The Moriss Taylor Show

The Moriss Taylor Show was one of the longest-running locally-produced television shows in history. Hosted by longtime radio personality and producer Moriss Taylor, the show (based in Chico, California) was a weekly country music-variety staple featuring such musicians as Charlie Robinson, Yvonne Haygood, Bill Teague, Mark Alstad, Rosie Mello, Jolene Farrara, Mark Pacheco, and Mel Wilson, who received recognition from Johnny Cash himself for performing Johnny's songs. Mel appeared on the show from November of 1972 to December of 1978. He also wrote songs and recorded two of them as a tribute to Mr.Cash. The show also featured voice-over talent Ron Palmer and news reporter Rick Rigsby, both now ex- station employees.

The show started in 1956, three years after the launch of its host television station KHSL-TV. It was produced at both KHSL-TV studio locations on 4th and Wall Streets from 1956 to 1984 and on Silverbell Road from 1984 to 1995. It was broadcast on Channel 12 from 1956 through 1995 and is now being seen in reruns on Saturday mornings at 10:00am on KRVU (MyTV Northern California) in Chico. It had previously aired on KFBI-LD My 48 in Medford, Oregon..

The show's closing theme song is "High Sierra", written and sung by Moriss himself, which has become synonymous with the show and its host. It now serves as the closing theme of his radio show on KHSL-FM 103.5 The Blaze.

References and external links

• Moriss Taylor's MySpace page (run by his grandson Ryan)
• KHSL-FM 103.5 "The Blaze" website
• Moriss Taylor CD available at Tower Records
• Chico News and Review Story on Moriss Taylor (November 22, 2001)
• Chico News and Review Story on Moriss Taylor (November 29, 2001)
• Chico News and Review Story on Moriss Taylor (December 14, 2006)