Jeremy Taylor (singer)
| Jeremy Taylor | |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 November 1937 |
| Origin | Newbury, Berkshire, England |
| Genres | Folk |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, Humorist, Poet, Political commentator |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1961–2008 |
| Associated acts | Spike Milligan, Alun Davies |
| Website | www.jeremytaylormusic.com |
Jeremy Taylor (born 24 November 1937 in Newbury, Berkshire) is a retired English folk singer and songwriter who has spent much of his life in South Africa, originally as a teacher of English at St. Martin's School, Rosettenville in southern Johannesburg, but since 1994 has lived in Wales and in France. Part stand-up comedian, part singer, Taylor has used his talents to confront the idiosyncrasies as well as societal woes in life. Much of Taylor's unique songwriting and the success he has enjoyed with many of his songs originate with his live performances. His various accents, facial expressions, mannerisms, and dramatic pauses at critical points in his songs, with a particular chosen word or two, often are arguably what makes his humorous songs so popular. Taylor has the distinction of having performed songs that not only question social problems in society, but was a pioneer in the area of finding ways to do so while allowing the audience to laugh at themselves, especially in an era where, in the late 1950s and early 1960s McCarthyism menaced free thinkers in the United States, while at home in South Africa, both Taylor, and his songs, often political, were banned in South Africa by the South African Broadcasting Corporation and the Government, during the apartheid era.
Taylor began performing in clubs and coffee-bars such as the Cul de Sac in Hillbrow, Johannesburg in the 1960s and achieved massive success with the comedic song Ballad of the Southern Suburbs [of Johannesburg], known also as "Ag Pleez Deddy" in 1961. The song was a surprise hit. In a performance in Chicago, he explained that while teaching South African children English, he was "enchanted" by their patois, and their lust for many Western European luxuries, like Pepsi Cola, and Canada Dry beverages, Eskimo Pie, popcorn, chewing gum, and flicks like "Tarzan", and other products. Taylor mimicked their accent in the song, which features a child begging his father to take him to different places and buy these treats. It was frowned upon by parents and the Government, because the song mixed English and Afrikaans - a practice the Nationalist government disapproved of, feeling that all languages should be kept "pure"; just one reason that Taylor was soon required to leave the Country while under apartheid political rule. However, the children loved it, and so it became a massive hit song, selling more than any Elvis Presley single in South Africa. Also in the early sixties he contributed to the successful musical show Wait a Minim!, performing several of his own compositions.
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