Troy Taylor (producer)
Encyclopedia
Troy Taylor was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut
, into a family of musicians. He got his start by singing in talent shows at an early age then moved on to playing keyboards. Before reaching the age of 21, Taylor was signed as an artist to Motown Records
and later helped produce several tracks for Boyz II Men
. It was here that Taylor found his true passion as a producer.
With a discography of platinum hits, Troy Taylor has produced and written for artists such Riff (band)
, Tony Thompson
, Aretha Franklin
, Whitney Houston
, B2K
, Ginuwine
, Color Me Badd
, The Isley Brothers
, Patti LaBelle
, Omarion
, Brian McKnight
, Kevin Lyttle
, Glenn Lewis
, Tyrese
, The O-Jays, Take 6
, SWV
, 702
, Brownstone
, Johnny Gill
,and Stevie Wonder
.
In more recent years Taylor has formed his own production company Songbook Entertainment which has served as a launching pad for young R&B artist Trey Songz
. After meeting in 2001, Taylor has served as Songz' mentor and helped write and produce the bulk of Trey Songz' 2005 debut album I Gotta Make It
. Regarding his personal life, Taylor took in a protegé, by the name of Roméo Taylor, under his wing. Taylor continues to develop young stars into big names, with plans on taking in "unnoticed musician" such as Felipe Crespo, J.R.A, Young Grace, and Brian Cryne.
Troy Taylor has surpassed the title of a beat maker and has strategically moved beyond the title of producer. In fact, when Taylor describes his remarkable craft, he states, “I’m best known for my vocal arrangements, that’s really my signature.” It is because of his musical expertise that Taylor has joined the upper echelon of producers and can now be classified as a “super producer.” What separates Taylor from others is his natural ability to not just make a beat and sell it, but to really get to know the artists. He studies their work and in many cases, comes up with the overall concept of the song, the hook, and even coordinates collaborations, which makes this musical guru what some might refer to as “a music director” following in the footsteps of his late grandfather.
Taylor was born and bred in suburban New Haven, Connecticut, into a family of talented musicians, resulting in his exposure to music at a very early age. His grandfather was a gospel music director, and his father was a talented jazz musician. Taylor has a love for music that dates back to his childhood years, but it wasn’t until the age of 14, that he began tapping into the music world. He started by singing in local talent shows and then moved on to playing keyboards and learning how to listen and understand music. Taylor’s ear for music and his natural ability to gain people’s attention enabled him to make great strides in his career.
Taylor graduated from Hartford Conservatory School in 1988, with a degree in jazz theory and record production. Shortly after, in 1989, he was blessed with the opportunity to meet Motown Record music executive, Timmy Regisford. Regisford was instrumental in Taylor’s landing a solo artist deal at Motown and continued to offer him guidance along the way. In the midst of working on his album, Taylor had a revelation and decided to change career paths. He took a more behind-the-scenes position; one that he felt would offer greater longevity along with more creative control. Proving himself to be correct, two of Taylor’s debut songs, “Little Things” and “Your Love,” were placed on Boyz II Men’s debut album, “Cooley High Harmony,” which sold over 12 million copies.
Over 10 years ago, while attending a church convention in Florida, Taylor stumbled upon a gentleman who happened to be an aspiring singer. That gentleman later went on to become Bad Boys king of R&B, Mr. Carl Thomas. They developed a friendship that provided Taylor the opportunity to work closely with Thomas, teaching him the fundamentals of recording which gave him the skills that would result in 2 million sold of his debut album. In 2000, Taylor won ASCAP’s R&B and Pop Music Award and a Grammy nomination for the production of Tyrese’s hit single, “Sweet Lady,” which was co-written by successful songwriter and little brother, Johnta, “The Tunesmith” Austin, (also one of Taylor’s protégé’s). Johnta also put his stamp on other hits such as: Toni Braxton’s, “Just Be a Man About It,” and Aaliyah’s, “I Don’t Wanna,” and “Miss You,” and Ginuwine’s “Stingy” in 2002.
As an entrepreneur, Taylor formed his own production company several years ago, Songbook Entertainment. He hopes to bring on more talented producers like, “The Formula” that signed to his production company. Their very first collaboration effort resulted in the song titled “Unashamed” placed on Whitney Houston’s latest album “Just Whitney”. Shortly thereafter “The Formula scored again with “Better To Have Loved” on Ginuwine’s “The Senior” album. He’s also working on new artist and most recent addition to his camp, Trey Songz, who first signed to Songbook and then landed a deal at Atlantic Records in 2003. Currently Taylor’s work can be heard on Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, B2K, and Ginuwine’s latest projects. Troy is now in the studio with Patti Labelle, Omarion, Kevin Lyttle, Glenn Lewis, and The Mighty O-Jay’s.
Taylor has also displayed his expertise on such projects as: Whitney Houston’s, “I’m Every Woman,” remix, Boyz II Men’s, “Jezzebel,” off their sophomore album, and B2K’s, “Why I Love You,” “Bump, Bump, Bump,” and “Girlfriends,” two of which he was actually brought in to vocally produce/arrange the songs as well. He has also worked with such artists as: Take 6, SWV, 702, Brownstone, Johnny Gill, and Stevie Wonder to name a few. With a discography full of platinum hits, it’s no wonder Taylor is getting everyone’s attention. “My objective is to focus on songs and not so much the perception of lifestyle. It’s all about my relationship with Christ. He should always be the cause and the reason for motivation and not the perception of people,” says Taylor, who currently resides in Teaneck, NJ with his wife, Adisha and son Quincy.
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, into a family of musicians. He got his start by singing in talent shows at an early age then moved on to playing keyboards. Before reaching the age of 21, Taylor was signed as an artist to Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
and later helped produce several tracks for Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men is an American R&B vocal group best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. They are the most successful R&B group of all time, having sold more than albums worldwide. In the 1990s, Boyz II Men found fame on Motown Records as a quartet, but original member Michael McCary...
. It was here that Taylor found his true passion as a producer.
With a discography of platinum hits, Troy Taylor has produced and written for artists such Riff (band)
Riff (band)
Riff is a R&B vocal group from New Jersey, formed while its members were in high school. The ensemble began under the name Playboys in the late 1980s, with a style strongly influenced by doo wop....
, Tony Thompson
Tony Thompson
Anthony T. "Tony" Thompson was a session drummer best known as a member of Chic. He was raised in the middle-class community of Springfield Gardens, in Queens, NY.-Chic:...
, Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
, Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
, B2K
B2K
B2K was an American R&B music group. The group met in 1998, established in 2001, and managed by music producer Chris Stokes with Lil' Fizz, J-Boog, Raz-B, and Omarion as members. The group disbanded in 2004 due to internal disagreements.-2001-2002: B2K:...
, Ginuwine
Ginuwine
Elgin Baylor Lumpkin , better known by his stage name Ginuwine is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Signed to Epic Records since the mid-1990s, Ginuwine had released a number of multi-platinum and platinum-selling albums and singles, becoming one of R&B's top artists during the late 1990's...
, Color Me Badd
Color Me Badd
Color Me Badd was an R&B vocal group that was formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. The original members of the group were Bryan Abrams ; Mark Calderon ; Sam Watters and Kevin Thornton...
, The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers are a highly influential, successful and long-running American music group consisting of different line-ups of six brothers, and a brother-in-law, Chris Jasper...
, Patti LaBelle
Patti LaBelle
Patricia Louise Holte-Edwards , better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry...
, Omarion
Omarion
Omari Ishmael Grandberry better known as Omarion, is an American R&B singer, actor, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and former lead singer of the R&B group, B2K. Omarion was spotted at a young age by a manager, Christopher B. Stokes, who took a liking to his vocal abilities...
, Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, and R&B/Pop musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays nine instruments: piano, guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussions, trombone, tuba, flugelhorn and trumpet....
, Kevin Lyttle
Kevin Lyttle
Kevin Lyttle is a soca artist hailing from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, who had a worldwide hit with the interpellative soca ballad "Turn Me On", which was recorded by Lyttle and the dancehall artist Spragga Benz.-Career:Previously, Lyttle had subsisted on day jobs, such as customs officer...
, Glenn Lewis
Glenn Lewis
Glenn Lewis is a Canadian R&B and neo soul singer-songwriter. Originally planning to pursue a career in animation as a teenager, Lewis instead decided to focus on music. His father was a member of the musical group Crack of Dawn...
, Tyrese
Tyrese
Tyrese Darnell Gibson , also known simply as Tyrese, is an American R&B singer, rapper, actor, author, former fashion model and MTV VJ. After releasing several albums, he transitioned into films, with lead roles in several Hollywood releases.-Early life:Gibson was born in Los Angeles, California,...
, The O-Jays, Take 6
Take 6
Take 6 is an American a cappella gospel music sextet formed in 1980 on the campus of Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. The group sings in a contemporary style, integrating R&B and jazz influences into their devotional songs and has 10 Grammy wins, 10 Dove Awards, one Soul Train Award and two...
, SWV
SWV
Sisters with Voices, better known as SWV, is an American female R&B trio from New York. Formed in 1990 as a gospel group, SWV became one of the most successful R&B groups of the 1990s. They had a series of hits, including "Weak", "Right Here/Human Nature", "I'm So Into You", and "You're the One"....
, 702
702 (band)
702 , named after the area code of their hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada, is an American platinum-selling R&B trio. Originally a quartet, the group became a trio, which includes sisters Irish , and LeMisha 'Misha' Grinstead, and lead singer Kameelah 'Meelah' Williams...
, Brownstone
Brownstone
Brownstone is a brown Triassic or Jurassic sandstone which was once a popular building material. The term is also used in the United States to refer to a terraced house clad in this material.-Types:-Apostle Island brownstone:...
, Johnny Gill
Johnny Gill
Johnny Gill is an American R&B singer-songwriter. He is the sixth and final member of the R&B supergroup New Edition, and was also a member of another supergroup called LSG; with Gerald Levert and Keith Sweat. His signature song "My, My, My" has been included on numerous romantic...
,and Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
.
In more recent years Taylor has formed his own production company Songbook Entertainment which has served as a launching pad for young R&B artist Trey Songz
Trey Songz
Tremaine "Trey" Aldon Neverson , better known by his stage name Trey Songz, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor. His debut album, I Gotta Make It, was released in 2005, while his second album, Trey Day, was released in 2007...
. After meeting in 2001, Taylor has served as Songz' mentor and helped write and produce the bulk of Trey Songz' 2005 debut album I Gotta Make It
I Gotta Make It
-Charts:...
. Regarding his personal life, Taylor took in a protegé, by the name of Roméo Taylor, under his wing. Taylor continues to develop young stars into big names, with plans on taking in "unnoticed musician" such as Felipe Crespo, J.R.A, Young Grace, and Brian Cryne.
Troy Taylor has surpassed the title of a beat maker and has strategically moved beyond the title of producer. In fact, when Taylor describes his remarkable craft, he states, “I’m best known for my vocal arrangements, that’s really my signature.” It is because of his musical expertise that Taylor has joined the upper echelon of producers and can now be classified as a “super producer.” What separates Taylor from others is his natural ability to not just make a beat and sell it, but to really get to know the artists. He studies their work and in many cases, comes up with the overall concept of the song, the hook, and even coordinates collaborations, which makes this musical guru what some might refer to as “a music director” following in the footsteps of his late grandfather.
Taylor was born and bred in suburban New Haven, Connecticut, into a family of talented musicians, resulting in his exposure to music at a very early age. His grandfather was a gospel music director, and his father was a talented jazz musician. Taylor has a love for music that dates back to his childhood years, but it wasn’t until the age of 14, that he began tapping into the music world. He started by singing in local talent shows and then moved on to playing keyboards and learning how to listen and understand music. Taylor’s ear for music and his natural ability to gain people’s attention enabled him to make great strides in his career.
Taylor graduated from Hartford Conservatory School in 1988, with a degree in jazz theory and record production. Shortly after, in 1989, he was blessed with the opportunity to meet Motown Record music executive, Timmy Regisford. Regisford was instrumental in Taylor’s landing a solo artist deal at Motown and continued to offer him guidance along the way. In the midst of working on his album, Taylor had a revelation and decided to change career paths. He took a more behind-the-scenes position; one that he felt would offer greater longevity along with more creative control. Proving himself to be correct, two of Taylor’s debut songs, “Little Things” and “Your Love,” were placed on Boyz II Men’s debut album, “Cooley High Harmony,” which sold over 12 million copies.
Over 10 years ago, while attending a church convention in Florida, Taylor stumbled upon a gentleman who happened to be an aspiring singer. That gentleman later went on to become Bad Boys king of R&B, Mr. Carl Thomas. They developed a friendship that provided Taylor the opportunity to work closely with Thomas, teaching him the fundamentals of recording which gave him the skills that would result in 2 million sold of his debut album. In 2000, Taylor won ASCAP’s R&B and Pop Music Award and a Grammy nomination for the production of Tyrese’s hit single, “Sweet Lady,” which was co-written by successful songwriter and little brother, Johnta, “The Tunesmith” Austin, (also one of Taylor’s protégé’s). Johnta also put his stamp on other hits such as: Toni Braxton’s, “Just Be a Man About It,” and Aaliyah’s, “I Don’t Wanna,” and “Miss You,” and Ginuwine’s “Stingy” in 2002.
As an entrepreneur, Taylor formed his own production company several years ago, Songbook Entertainment. He hopes to bring on more talented producers like, “The Formula” that signed to his production company. Their very first collaboration effort resulted in the song titled “Unashamed” placed on Whitney Houston’s latest album “Just Whitney”. Shortly thereafter “The Formula scored again with “Better To Have Loved” on Ginuwine’s “The Senior” album. He’s also working on new artist and most recent addition to his camp, Trey Songz, who first signed to Songbook and then landed a deal at Atlantic Records in 2003. Currently Taylor’s work can be heard on Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, B2K, and Ginuwine’s latest projects. Troy is now in the studio with Patti Labelle, Omarion, Kevin Lyttle, Glenn Lewis, and The Mighty O-Jay’s.
Taylor has also displayed his expertise on such projects as: Whitney Houston’s, “I’m Every Woman,” remix, Boyz II Men’s, “Jezzebel,” off their sophomore album, and B2K’s, “Why I Love You,” “Bump, Bump, Bump,” and “Girlfriends,” two of which he was actually brought in to vocally produce/arrange the songs as well. He has also worked with such artists as: Take 6, SWV, 702, Brownstone, Johnny Gill, and Stevie Wonder to name a few. With a discography full of platinum hits, it’s no wonder Taylor is getting everyone’s attention. “My objective is to focus on songs and not so much the perception of lifestyle. It’s all about my relationship with Christ. He should always be the cause and the reason for motivation and not the perception of people,” says Taylor, who currently resides in Teaneck, NJ with his wife, Adisha and son Quincy.