Richard Lee Taylor

Richard Lee Taylor was born on February 16, 1943 in Braddock, Pennsylvania. He was the only son from the union of Theodore (Tiky) and Dorothy Page. Richard grew up in the then closeknit community of Rankin where he was educated in the Rankin Public School System and attended Rankin High School. He also, in his youth, attended Mount Olive Baptist Church where he was involved in the music ministry. Richard found his passion for music at a very early age. As an adult, Richard related with his young family to New York City to pursue a career in music. In 1970, he relocated once again to Los Angeles. He was employed by the City of Los Angeles in the Parks Department but music remained a constant in his life. It was his passion. His hands was always in the business. After retiring he lived in northern California for a number of years before returning home to Pittsburgh. He loved and continued to play drums and also enjoyed swimming and playing golf. He was a superb jazz drummer for a long line of jazz musicians from the area; Art Blakey, Kenny Clarke, Stanley and Tommy Turrentine, Errol Garner, Ahmad Jamal, George Benson, Roger Humphries, Grover Mitchell, and th list goes on. He has worked with Stanley Turrentine, Shirley Scott, Grant Green, Johnny Hammond Smith, and guitarist, Paul Weeden in addition to his own Richard Taylor Quartet. He also played with The African Jazz Preservation Society of Pittsburgh, PA. and was a drummer in the music ministry at Living Water Church. Richard was a loving father as well as a proud grandfather. His legacy is his love and passion for music that he passed on to his grandchildren. On Wednesday, January 23, 2019 the music stopped when the Lord called Richard Lee Taylor home. He is preceded in death by his father, Theodore Taylor and grandmother, Annie Page. He leaves to honor and cherish his memory his beloved mother, Dorothy Page and devoted daughters: Tina R. (Tony) Macon of Atlanta GA; Kadajea R. (Gregory) Lattimore of Poconos, PA; Nikki A. (Antoine) Taylor of Atlanta, GA; Lolade (Donald) Martinez of Arizona, and Dorothy (Tony) Perkins of Utah; 18 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, other relatives, friends and colleagues too numerous to mention. He is already missed.

Tributes

Richard Lee Taylor

February 15, 1943 - January 23, 2019