male vocals : JamesTaylor.com

Henry Taylor – Vocals

WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF PERFORMING IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE?
I’m not sure I remember this as my own recollection or if I think I do since I’ve heard the story. When I was about 4, my Dad was on tour and my Mom, brother Rufus and I traveled on the bus with him. Dad had a concert in Atlanta, at what I now know as Chastain. It was that time between sound check and the show when everyone has dinner and gets ready. I was running around backstage and saw the people in the audience. I bolted from my Mom and ran out onstage in front of the audience and started taking a bow. People seemed to like it. Until Mom came out and yanked me off, none too happy.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED SINGING AND/OR PLAYING THE GUITAR SERIOUSLY?
It’s very hard to say since there’s not a time in my life that I didn’t love the guitar. I grew up hearing Dad play all the time. He got me a guitalele (a six-stringed ukulele) which was a good size for a young kid. That was probably when I was five or six. I think I graduated to a full-size guitar when I was 10 or 11.

SUMMER 2021 IS YOUR FIRST TOUR AS A FULL-TIME BAND MEMBER. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE HEADING OUT ON THE ROAD WITH THESE SINGERS AND THIS PARTICULAR BAND OF MUSICIANS?
I have literally known this band all my life. There’s one photo where Arnold (McCuller) is holding me which I am 3 months old in. There’s one with Kate (Markowitz) that same time. And Jimmy Johnson. I feel as if the band is family. They have always treated me in such a kind and warm way. It can’t be easy to have the “boss’s kid” working next to you. And although being a part of this incredible ensemble of hugely talented musicians might feel a little overwhelming, I am so excited to be back on the road doing what I love most.

WHAT ONE SPECIAL ITEM DO YOU PLAN TO TAKE ON TOUR WITH YOU?
Ear plugs.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO ABOUT TOURING WITH YOUR DAD?
I’ve been lucky enough to perform with my Dad since I was pretty young. And in these past two years, I’ve been able to learn so much from him. We were stuck in Montana for a lot of the pandemic where there wasn’t a lot to do besides music. He’s taught me his fingering, his approach to songwriting, his technique with vocal warmups. Of course he’s my Dad but I think this tour will give the chance to see him even more as the amazing musician that he is. I want to do well for him, so I do feel pressure. But I’m hoping the singers will put up with me and continue to teach me as they’ve done so graciously in the past.

photos: Michael J. Lutch

Dorian Holley – Vocals

WHEN AND WHERE WAS YOUR FIRST GIG?
At aged 14, I joined the Bob Mitchell Singing Boys Choir. It was an 8-hour a day, 6 days a week free school where we sang for our tuition and trained. We were on an episode of Marcus Welby, M.D. starring Robert Young.

WHEN DID YOU START WORKING WITH JAMES?
‘94, I think. The Monkey Bone Tour.
(Editor’s note: James’s spelling was: “Mon Que Bon”!)

WHEN WAS YOUR FIRST TOUR?
Shirley Jones of The Jones Girls. Maybe ‘82, ‘81. We opened for Frankie Beverly and Maze. I was out of my mind ecstatic!

WHAT ONE SPECIAL ITEM DO YOU ALWAYS TAKE ON TOUR?
The last 15 years I’ve been coaching on American Idol or singing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, so I have no idea what I’ll take.

WHAT’S YOUR PRE-SHOW ROUTINE?
I’ll warm up and get hyped. Often go around and wish my bandmates a good show.

WHY DO YOU ENJOY TOURING WITH JAMES?
The great James is super considerate and pays attention to people. Not every artist does that. Most of them don’t even know their band’s names. He honestly cares that the vocalists have a special place in the mix. That makes a huge difference in the kind of show the audience gets.