Soulful, poignant, and nuanced are all great adjectives that describe Joe Taylor’s sound. But as wonderful as these descriptions are, it is much better to listen to Joe Taylor. Taylor’s pop/rock acoustic sound harkens back to the great singer/songwriters of the 1970s and 80s, but is not stuck there. With producers and musicians who have worked with everyone from Rick Springfield, Patti LaBelle and Alanis Morisette to Toni Braxton, Lady Gaga, and Santana, Joe Taylor’s sound transcends musical genres and generations.

Dubbed the “Subway Idol” by the New York Times, this Toronto native has been featured in two videos for the New York Times. Taylor’s “The Sweetest Tune has been featured on the daytime drama “Days of Our Lives,” and made Canada's top 10 in 2009. With the 2011 CD release of “Anything’s Possible,“–which includes such legendary musicians, producers and engineers as Matthew Spindel, Gene Grimaldi, Lance Morrison, George Nastos, and Matt Bissonette–Joe Taylor is primed to reach larger audiences with a sound that not only entertains but also stirs the soul.

The New York Times called him “Subway Idol”

…with the look of a young Jackson Browne and the powerhouse voice of a Steve Perry, Taylor compelled everyone to listen to a set of his own songs…
— Las Vegas Sun

Whether he's above or below ground, Taylor stays true to his own lyrics
—CTV News

It all started in the 90’s (although Joe has been singing and playing guitar since he was fourteen!) when he cut his teeth in the business singing and writing for the James Band in Toronto, Canada in the late 90’s. By 2000, Joe teamed up with Jeff Ross to form Taylor Ross, and saw five songs from Heartfelt Graffiti go into rotation regionally in Canada and the US.

Rockin’ out at The Vox after a long day at Toybox Studios in Toronto, Paul Shubot and Alfie Di Pucchio discovered Joe’s unique sound. Described by listeners as “soulful and timeless”; “classic rock at its’ finest”  - Joe’s “electrifying and powerful voice” inspired Alfie and Paul to head to the studio. They insisted on capturing Joe’s rock-solid sound that very night. The ensuing recording launched Joe’s career as a solo artist. A live showcase recorded at Cogeco Channel 3 in music-hip Kingston soon followed; broadcast all over Ontario.

The fall of 2000 marked Joe’s arrival in the Big Apple. A debut solo gig at CBGB’s 313 Gallery was swiftly followed by one at The Knitting Factory’s Tap Room. Joe continues to play NYC venues including The Bitter End, Kenny’s Castaway, The Triad Theater, The Red Lion, C-Note, and The Back Fence.

Joe continued to perform throughout the United States at several colleges and universities, festivals, and nightclubs. He expanded into such major cities as Chicago, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Boston, Houston, and Philadelphia, and even found time to have a Tim Horton’s or two back home in Canada.  Joe’s radio interviews have been broadcasted on local and regional radio stations as well as on the Internet. 

In December 2006, Joe met with Los Angeles producer Jeff Gross (Brian Wilson, Styx, CNN, Sony Music, Rick Springfield, Bob Saget, Dermot Mulroney) and Grammy-Winning engineer Matthew Spindel (Santana, Don Henley, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Hornsby, Motley Crue, Rick Springfield, All-4-One, Vince Neil, George Benson, Tom Scott, Scorpions, KISS, WAR) to work on a demo CD for their label, Red Road Music. Three songs were born from that demo (available on iTunes) titled, Save Me – Save Me, Here And Gone, and The Sweetest Tune.  

2008 and 2009 were some pivotal years for musician, Joe Taylor!  The Sweetest Tune, was featured on the NBC daytime drama Days of Our Lives in 2008 and made it to the Top 10 on Ottawa’s MAJIC 100FM in 2009!  The New York Times recognized Joe as “The Subway Idol” and featured him in not one, but two video stories following him as he auditioned for a coveted spot in New York City’s Music Under New York.  In the spring of 2009 marked the debut of the video, All Around the World, a single that emerged from the Save Me EP.  It was directed by Stuart E. Cropley and Jim Matlosz.

In 2010 Joe formed a new band to take on the road. 

2011 marks the arrival of Joe’s full-length CD from Red Road Music titled, Anything’s Possible.  And, he proved that anything IS possible with hard work and fantastic writers and musicians. “What a blast it was! I had help from Hillary Bernstein (Sony Music), Kevin Fisher (The Rascal Flatts and Sarah Evans), Matt Bissonette (Joe Satriani, David Lee Roth, Lita Ford, Julian Lennon, Steve Perry, Brian Wilson, Don Henley, Rick Springfield, Peter Frampton, and Ringo Starr), Jim Hanft, and Michael Lord (Alias, What About Brian, Desmond Child, RIAAF Certified Gold Record for American Idol) to write these songs.  Jeff and Matthew were able to bring in Drummer Matt Laug (Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill), Michael Holowatch (Elliot Carlson Botero, Kokolo Afrobeat Orchestra, Random Test Reggae Band, Athenea Henderson, Eryn Schewell, and the Mario Sebastian Project along with bassist Erben Perez) Bass player Lance Morrison (Don Henley and Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill) and Guitarist George Nastos (Rick Springfield) to record them.  Matt Bissonette not only came in as a writer, but also laid down some bass, while arranging and performing amazing backing vocals.”  Gene Grimaldi (Lady Gaga, Sean Kingston, Toni Braxton, Hannah Montana, Patti LaBelle, Mary J. Blige) mastered the CD while Kym DeGenaro laid out the artwork for the CD.

Listeners have said Joe’s sound penetrates deep within the heart – “an electrifying and powerful voice which reminds us of classic rock at its finest”, “a mix of Rod Stewart, Don Henley, and Steve Perry”, “soulful and timeless.”

Catch Joe and his band at a city near you!

From left to right:
Matt Laug (drummer), Jeff Gross (producer and engineer), Joe Taylor (sitting in front - lead vocals and acoustic guitar), Lance Morrison (bass), Bart, Hillary Bernstein (co-writer)

Not pictured:
Matty Spindel (producer and engineer), George Nastos (electric guitar)