Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers

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Bobby Taylor (far left) and the Vancouvers circa 1966.

Bobby Taylor (born February 18 1934) & the Vancouvers were a Canadian soul band, signed to the Motown label during the late 1960s. As their name attests to, the band originates from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Contents

1 Overview
2 Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers discography

2.1 Singles
2.2 Album

3 Bobby Taylor solo discography

3.1 Album

Overview

Predecessive names for the band included "The Shades", "Little Daddie & the Bachelors", and "Four Niggers & a Chink" [link]. Taylor served as the group's lead vocalist and record producer. The other Vancouvers included guitarists Tommy Chong and Wes Henderson, keyboardist Robbie King, bassist Eddie Patterson, and drummer Ted Lewis. Chong was Chinese and Scotch-Irish, the other members were Black Canadian or Caucasian. In later years, Chong, who co-wrote songs such as "Does Your Mama Know About Me" for the band, would became famous as one-half of comedy duo Cheech and Chong. The band also briefly featured Jimi Hendrix, whose father and grandparents were from Vancouver.

Besides his work with his own band, Taylor is credited for having discovered Motown pop sensation The Jackson 5, along with Gladys Knight. Taylor was the one who brought the group to Motown and Berry Gordy after the teenage act opened for a Vancouvers show. He also produced the group's first Motown recordings, including their famous cover of The Miracles' "Who's Lovin' You", before Gordy created production team The Corporation™ and moved the Jackson brothers to California to record pop hits such as "I Want You Back" and "ABC".

The Vancouvers broke up after their debut album, and Taylor was shifted to Motown's V.I.P. label and continued as a solo artist. Although his "Oh, I've Been Blessed" later attained a cult status, it and Taylor's other solo singles failed to sell well. By 1971, Taylor had departed Motown, and recorded sporadically into the mid-1970s.

The album cover for the Vancouvers' only LP, Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers (1968).

Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers discography

All items issued on Gordy Records

Singles

1968: "Does Your Mama Know About Me" (US #29)
1968: "I Am Your Man" (US #85)
1968: "Malinda" (US #48)

Album

1968: Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers

Bobby Taylor solo discography

1969: "Oh, I've Been Bless'd" (V.I.P. Records)
1969: "Blackmail" (V.I.P. Records, promo-only)
1969: "My Girl Has Gone" (Gordy Records)
1971: "Hey Lordy" (Mowest Records)
1972: "There Are Roses Somewhere In The World" (Sunflower Records)
1973 "I Can't Quit Your Love" (Tommy Zs7 Records)
1973: "Why Play Games" (Playboy Records)
1973: "I Can't Quit Your Love" (Philadelphia International, by "BT & TB" -- Bobby Taylor and Thom Bell).

Album

1969: Taylor-Made Soul

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