A Visit with Wayne Taylor

Life In the Carolina's Podcast

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down with former Navy musician Wayne Taylor. After a 21-year military career, Wayne went back to school at Berklee College of Music in Boston with ambitions to become a recording engineer.

As a musician in the military, Wayne had his share of memorable experiences, all of which were made more exciting since he never did know what his next gig would be. One day, he would be playing at an elementary school; the next day, he would be called to perform at the White House. More recently, Wayne started the bluegrass band Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa. His long career in music saw him traveling around the world, bringing him to countries such as Canada, China, Sweden, Scotland, and Ireland.

“There is a wide spectrum of bluegrass,” says Wayne. There is an attitude among many of these new musicians that is both progressive and respectful of tradition. “When you get progressive with it, you get a whole new audience.”

Wayne released his first CD in 1991 and has since gone on to record another 15. Only recently, however, did he build his own studio beside his home. A lifelong learner, he built up his capacity as a bluegrass artist through a mix of his natural talent and a thorough study of technique, both with mentorship and by his own ear.

Carl and Wayne reflect on the calming, even healing power of music. “Music,” says Wayne, “is used as a tool in music therapy to help people bring about positive change. It creates emotion. Playing my songs just puts me in a different frame of mind. I get lost in it. It is like going to see a good movie.”

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