Member Since: 31/01/2007
Band Members:
ZACK TAYLOR
February 7th, 1952-March 5th, 2008
WE MISS YOU MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY!!
Zack Taylor's musical career has spanned many years and many miles. Born Jackie Wayne Sisson in Metter, Georgia on Feb 7, 1952. Raised in Southeast Georgia on his Grandad's farm, Zack grew up with music all around. Even in the cradle he'd hear the Grand Old Opry on the family's old radio and even remembers Roy Acuff singing 'Wreck on the Highway' and 'Wabash Cannonball.' He was a talented kid, singing from the age of two for anyone who'd listen.
Zack's Dad could play the guitar very well….still can. He'd play and Zack would sing along. Then Dad would stand the guitar in the corner and leave the room, telling Zack 'don't touch!!' Well guess what?? It would definitely get touched!!!
By age 7, Zack and cousin Mike Monroe, 6, were writing little songs about everyday things using television show theme songs as the melodies.
By age 12, they had a band along with Zack's brother Jimmy ,schoolmate Don Powell and neighbor Lane Johnson on drums. They played all the teen-town gigs that were around, along with any school functions that would book them. They played quite a few battles of the bands and won a couple! The group was called 'The Vanngards' at first, then 'The Mourning Mass.' They bought their own equipment…PA ..and an old 51 Packard hearse for their dads to drive them to the gigs in!!!
Zack got a driver's licence at 16 and immediately started playing the honkytonks around the area. He'd written a bunch of rock songs by that time. His friend Randy Sykora was a radio DJ in Vidalia and had heard that Allen Records needed songs for a band they were promoting, Bo and the Weevils. Sykora arranged a meeting with label owner Hank Allen and Zack. Bo and the Weevils recorded 20 of Zack's songs, releasing 8 as 45's!
'Fallin Angel' was a regional hit in the Southeast Georgia area …1 on 8 stations…Pretty cool for a 16 year old!
Another single 'Georgia Ground' was played on WLS Chicago several times. That record was recorded at Lefevre Studio in Atlanta. The musicians that played on it were a pretty impresive bunch! Emory Gordy Jr. on bass, Barry Bailey on lead guitar, J.R.Cobb on electric rhythm and Paul Goddard on drums!!! Those last three guys went on to form The Atlanta Rhythm Section. 'Georgia Ground' was Recorded in 1968. Southern Rock before the phrase was invented!!
1970, Zack graduated high school, worked long enough to save 500 bucks, and he and songwriter friend Mark Higdon headed for Nashille, convinced they'd be stars before the money ran out….didn't happen!!! Two weeks later he was back in South Georgia working at a sawmill for $1.92 per hour.
1974, After seeing The Atlanta Rhythm Section, Charlie Daniels Band and Lynnard Skynnard in concert at the Macon Coliseum, Zack decided it was time for another shot at Music City. His friend had recently gotten a job at a newly completed Theme Park called Opryland.
Doug Johnson and Zack had played live together in Georgia, even opening for Tom T. Hall in Savannah, so Zack makes the trip to Doug's apartment, staying 3 weeks this time…till that money ran out. Zack met some cool musician folks that trip including Charlie Daniel's Band keyboardist Taz Degreggio and Mike Chapel, son of legendary songwriter Don Chapel.
Zack still has the guitar that Mike traded him at that time. The guitar had formerly belonged to Mike's ex-stepmom, Tammy Wynette!! Any way, after that 3 week adventure, it was back to the South Georgia honkytonks again!
1976, old pal Don Powell from the Mourning Mass days finds out that The Blackwood Singers in Nashville need a guitar player to go on the road with them, promoting their newly recorded Capitol Records album. Zack went, auditioned, got the job and was on the road within 4 days, living on a Siver Eagle bus, playing one-nighters in every state but Alaska.
That job lasted until late November, when Zack met Paul Overstreet at a local Nashville club called The Plantation.
The same club where he'd met Taz Degreggio two and a half years earlier. Paul needed a guitar player for a 2 week gig in Louisville KY at a club called The Lemon Tree, which was a local country rock hot spot. That 2 weeks wound up being almost 3 years working with Paul. The band, known as Crossroads played extensively in the midwest and southern regions, even doing a month long Special Services tour of Guantanamo Bay Cuba!
1978, Zack started doing some gigs with a Nashville based showband, The Don Willis Show. Zack traveled with them almost 2 years playing the southern region along with gigs in Ohio, South Dakota, Kansas and Missouri.
1979, Zack also did gigs with Billy Thunderkloud and The Chief-tones, an all Indian band. Billy was like the Native American Elvis and was very popular on the reservations around the country as well as the fair circuit.
1980, Zack moved to Birmingham Alabama to play guitar for Beau Monday, a local hero who had his own club.
1981, Zack formed The South with Connie Cicero and Slick Williams. They entered and won The Seagrams Seven
Battle of the Bands for Alabama and wound up back in Nashville for the finals. They came out 7 for the nation, but they got to record a single 45 as part of the prize with a thousand records pressed!!! They took the proceeds from that record and produced the album 'The South'.
1983-93, after the South Band had run it's course, Zack moved back to Nashville and began playing the little bars on Lower Broadway including The Hitchin' Post, The Turf, Say When2 , The Nashboro Lounge 1&2, Music City Lounge and others that have come and gone through the years.
1993-99, Zack was hired as a regular at Tootsie's in March of 93 where he performed 5 days a week until June of 99. It was there that Zack and Rick McDaniel first met and began writing songs together.
1999, Zack moved to New Port Richey Florida and began working for Ogden Martin Systems as a Regional Maintenance Mechanic in their Waste to Energy facilities. A long way from the Music world!!!
2003, Zack finally left the boiler-maker world to go back to work doing what he loves most, pickin a guiitar. This time in one of the most beautiful places in the world — the southern Alabama Gulf coast. Through old Pal Mark LaBorde, Zack was able to land a regular gig at the world famous Flora-Bama in Perdido Key playing with Johnny Barbato and the Lucky Doggs. Zack was there up until Sept 16,2004 when Hurricane Ivan destroyed the area, including the Flora-Bama!! Oh well!! One dream gig blown and washed away!!
Zack played with the Lucky Doggs in the wilderness of South Alabama until Feb 05, doing any little gigs for any little money, just to get by.
2005, Zack starts a new gig with the Rusty McHugh tribute band, originally from the Flora-Bama but now playing in guess where??? New Orleans!!! Of Course on Bourbon Street! 4 nights a week! Big bucks and a furnished apartment Yay!!
2005, Late August, Zack loses second dream house band gig in less than one year to Miss Katrina!!!
2005, Aug- Nov, back in the Alabama wilderness again.
2005, November, here in Nashville again!!!! I told you it was a lot o' miles!
2007, He returned to Perdido Key, FL and teamed up with Damien Lamb to produce Damien's second CD, ' Just Passing Through' performing throughout the Gulf coast. JPT will be released in the Spring.
2008, Zack's final performance...The Pensacola Blues Cafe...March 2, 2008 with Damien Lamb!
HEAVEN IS IN FOR SOME GREAT MUSIC!!!
"My Best Friend"
They found him at the table
A guitar in his hand
He looked like he was sound asleep
They shook him once and hollered,
"Zack, quit messin' round...
Don't cha want somethin' to eat?"
He didn't budge an inch
Or laugh that worn out laugh
When all he did was sit there
They knew right where he was at
Chorus-
He was high on the mountain
Layin' low like he always did
Let's say grace for his salvation
I'm proud to say he was my best friend
His son told me, "Brother...
Thanks for your kind words"
I said, "Man...it comes from the heart"
I can hear Barney's Rag
His papa taught him how
I wonder, how is that old man
I raised a toast to heaven
Said, "God must be proud
That fender telecaster
Must be screamin' way out loud
Chorus-
He must be high on the mountain
Layin' low like he always did
Let's say grace for his salvation
I'm proud to say he was my best friend
Bridge-
Here we sit together
Thinkin' bout our brother
Wishing we were laughing
Missing our good friend
Chorus-
He must be high on the mountain
Layin' low like he always did
Let's say grace for his salvation
I'm proud to say he was my best friend
Tag-
I'm proud to say he was my best friend
Influences:
Record Label: OobaGooba Records
Type of Label: Indie