Hound Dog Taylor
Hound Dog Taylor was born on 12/04/1915 in Natchez, Mississippi, though some sources say 1917. His full birth name was Theodore Roosevelt Taylor. He would first learn to play the piano. When he was 20, he switched to playing the guitar.In 1942, Taylor moved to Chicago.
In around 1957, Taylor became a full-time musician. He played small clubs and at the open-air Maxwell Street Market. Unusually, Taylor had six fingers on his left hand. He played electric slide guitar on cheap Japanese Teisco guitars.
In 1967, Taylor toured Europe with the American Folk Blues Festival, performing with Little Walter and Koko Taylor.
In 1970, Bruce Iglauer saw Taylor with his band the HouseRockers at Florence's Lounge, Chicago and tried to get his employer Delmark Records to sign him.
In 1971, Iglauer used a $2500 inheritance to form Alligator Records and signed Taylor. In the same year, Taylor released his debut album "Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers". It was recorded in just two nights and was Alligator's first release. Iglauer booked tours for the band and they toured nationwide and performed with Muddy Waters, Freddie King, and Big Mama Thornton. The band was particularly popular in Boston where Taylor inspired George Thorogood.
In 1972, Taylor recorded a live album in Boston called "Live at Joe's Place".
In 1973, Taylor released the album "Natural Boogie".
In 1974, Taylor recorded live the album "Beware of the Dog".
In 1975, Taylor and his band went on tour Australia and New Zealand with Freddie King, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. On 17/12/1975, Taylor died of lung cancer in Chicago, Illinois.
In 1976, "Beware of the Dog" was released.
In 1984, Taylor was posthumously into the Blues Hall of Fame.