An astute musician and insightful singer, Darryl Taylor has been called the Roland Hayes of his generation. Composers, audiences, and critics have called his performances in opera, oratorio, recital, and on recording peerless.
Darryl Taylor's New York Recital debut took place at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. He was recently heard in concert with such artists as Vinson Cole, Florence Quivar, Indra Thomas, and Nnenna Freelon. This talented young performer has sung in concert halls across the United States and Europe, including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Merkin Concert Hall, Barcelona's Palau de la Mùsica, and was a featured artist under the sponsorship of the Cultural Committee for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. His numerous tours of Spain have garnered him particular praise.
Founder of the African American Art Song Alliance, Taylor has debuted numerous works, including Daniel Bernard Roumaine's Epilogue, 1965 (a performance with the composer on violin and George Shirley as narrator), Erik Santos' Dreamer: Seven Poems by Langston Hughes, Deon Nielsen Price's To the Children of War, and Theodore Wiprud's A Georgia Song. His recording, "Love Rejoices: Songs of H. Leslie Adams," was released on Albany Records and has received lavish acclaim. Naxos Records released his most recent recording, Dreamer: A Portrait of Langston Hughes,in 2002, the centennial year of the poet's birth. Also appearing on this recording are William Warfield, Maria Corley, Patricia Terry Ross, and Erik Santos.
In demand across the country as a lecturer, Darryl Taylor has enlightened students and faculty of Juilliard School, the University of Michigan, Duke University, Florida State University, and Morehouse College, among many others. His lecture, "The Importance of Studying African American Art Song" has been requested by the International Alliance for Women in Music, the National Association of Negro Musicians, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
A native of Detroit, Michigan, Darryl Taylor holds degrees from the University of Southern California and the University of Michigan. He is a member of Mu Phi Epsilon Music Fraternity, Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honors Society, and the National Association of Negro Musicians.
