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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

time (2000 and 1999) Nashville Music Awards
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T nominee for "Miscellaneous W ind Instrumentalist of
the Year," Saxophonist D EN N IS TA Y LO R (tenor, alto, so-
prano, and baritone) has been playing the Saxophone for
more than twenty-five years, performing professionally for
the last twenty. He's performed and toured w ith a wide vari-
ety of artists including Clarence "Gatemouth" Bro w n,
Buckwheat Zydeco, Duke Robillard, Shelby Lynne, Eddy
"The C h i e f Clearwater, Robert Jr. Lockw ood, "Mighty"
Sam McClain, Sam Moore (Sam & Dave), the Excello
Legends (Earl Gaines and Roscoe Shelto n), Dan Penn, Jay
McShann, and John Hammond. Dennis has played on four
Grammy-nominated albums. He has appeared on "A ustin
City Limits," "The Ro ad," "Country Music H all of Farne
25th A nniversary Celebration," "Texas Co nnectio n," " A BC
in Concert Country," "A merican Music Sho p ," and "Music
City Tonight."

Raised in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, Dennis began studying the Saxophone at age nine.
A fter graduating high school, he attended Berklee College of Music. FoUowing that, he became an ad-
junct Professor of music, teaching both private sax lessons and improvisational Workshops, at Johnson
State College, Johnson, V T. In addition, he performed regularly w ith various local Vermont jazz and
R& B bands. In 1980, he moved to New Orleans, where he played many diverse musical styles—from dix-
ieland and salsa to New Orleans R& B and the deep soul music of "Mighty" Sam M cClain. In 1983, he
joined up w ith Grammy-award w inning multi-instrumentalist Clarence "Gatemouth" Brow n, playing
everything from blues shuffles to zydeco, Co unt Basie Instrumentals, country fiddle breakdowns, calypso
numbers, and pop Sta n d a r d s . In late 1985, after two years of touring and recording w ith "Gatemouth"
Brow n, Dennis moved to Boston. In October 1987, he joined Island Records recording artist Buckwheat
Zydeco and continued to tour and record w ith the band (including an eight-week U.S. and U K tour w ith
Eric Clapton, several dates w ith U2 and Los Lobos, and tours to A ustralia and Japan) until January 1991.

In December 1989, Dennis relocated to Nashville. In the mid-nineties, he toured w ith Shelby
Lynne, Kenny Rogers, Sam Moore, and the Excello Legends. From October 1997 to November 1999,
Dennis toured w ith Duke Robillard. (During that time, Robillard's band was nominated for the W .C .
Handy Award "Blues Band of the Year.") Splitting his time between periodic tours w ith Eddy "The
C h ie f Clearwater and "Gatemouth" Brow n, Dennis continues to do session work and teach w hile free-
lancing at home in Nashville. This is his first book for H ai Leonard Corporation.