Legendary jazz musician and composer Billy Taylor died on Tuesday of heart failure in New York. He was 89 years old. A statement from the Kennedy Center for the performing arts in Washington, DC, where Taylor had served as artistic director since 1994, called him "a great statesman and ambassador for jazz throughout the world."
Billy taylor was born in Greenville, North Carolina in 1921 and during his lifetime played jazz with legends such as Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker, and many more. His professional career began in 1944 and he composed more than 300 songs as the head of his own trio.
Taylor, who lived in Riverdale, New York, is survived by his wife, Theodora, and daughter. His son, Duane, passed away in 1988.
