Larry Joe Taylor | en

Influenced by the songs of Guy Clark, Jerry Jeff Walker, The Doors and Bob Dylan, Larry Joe Taylor started out in the early 70s as simply a fan. Some 40 years later, he finds himself right in the middle of the biggest dream of his life…to not only be a respected songwriter in his own right, but also having the opportunity to present songwriters and music he respects on one of the biggest stages in the U.S.…the Larry Joe Taylor Texas Music Festival, now in its 22nd year drawing crowds 30,000 plus. In addition to festival building, Larry Joe Taylor's latest project, scheduled for release in the Spring of 2010, is a live DVD recorded at one of his favorite venues, Third Coast Theater in Port Aransas, Texas.

Campfire Records released Taylor's debut CD, Coastal & Western. The DVD will be released on Taylor's own Boatfolk Record label as have five of his previous albums. Taylor's latest release, Times, is a collection of four self-penned songs, three co-written with friends Mike McClure & Keith Sykes and three written by legendary songwriters Richard Leigh, Chris Hennessee, Steven Fromholz and Allen Shamblin. The record also features guest vocals by Jerry Jeff Walker and Mike McClure.

Not only does Taylor write most of the songs for his own albums, he's also proud of the many other artists who have cut his tunes, including Jerry Jeff Walker and the Lost Gonzo Band, Keith Sykes, Richard Leigh, Gary P. Nunn, Michael Hearne, Joe Pat Hennen, Mike Graham, Doc Wesson, Tommy Alverson and Brian Burns. So what does LJT do when not recording, performing or hosting this music festival? In January for the last 10 years Taylor hosts the largest annual songwriter cruise to the Caribbean in the state. July finds him organizing what's come to be known as "Island Time," a music trip that coincides with his birthday, to his favorite island, Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Since 1997, Red River, New Mexico is where you'll find him in mid-August coordinating the music line up & performing at the "Hot Chili Days, Cool Mountain Nights" festival and finally, in September hosting "Rhymes and Vines Music Festival and Home Brew & Wine Maker Competition" at his ranch, Melody Mountain, just outside of Stephenville, TX. "Larry Joe Taylor is one of the grandest success stories in modern Texas music," writes Brad Behler (Galleywinter). "Taylor has transitioned from a regular 9-to-5er to a full-time good timer. He writes, performs, produces, and promotes his own special brand of music. LJT, as he is also known, donates his time and talents to numerous causes and events. His support and guidance has been instrumental in helping to launch young careers." Without a doubt, the opinions that hold the most weight for Taylor, are those of his fans. Blogger Mike Parrish perhaps most accurately described what fans love about Taylor and his songs. "The music of Larry Joe Taylor is flavored with an engaging coastal blending of Texas country music and salty melodies reminiscent of the slow-paced, relaxed experience of island-hopping through a long carefree tropical vacation. The lyrics fall like summer-morning dew drops from the palms of Port Bolivar while Captain LJT sets a course that will take you far away from the hustle and bustle of the modern world and into the realm of a nonchalant and unrestrained existence when you make landfall on his 'Third Coast.' When you hear original homespun lyrics like, 'I said if I ain't sinkin' well I must be swimmin' - If I ain't dead, I must be livin' - Livin' is the thing, that scares me the most,' you automatically realize that you're listening to the words of an artist who isn't afraid to bear his soul as long as the music is honest and, with Larry Joe Taylor, that's exactly what you'll hear and that's exactly what you'll get." In his spare time, Larry Joe enjoys spending time at his ranch raising Black Angus cattle, following PRCA Rodeo and PBR Bull Riding and looking forward to the time when he can spend at least a year sailing the Caribbean. .