About Me
“I can write songs like that,†Olen Taylor tells his daughters, Caitlin (10) and Alison (6), a few years back, while watching “Noggin†one morning on the television set in their home in Bakersfield, California. And why shouldn’t he be able to -- Taylor was the singer-songwriter of the big melody/hook laden "truck-stop pop" of Southern California roots-rock band, “The Wichitas†including co-writer of “Greetings From Bakersfield,†which was on “ The Bakersfield Californian's†list of their 18 essential songs about Bakersfield (10-9-05) -- along with songs by Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Billy Mize and Red Simpson! Taylor had “retired†from the scene after leading The Wichitas for eleven years, from the early years in the bars (such as “Suds Tavern†and “Guthries†in B-Town, and “The Palomino†“The Mint†and “Jack’s Sugar Shack†in Los Angeles), through the gigs opening for the classics (Buck, Merle, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, George Jones), the mainstream (Los Lobos, Marty Stuart, Elvin Bishop, Chris LeDoux), and Americana artists (Rev. Horton Heat, Randy Weeks, John Doe, Hank Williams III), and many others.After a few failed attempts to record the “kid friendly†songs which Taylor had written, some with his wife, Susan, who is a wealth of ideas (as she says, have kids, and you’d have ideas for songs too), on the family p.c., they purchased an i-Mac computer and embraced the “Garageband†recording software that came with it. Along with the loops and midi files from the computer, and the acoustic guitar and vocals of Taylor and the girls, they finished their first song, “Ducks In A Row†and released it on CD for their family and friends, under the name “Olen Taylor and the Taylorettes." After the positive reaction they got about the song, they decided to rename the “band†mr.oscat (the first initial of their first names and the “t†in Taylor). mr.oscat continued recording a full c.d which is being finished right now, due for release in early November 2007.And funny enough, Taylor was correct, he CAN write songs "like that". Some of the songs to be included on the debut CD are “What’s That Smell†“All You Wanna Do Is Play†and “Mama Wants You to Dress Up (But You Don’t Want To)," along with "Ducks In A Row." mr.oscat is pure Americana music with all the hooks and all the charm of The Wichitas, with “kid friendly†lyrics -- a mix that will remind you that the whole family CAN enjoy the same music.
