Mel Taylor
September 24, 1933 – August 11, 1996
Mel Taylor is best remembered as the second drummer of surf instrumental pioneers, the Ventures. Influenced by Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa and Louis Bellson, Taylor’s early career consisted of playing with Boris Pickett and Herb Alpert before replacing Howie Johnson in the Ventures. The year was 1962 and Taylor would stay with the Ventures on and off for the next thirty years. He passed away as a result of cancer on August 11, 1996.
Mel Taylor was a great influence on me as a teenager. as a drummer
in a rock n roll band i patterned myself after his style of playing & it helped me to be a better musician. i have been a fan
of The Ventures for over 40yrs. i don’t think there has been another musical group to stay together for 50yrs as these men have
done. i was very saddened to learn of Mel’s death in 1996.i have a
few videos of them & from time to time i will watch them perform &
i enjoy their music after all these years. i was very pleased to
learn they had finally made the Hall of Fame. i am very proud of
being a fan of their music & hope there are others that feel the same way. ROCK AND ROLL FOREVER!!! wayne seay
MEL TAYLOR HA SIDO EM MEJOR BATERISTA DE TODOS LOS TIEMPOS Y MI REFERENTE MAS QUERIDO E INALCANZABLE.
DESDE MIS 4 AÑOS LO HE ADMIRADO. A MIS 47 AÑOS Y DESPUES DE CIENTOS DE HORAS TOCANDO BATERIA, AUN LO ADMIRO.
DANIEL
What a supert drummer. The Ventures had GREAT musians no doubt about it. Sadly Bob Boggle passed away, also. The Ventures FINALLY got inducted into the “Rock-nRoll” hall of fame in 2008. After fifty years of incredible music they made it. Thank God!!
Hello John, i agree he was one of the Best if not the BEST
when it came to playing for The Ventures. since my last post
it now 50 yrs i have been a “FAN” of their music. i was glad
to see the Mike Huckabee show the other Saturday night when
he had them on his show. he has been fan too & i know he was
very excited to be able to play Bass with the band. they are
on my “Bucket List” so i hoping ONE day to get to see them
perform somewhere close on the East Coast. they were at DisneyWorld in Orlando a couple of years ago after my Family
were there for a week.i too was saddened to read that Bob Bogle also passed away too. there seems to be a time now when
musicians/actors/athletes we knew growing up have passed on
& with recordings/videos we can keep their “Spirit” & their
“Memories” alive to enjoy for many years to come. thanks for
post & am also happy for The Ventures to be in the R & R Hall of Fame….it has been too long coming. have a great day
wayne seay
OMG!!!!!!!!!!this is so sad to me because he died on my birthday.