Born: 1937 Sandy Spring, Maryland

Inducted: New Orleans in 2005 by Widmarc Clark

Category: Rock n Roll

Biography: Vernon Taylor grew up in rural Montgomery County to farming baptist parents. Elvis was beginning his musical career in the early 50′s, Vernon heard his records played on WARL radio by the area’s most popular DJ Don Owens. Vernon thought Elvis had a cool sound and put a band together. They begin to play jazzed up country with a fast beat. Vernon grew up on country music but this new sound was catching on and Vernon and his band became a part of it.

The new sound was called Rock n Roll, actually it was country and blues mixed together that brought out this new sound that all the teens of the 50′s loved to dance to. It might not have been that new since Glen Miller’s ” In The Mood ” had a rockin beat to it in 1941 the difference was guitars ripping into a song and that slapping bass and the drums driving the beat.

Vernon and his band called themselves ” The Nighthawks ” later down the road the band name would change to Vernon Taylor and The Southerners. They won a lot of contest playing this new brand of music and by 1956 they were playing fire halls through out the Maryland, Virginia area.

While playing at one of the fire halls, Don Owens happened by and heard them, he was very impressed and hired them to play on his new ( Don Owens TV Show ) that was aired over WTTG in Washington.D.C. every Saturday night.

During their stay on WTTG they backed up many well know artist including Patsy Cline, Les Paul and Mary Ford, Webb Pierce, Jimmy Dean and Roy Clark.

In 1957 Mac Wiseman of bluegrass fame, came into Washington.D.C. on a business trip. Mac was A&R man for Dot records, he dropped by to visit his friend Don Owens who told Mac about Vernon.

Vernon was signed to Dot records, who among it’s stable of artist were, The Del-Vikings, Pat Boone, Sanford Clark and movie actor Tab Hunter.

On July 5, 1957 Vernon found himself in a Nashville studio for two sessions. ( Losing Game ) by J. O’Gwynn. ( I Got The Blues ) by C.Snow. Vernon Taylor on vocals: Floyd Cramer on piano, Hank Garland on guitar, Roy Husky on bass, Charlie McCoy on vibes, the Jordanaires chorus, drums unknown. 15632 – Dot. Produced by Mac Wiseman, released August 1957.

( Why Must You Leave Me ) by Vernon Taylor. b/w ( Satisfaction Guaranteed ) Don Owens. Vernon Taylor vocals: Floyd Cramer on piano, Roy Husky on bass, Charlie McCoy on vibes, Hank Garland on guitar, the Jordanaires chorus, drums unknown. Produced by Mac Wiseman.15697- Dot, released January 1958.

In 1957 Vernon went on Dick Clarks American Bandstand his record was rated high. The teens on the show liked Vernon. Vernon got a lot of exposure from all the publicity. The recording’s didn’t get national air play as it should have. The radio stations were trying to keep up with all of the recording’s being released by RCA on their new star Elvis Presley. It was just about impossible to compete with Elvis. In 1957 Elvis was the biggest name in entertainment shoving everyone else to the side.

Losing Game and I Got The Blues did get it’s share of air play all over Maryland, Washington. D.C, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, the east coast, the mid-west and the south. This kept Vernon busy working various events, county and state fairs and opening shows for well known country artist.

Dot continued to promote Vernon till his contract expired. Sun records signed Vernon and studio time was arranged by Sam Phillips.

Sun session August 15, 1959, Sun Studio, Memphis. 601- Sun – ( This Kind of Love ) by Roy Orbison. 325 Sun ( Sweet and Easy to Love ) by Roy Orbison. ( Mystery Train ) by Junior Parker. ( Breeze ) . Vernon Taylor vocals, guitar. Brad Suggs guitar, Billy Lee Riley bass, Jimmy Van Eaton drums, Charlie Rich piano. Martin Willis tenor sax. Produced by Sam Phillips and Jack Clement. Released September 1959.

As good as Vernon’s Sun recording’s were, it was difficult to get all the artist who were recording in 1958, air play. The The payola scandal which happened 1958 almost ruined the record business. Hundreds of record companies went out of business. Leaving only big name established artist getting their records played. Vernon and many other artist could see the hand writing on the wall and went back to working locally to survive.

As with hundreds of other recording artist the magic days of the early 50′s were over. Rock n Roll had hit the bottom never to be the same again. That caused most of the small record companies to go out of business, Sun did not close down however the hey day of the early 50′s was over. Every DJ in the country had to be careful how they selected the records they played.

Since 1957 Vernon has been in the music business playing shows over all America and the world. He helped in getting Rock n Roll started. He played this new brand of music to teenagers from Maine to Florida and everywhere in between. Vernon is a true pioneer of 50′s Rock n Roll. He was there in the beginning of southern originating music of the 50′s,he helped create it and has been a key factor in keeping southern originating of the 50′s in it’s true form and composition and throughout his years in entertainment he has left an indelible influence on others.

No surprise he was asked to perform and headlined the show at Friday Night at The Great ” Hemsby Rock ” N ” Roll Festival in the U.K. in May of 1995. Vernon performed in Green Bay at one of the Biggest Rock n Roll shows ever in 2003 and brought the house down at every performance, that’s just Vernon Taylor doing what he does best.

Run Wild Records has released a 12 song CD entilted ” Daddy’s Rockin ” it includes a lot of the songs Vernon performed over the last forty years but never got recorded. Most of the recording’s were recorded at Wally Cleavers Studio in Fredericksburg,Va, however some of the tracks were recorded at the Holly Pines Recording Studio in Hagertown, Md. A lot of folks had a hand in this CD, including Dave Moore on guitar, Thommy Burns on slap bass, Andy Wallace on drums, with Vernon doing all the vocals and playing rhythm guitar. This CD was released in April of 1998 and sales went world wide.

Every track except ( Your Lovin Man ) which was recorded in Memphis and features Roland Janes on guitar who played guitar on all Jerry lee Lewis ‘ early Sun recordings ‘ Whole lotta Shakin Goin On “, ” Great Balls Of Fire ” etc, Jimmy Van Eaton on drums who also played on Jerry Lee’ early recordings, Cliff Acred on bass, Jimmy Wilson piano and The Anita Kerr singers.

Back up singers on other recordings were Dave Moore, Andrew Wallace, and Bobby Butler with Peter Bonta on piano. Special thanks helping with the CD are Narvel Felts, Mike Lynam, Larry Blevins, Brenda Taylor ( Vernon’s wife ) and Jennifer Bolin. Other CD’s which may be available are ( Vernon Taylor Then and Now ) recorded at Wally Cleavers Studio in Fredericksburg,Va. ( There’s Only On —— Your Lovin man ) has all the Dot, Sun and Eagle recording’s.

If you would like a copy of Vernon’s records, he just might have a few left, write to Vernon Taylor P.O. Box 381 Myersville,MD. 21773-0381. Vernon Taylor is retired living with his wife Brenda in Hagerstown, MD. On occasion he does a show with his good friends The Fabulous Hubcaps. You can visit their website www.thehubcaps.com . Vernon Taylor one of Rock n Roll’s all time great performers.