Profile

Todd Taylor
  • Original

    Stainless Steel / Five sets from medium light to almost medium gauge

    ...Read more
  • Todd Taylor

    Instrument
    Banjo
    Genre
    Country
    Strings
    Custom 5-String Banjo Set

    Todd “Banjoman” Taylor first fell in love with the banjo at just six years old. While on a family trip to Walt Disney World, Todd's parents realized he had wandered off. After a frantic search they found Todd on a steamboat ride -- mesmerized by the music of the banjo performer. His mom finally gave in to his pleadings and purchased his first banjo from a JCPenny catalog the following Christmas. Since then, Todd has enjoyed a music career spanning three decades.

    As a teenager and young adult, he and his twin brother performed on the Grand Ole Opry with music legends Roy Acuff and Bill Monroe, and TV shows like Regis and Kathy Lee. Todd may be best known for using his unique style to elevate the banjo from the confines of bluegrass to build a bridge into all genres of music, especially rock 'n' roll. He was the first solo banjo musician featured on the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 internationally-syndicated radio program in the 1980’s for his groundbreaking arrange-ment and performance of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Freebird.”

    Although Todd has donated his time to various worthwhile charities during his career, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) has a special place in his heart. In his twenties Todd became increasingly ill and almost lost his life. Extensive testing revealed he had inherited a mitochondrial disease, and despite his doctor's prognosis, Todd was deter-mined to recover. He performed on the MDA telethon with Jerry Lewis on more than one occasion; increasing awareness of the disease and helping to raise funds for the organiza-tion's tireless efforts.

    In 2007, Todd was the first to set the Guinness World Record for Fastest Banjo by per-forming both parts of “Dueling Banjos” at a mind-blowing 210 beats per minute! He dedicated his record to everyone fighting to overcome a disease or obstacle in their life, and continues to encourage others who may be struggling about the power of a positive attitude.

    2011 produced Todd's rock 'n' blues tablature book, Pickin’ Over the Speed Limit, and a feature in the documentary Breaking and Entering, highlighting his Guinness World Re-cord achievement. Of South Carolina, a consecutive holiday which is the Second Tuesday in March Annually

    But the pinnacle of his career came in 2012 when Governor Nikki Haley presented Todd with the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor in South Carolina, for his inspir-ing personal example and musical contribution to his home state. Todd says, "My life has been blessed in so many ways, and I have no plans to stop sharing the gift God has given me." And in 2018 the state of South Carolina named A holiday in his Honor, South Carolina banjo day in Honor of Todd Taylor’s musical contributions to the state.

    Comments
    In an attempt to reduce spam, comments on content older than one year cannot be posted.
    Recent Activity