He was a towering presence on the Indiana Avenue music scene — a big man with a big sound, and one of the most respected baritone sax players to come out of Naptown. His name was Les Taylor — but jazz fans knew him as the "Bear”.
Born in Naptown in 1931, Taylor started his career on the Avenue, where he played with local legends like Erroll Grandy, Jimmy Coe, Wes Montgomery, and many others. During the late 1950s and early '60s, Taylor toured the country with Lloyd Price and Bill Doggett. Taylor was a fixture in the Naptown jazz scene until his untimely death in 1983 at the age of 52.
Join host Rodney Stepp for music from Les "Bear" Taylor, featuring his work with Ella Fitzgerald, Bill Doggett, Floyd Smith, Mel Rhyne, Larry Clark, Bill Myers, and more.
