Gangster of Love, Jesse Taylor
Texas Music Gunslinger Extraordinaire

April 10, 1950 -- March 7, 2006

John X Reed and Jesse Taylor, from their album South Side Guitar.

Jesse - Gangster of Love - Taylor (or Jake as he liked to be called), was a Texas music phenomena. First white guy to play at Stubb's BBQ in Lubbock. Jake crossed a lot of lines musically as well.

He got a reputation as Joe Ely's guitar player. Playing on what would become classics like Joe's first album and Down on the Drag (1979), the song Crazy Lemon is a Jake tour de force. On the Honky Tonk Masquerade album, two songs stand out, Boxcars and Because of the Wind, to underly the fact Jake was not a one trick pony.

Jesse was accessible. Anyone who went into the Saxon Pub and sat down next to Jesse could talk to him for an hour. A big gentle teddy bear of a man.

The first time I spoke to him was at the Antone's on Guadalupe. He was promoting a cassette he had just released. He had a frightened young protege with him.

Jesse introduced the kid and the youngster started babbling about what an honor it was to be playing Antone's. That kid from Lubbock turned out to be David Holt. He's made quite a name for himself since the night the Gangster of Love sat next to me and let a kid take his stage.

I would run into Jake from time to time. See him perform with Joe Ely at the Backyard and Liberty Lunch.

Caught him at his most comfortable at the Saxon Pub. Austin live music will miss Jake. I recommend the album he did with John X Reed, South Side Guitar. Jake is in a zone. Gangster of Love era, raw rockin' Jesse Guitar Taylor. He could play it all.

South Side Guitar is available at www.southcongressrecords.com/jesse.html (opens in a new window). It's also available at Waterloo Records in Austin.

SIXTH STREET CLUBS
Maggie Mae’s :: Momo’s :: The Parish

WAREHOUSE & DOWNTOWN CLUBS
Antone’s :: La Zona Rosa :: Austin Music Hall :: Elephant Room :: Paramount Theatre

RED RIVER CLUBS
Stubb’s Waller Creek Ampitheatre :: Emo’s :: Beerland

UNIVERSITY CLUBS
Cactus Cafe :: Hole In The Wall

SOUTH AUSTIN CLUBS
Continental Club :: Threadgill’s :: Jovita’s :: Broken Spoke :: Saxon Pub :: Evangeline Cafe :: Artz Rib House :: Hill’s Cafe

EAST SIDE CLUBS
Victory Grill

AUSTIN ANGELS & HALLOWED GROUND
Stevie Ray Vaughan :: Townes Van Zandt :: Jesse Taylor :: Doug Sahm :: Keith Ferguson :: Don Walser :: Clifford Antone :: Soap Creek Saloon :: Liberty Lunch :: The Vulcan Gas Co. :: Armadillo World Headquarters :: Raul’s :: Austin Opera House

MORE
Austin City Limits :: Austin Record Stores :: Music Stores :: Austin Chronicle

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