Hound Dog Taylor was born in Natchez, Mississippi, in 1915, though some sources say 1917. He first played the piano and began playing the guitar when he was 20. He moved to Chicago in 1942.
Taylor had a condition known as polydactylism, which resulted in him having six fingers on both hands. As is usual with the condition, the extra digits were rudimentary nubbins and could not be moved. One night, while drunk, he cut off the extra digit on his right hand using a straight razor.
Hound Dog became a full-time musician around 1957, but remained unknown outside the Chicago area, where he played small clubs in black neighborhoods and at the open-air Maxwell Street Market. He was known for his electrified slide guitar playing (roughly styled after that of Elmore James), his cheap Japanese Teisco guitars, and his raucous boogie beats.
In 1967, Taylor toured Europe with the American Folk Blues Festival, performing with Little Walter and Koko Taylor.
Bruce Iglauer (then a shipping clerk for Delmark Records) tried to persuade his employer to sign Taylor to a recording contract after he heard Taylor with his band, the HouseRockers (Brewer Phillips on second guitar and Ted Harvey on drums), in 1970 at Florence's Lounge on Chicago's South Side.
In 1971, having no success in getting Delmark to sign Taylor, Bruce Iglauer used a $2,500 inheritance to form Alligator Records, which recorded Taylor's debut album, Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers.
The band's album was recorded in just two nights. It was the first release for the Alligator label, which eventually became a major blues label. Iglauer began managing and booking the band, which toured nationwide and performed with Muddy Waters, Freddie King, and Big Mama Thornton.
Live @ Joe's Place
The band became especially popular in the Boston area, where Taylor inspired the young George Thorogood. The album Live at Joe's Place documents a performance in Boston in 1972.
The second release by Taylor and his band, Natural Boogie, recorded in late 1973, received greater acclaim and led to more touring. In 1975, they toured Australia and New Zealand with Freddie King and the duo of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.
Taylor's third album for Alligator, Beware of the Dog, was recorded live in 1974 but was not released until after his death.
Alligator also released, posthumously, Genuine Houserocking Music and…
…Release the Hound. Bootleg live recordings also circulated after Taylor's death.
5 Fascinating Facts About Hound Dog Taylor
1. His Unique Physical Trait: Six Fingers!
One of the most unusual things about Hound Dog Taylor was his extra finger. Born with six fingers on each hand, Taylor’s extra digit on his left hand gave him a slight advantage in his early playing. Although he eventually had it removed due to pain, his extra finger became a quirky hallmark of his career, and some fans even believe it contributed to his signature sound.
2. Self-Taught Guitar Skills
Hound Dog Taylor didn’t have formal training in music, and he never learned to read music. He was entirely self-taught, starting to play the guitar when he was in his twenties. Inspired by blues legends like Elmore James, Taylor developed his own style, favoring a cheap Japanese Teisco guitar and playing with a slide to achieve a gritty, raw sound that set him apart from other artists. His unconventional approach to music and his love for simple, cheap instruments helped shape his distinctive style.
3. The Birth of Alligator Records
Taylor was the first artist to record for the now-iconic Alligator Records. Bruce Iglauer, the founder of Alligator, was so taken with Taylor’s music that he decided to start the label to produce his debut album. That record, Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers, became a huge success, helping launch Alligator Records into the spotlight and solidifying its place in blues history. Today, Alligator Records is a powerhouse in the blues genre, thanks in large part to Taylor’s impact and Iglauer’s dedication.
5. A True DIY Pioneer in Blues Music
Long before the DIY (Do It Yourself) ethic became popular in music, Taylor embodied it. Not only did he play inexpensive, often out-of-tune guitars, but he also tuned his instruments however he wanted, unconcerned with traditional rules. Hound Dog’s unpolished, raw sound was a conscious choice that contributed to his reputation as an authentic bluesman. His commitment to his unique style was influential, paving the way for generations of artists who value raw, expressive sound!
Some things never end!
Thank Gawd!
COMING UP IN THE FALL
CDs
BUMPER STICKERS
PINS
PICTURES OF ARTISTS
& MORE!