Taylor began his musical training as a drummer at age eight[2] but two years later he had picked up both the guitar and his initial piano skills from boogie-woogie pianist-neighbours.

According to Canned Heat historian, Walter de Paduwa, Taylor's abrupt departure from the band came in 1976 when an apparently banal spat over a pizza at a restaurant in the south of France turned into a full blown argument.

His The Return of the Formerly Brothers, recorded with Amos Garrett and Doug Sahm in 1987, won a Juno Award the following year for Best Roots & Traditional Album.

From 2007, Taylor was often based in Belgium, playing and recording with Fried Bourbon,[8] CC Jerome's Jet Setters, Dave Alvin and Jo' Buddy.

Shortly after his death, the Dr Boogie show on Belgium's Classic 21 radio commemorated Taylor with an hour of programming and cited him as 'almost Belgian'.