
07/24/2025
Only the real OGs will appreciate this one! đ
The multi-talented genius Bill Taylor is critical in today's conversations, in no small part because of his commitment to making sure people understood what jazz was and why it mattered.
He held a doctorate in music education and used his media presence (on platforms like NPR, CBS, and beyond) to educate the public about the profound cultural and political depth of Black music.
At a time when jazz was often dismissed or whitewashed, Taylor insisted on its dignity and revolutionary spirit.
In todayâs media landscape, we find that the same conversations are necessary.
Billy Taylorâs legacy provides something of a template for how artists can shape culture, not only through performance, but through teaching, defending, and contextualizing Black creativity.
For example, Taylorâs âI Wish I KnewâŚâ (the tune that's playing now), sung at protests and rallies as well as performance halls, is as much a song as it is a quiet form of collective prayer.
Today, the track resurfaces in documentaries, liberation playlists, and social media tributes đ, reminding us that the struggle for freedom is ongoing, deeply spiritual, and carried through jazz music.
In a world starving for truthful storytelling and cultural literacy, Billy Taylorâs life reminds us that art without context is exploitation,
and that, conversely,
art with conscience can be revolutionary.
We're glad he was born.
Do you know of Billy Taylorâs work?
Text WPFWFM to 801801 to support a station that remembers the artists who've taught us how to be free.