Billy Taylor Sr.

# Billy Taylor Sr.

A pioneering jazz bassist and tuba player active from the 1920s through the 1970s, Billy Taylor Sr. was a foundational figure in early jazz ensembles during the swing era. His work on bass and tuba helped shape the rhythmic foundations of jazz during a transformative period in American music history.

Taylor's contributions to jazz instrumentation and ensemble playing influenced generations of musicians, establishing him as a respected session and touring musician throughout his five-decade career in the genre.