Billy Taylor (1921-2010) was one of the most educated Jazz musicians in the history of the genre. He went on to become a Jazz activist and educator, making himself one of the most indispensable musicians in the history of Jazz. His piano and composing skills gave him great fame as a media personality (Keepnews 1).

Taylor was born in North Carolina grew up in a family that valued music. He attended Virginia State college and graduated with a Music degree in 1942. Post college, Taylor moved to New York City and joined Webster’s quarter playing the piano and worked with other musicians who inspired his love for Latin music (Keepnews 3).

During the 50’s and 60’s he led his own group and started his foray into broadcast television with NBC’s “The Subject is Jazz.” He also began Jazzmobile, a way in which to bring Jazz to black neighborhoods through streetcorner concerts. From 1969-1972, Taylor was the musical director on the David Frost nighttime show. Taylor earned a doctorate from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1975 (Keepnews 2). He went from being an uneducated, self taught, Jazz musician to one of the most educated and outspoken artists of his time. Taylor wrote a large number of compositions that varied in style, with the most famous piece of “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free.”