Montana Taylor

Arthur “Montana” Taylor (b. Butte, Montana, 1903 – d. 1954) – Pianist, singer and songwriter. Arthur Taylor hailed from Butte, Montana, where his father owned a saloon called the Silver City Club. At around age seven, his family moved to Chicago and then onto Indianapolis when he was in his teens. While living in Indy, Taylor learned to play barrelhouse piano around 1919 and entertained at nightclubs, rent parties, and coffee shops. Noted for his percussive technique, he recorded four sides on Vocalion including “Indiana Avenue Stomp” and “Detroit Rocks” in 1929. His recording career went on hold during the Depression years, and he no longer lived in Indianapolis. Nonetheless, he was rediscovered by jazz critic Rudi Blesh in 1946, at which time he recorded more solo sides and other tracks with singer Bertha “Chippie” Hill (1905-1950). Another musician on the sessions was New Orleans jazz drummer Baby Dodds. His last recordings came in 1948 from a radio broadcast. Although he recorded a total of only seventeen sides, Taylor’s playing is considered among the finest of any twentieth century boogie woogie pianists. As a testament to his importance, Document Records released his complete recordings in 1991.