With Otis Taylor it’s best to expect the unexpected. Part of Taylor’s appeal is his contrasting character traits. It is precisely this element of surprise that makes him one of the most compelling blues artist to emerge in recent years and who is known internationally for his “unique instrumentation” and poignant storytelling in song.

Otis Mark Taylor was born in Chicago in 1948. When an adolescent the family moved to Denver where his interest in blues and folk was cultivated. Young Otis spent time at the Denver Folklore Center where he bought his first instrument, a banjo. He also learned to play guitar and harmonica and by his mid-teens he formed his first group – the Butterscotch Fire Department Blues Band!

He ventured overseas to London where he performed for a brief time until he returned to the U.S. and Boulder in the late 1960’s. He did stints with Deep Purple, the 4-Nikators and Zephyr before taking a break from the music business in 1977. During this time he established a career as an antiques dealer and began coaching a professional bicycle team. After years of prodding from his musical mentors, Otis returned to the stage. It was 1995 and after plying a “one-time” gig with Kenny Passarelli and Eddie Turner, Taylor decided to return to the music scene. Two years later he released Blue Eyed Monster which riveted the blues world and marked the emergence of a singer/songwriter who has in his own words, “a way of saying something that seems to be more intense.” In 1998 he raised eyebrows with “When Negroes Walked the Earth”, critics and music fans took notice and his talents as a vivid storyteller and accomplished guitar player were solidified. In the summer of 2000 he was recognized with a composition fellowship from the Sundance Institute.

Since then Otis has earned four W.C. Handy nominations (which is considered the most prestigious award for blues artists) and won the award for “Best New Artist Debut.” In 2003 he won the French Jazz and Blues award from the Academy of Charles Cros, called the “Coup de Coeur” award. The New York Times, Washington Post and Chicago Tribune have all placed him on their “Top 10” and “Top 20” lists from 2003 to 2005.

In addition, Taylor spearheads a blues in the schools program called “Writing the Blues.” Conceived by his wife, Carole, he appears at schools and universities around the country to mentor students interested in blues. This program allows him to connect with others ensuring that the blues will continue in the next generation.