- Crystal Taliefero
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Crystal Taliefero Born 1963 Origin Bourne, Massachusetts, USA Genres Rock music, rhythm and blues Occupations Musician Instruments Percussion, saxophone, harmonica, guitar Years active 1974 –present Associated acts Billy Joel, Billy Joel Band Website crystaltaliefero.com Crystal Taliefero (born 1963 in Bourne, Massachusetts) is an American multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. Since 1989 she has been a touring and recording member of the Billy Joel Band. She has plans to establish the Taliefero Music Foundation.
Contents
Background
Taliefero was 11 years old when she started performing at local rhythm and blues clubs in and around Northwest Indiana and metropolitan Chicago with the singing group, Black Mist (later renamed Magic Mist).[1] Taliefero attended William A. Wirt High School where she was a top athlete and graduated in 1981. She went on to study music at Indiana University. Taliefero is member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.[2]
Career
John Mellencamp discovered Taliefero performing in a college band called Kilo and convinced her to leave college in 1986 and join his touring band.[2] She was subsequently invited to join the Billy Joel Band in 1989 when Joel put together a new band to record and tour the album Storm Front. She has been with the Joel band ever since.
Aside from Mellencamp and Joel, Taliefero has performed with a wide range of singers, including Faith Hill, Garth Brooks, Joe Cocker, Tina Arena, Bob Seger, Brooks & Dunn, Richie Sambora, Elton John, Enrique Inglesias, Natalie Merchant, Meat Loaf, Michael McDonald and Bruce Springsteen.[1]
In its 2008 article "The 125-Plus People, Places and Things Ruling the Rock & Roll Universe", Rolling Stone magazine declared Taliefero the "Best Secret Weapon".[3]
Instruments in Taliefero's percussion kit include agogô, bongo, cabasa, chimes, conga, cowbell, güiro, hand percussion, jam block, shaker, tambourine, timbales, triangle, whistle and wood block.[4] In addition, Taliefero is quite accomplished on the tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, electric guitar, acoustic guitar and keyboards, and a vocalist in her own right.
Film and book collaborations
Taliefero has contributed narration, compositions and/or music to a range of child-oriented videos and audiobooks though the Weston Woods Studios division of Scholastic Corporation:[4]
- Lester, Julius;Jackson, Samuel L. (narrator); Taliefero, Crystal(Narrator). John Henry (June 1998 ed.). ISBN 0788200860.
- Rappaport, Doreen (2002). Martin's Big Words. Collier, Bryan (illustrator); Duncan, Michael Clarke (narrator); Taliefero, Crystal (music). ISBN 1605149446.
- Martin, Bill Jr. (2006). Chicka Chicka 1 2 3. Ehlert, Lois (illustrator); Taliefero, Crystal (narrator). ISBN 0439896290.
- Ehlert, Lois (2007). Planting a Rainbow. Taliefero, Crystal (narrator). ISBN 2000003675593.
- Ehlert, Lois (2007). Waiting for Wings. Taliefero, Crystal (narrator). ISBN 2000003675067.
- Hamanaka, Sheila (2007). All the Colors of the Earth. Taliefero, Crystal (narrator). ISBN 2000003674978.
Personal life
In 1986, Taliefero suffered a ruptured appendix while touring with Bob Seger. She was hospitalized for several weeks.[5]
Taliefero's goal is to establish the Taliefero Music Foundation that will inspire and shape young upcoming lives in the world of live entertainment.[1] As part of her purpose to inspire young musicians, she visited Central High School in East Chicago, Indiana (her home state) in 2009.[6]
Taliefero was awarded the Indiana University African-American Arts Institute’s Herman C. Hudson Alumni Award.[7]
External links
- Crystal Taliefero at Allmusic
- Crystal Taliefero discography at Discogs
References
- ^ a b c "Crystal Taliefero". crystaltaliefero.com. http://www.crystaltaliefero.com/CT/CT_BIO.pdf. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ^ a b Benarde, Scott (30 March 1990). "Crystal Taliefero adds spice to Billy Joel's band". Ocala Star-Banner. http://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=JZ0TAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GAcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3653,8042522. Retrieved 12 February 2010.[dead link]
- ^ Hiatt, Brian (2008). "Best Secret Weapon - Crystal Taliefero". rollingstone.com. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/20200609/page/43. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- ^ a b "Crystal Taliefero". lpmusic.com. http://www.lpmusic.com/Pros_That_Play_LP/Players_Roster/taliefero.html. Retrieved 19 February 2010.[unreliable source?]
- ^ Graff, Gary (29 August 1986). "Seger's storm electrifies home crowd". freep.com. http://www.freep.com/article/20070312/ENT04/103120112/08/29/86--Concert-review-(Pine-Knob-Music-Theatre). Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- ^ Watkins, John J. (2009). "Crystal Taliefero". The Times of Northwest Indiana. http://nwitimes.videos.vmixcore.com/p/video?id=3252766. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- ^ "Crystal Taliefero-Prat". indianapolisrecorder.com. 18 June 2011. http://www.indianapolisrecorder.com/image_025dd0f4-71b4-11e0-a2c2-001cc4c002e0.html. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
Categories:- Living people
- People from Gary, Indiana
- American saxophonists
- American percussionists
- 1963 births
- African American drummers
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