Dr. Billy Taylor was known for being a spokesman for jazz, to his community and to the world. During the week of what would have been Taylor’s 97th birthday, many gathered to hear the Marcus Miller quartet, among other performers, play some of Taylor’s most famous songs. One, “I wish I knew how it would feel to be free”, was popular during the civil rights movement of the 60s, and was written in his neighborhood in Harlem, where a street is now named after him.
The co-executive director of the Harlem Cultural Archives said, “He personified a class act. He was available for the kids, he was an educator, he was selfless. He was an ambassador for jazz, a fantastic player who made sure everyone knew about jazz.”
Source: https://pix11.com/2018/07/28/harlem-pays-tribute-to-beloved-jazz-pianist-dr-billy-taylor/
