, we’re striving to develop successful models for koa reforestation and growing instrument-grade wood for future generations.
What critics are saying about the new American Dream Flametop, AD22e and our latest GT models. Plus, which Taylors made the latest “Best Guitars” lists.
In an in-depth conversation, Taylor master luthier Andy Powers reflects on the evolution of Taylor guitar design and the many factors that contribute to an acoustic guitar’s musical personality, including the player.
From the Grand Concert to the Grand Theater, Taylor’s innovative small-body guitar designs have made the playing experience more accessible, more expressive and more fun.
Cover story: New American Dream models. Plus: The 2023 Product Guide | Inside Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe | Stevie Salas & the Native American musicians who shaped rock ‘n’ roll | GS Mini Rosewood & Caramel Burst | CAGED playing techniques.
Cover story: The new Urban Ironbark 500 Series. Plus: Urban Ash LTDs | How cities manage their tree populations | Walnut-top Academy Series | R&B upstroke technique | Guitar care tools & tips | Andy Powers named President & CEO.
Cover story: New for ’22: the AD27e Flametop, two new GT models and the Grand Concert AD22e. Plus: the 2022 Taylor Guitar Guide, Andy Powers talks about the evolution of Taylor tone, and more R&B guitar lessons.
On the Cover: Discover the art of Taylor's inlay designs. Plus: the growing popularity of small-body guitars, what artists learned during the pandemic, R&B guitar lessons and updates from our environmental initiatives.
Cover story: Taylor’s transition to employee ownership. Plus: Artists adapt during COVID | How African Americans shaped American music genres | Open minor tunings | the 200 Plus Series | Exotic-top T5z models
Taylor expands the GT Series with two new models, and the American Dream Series becomes a permanent addition. Plus: Talking pandemic creativity with FINNEAS and the inaugural digital edition of the Taylor Guitar Guide.
Meet Taylor’s latest offerings: the American Dream Series and the Taylor GT. Plus: recording acoustic guitars, updated 800 models and a new Grand Symphony.
Taylor’s culture of innovation is built on a foundation of passion, problem-solving, and plucky resolve. During tough times, we know how to respond — it means looking out for others as much as ourselves.
The expanded Builder’s Edition collection, featuring four new models: Builder’s Edition 816ce, 912ce, 652ce and 324ce. Plus: The 2020 Guitar Guide | Upcycling urban trees
Cover story: V-Class 12-string Grand Concerts. Plus: More V-Class Grand Concert models | Builder’s Edition K24ce | The Wood&Steel Interview with Mimi Fox | How guitar picks impact tone | How song ideas become recordings | Grand Pacific reviews
