Shane Taylor: Singer / Songwriter

Born 9th Feb 1961 Taumaranui, New Zealand

You are listening to "Just Wanna Know Her" from World We Created Album.

Living in Taumaranui in the 60's I was trotted off to the Sallys (Salvation Army) each sunday with my mum (who played piano) and my first instrument was the Cornet. This was followed by a stand up performance at church one sunday of "Burning Bridges" with mum on piano and a friend on guitar when I was about 6. From that day on I wanted a guitar.

I can't really remember too much music in the home apart from Jim Reeves and Tex Morton's "Cat came back' and although mum was a piano teacher she made me go to the Nun's to learn piano. I can still remember the ruler over the knuckles. My mum was Lorraine Toomer and related to the very talented Gosper's of Wellington. I remember my dad loving Tom Jones.

We shifted up to Northland on a Dairy Farm when I was 11, I had a guitar and I was teaching myself chords and already writing songs. There was no real music in NZ schools at this time, music class was a joke. I did somehow put a band together of myself and 3 girls. Sue and Sally Finlayson and Tony Broughton. We had 3 songs one of which was "Me and you and a dog named boo" I think we played at school assembly. My mum died when I was 12 and its only now I realise what a great hole that left in my life. She knew I loved my music and would have certainly pushed me along. My dad now had his hands full with my brother and I and Debbie my older sister in hospital. I already had a passion for stereo's and recording and had various bits of junk connected together to try and record. Reel to Reels were the rage and the Cassette deck had just appearred. Someone loaned me an Akai Cassette deck and the recordings started. I also got an Akai sound on sound so I could begin to multi track.

When I started high school at Kamo High in 1973 I instantly met other like minded teens. We had a band called "Aaron and the Ardvarks" lead by singer Graham Whitehead, Piano Greg Sergent, guitar Randel Craighead, drums Warren Richardson and myself on guitar. We had 6 or so originals and practiced often.

We played a couple of gigs and when I was 14 I met Roger Ryken with whom I worked with for many years to follow. A teacher at Kamo named Steve Benson sold me a Les Paul copy guitar and also jammed with us a few times.

The band changed to "Bedlington Street" with Roger on board. We always attended the Whangarei Country Music club on a sunday night and Roger and I played many shows with the club. The club was fantastic to hone your skills at playing in front of an audience. Also sharing a stage with Whangarei musicians like Johnny O'Connell, Russell Collinson, Silver Kanara and many others. It was then decided that I should play bass as we now had 3 guitars in the Bedlington band. I purchased my first fender precision copy and 75w Jansen Bass amp from the famous "Pomerys Music Shop". Lynne Cullen became like a second mother to me. I even worked part time in the shop and received many great deals on gear. Pictured below is a practice in the Purua Hall 1978. From left Randall Craighead, me, Greg Sargent and Graham Whitehead. Warren Richardson hid from the camera it seems.

My mums relatives the Toomer family, gave me the push and opportunity to be playing professionally when I was 15 and able drive to the venues. The Toomers had a well known dance band called "Majestic". To be playing 2 nights a week and earning money was something very special. My uncle Harold operated a professional tight ship and I had to learn chord charts and all sorts of dance rythyms. To this day this gave me a major grounding in music and professionalism. I took on lead vocals / bass and a bow tie. With my auntie Dot and cousin Colin on drums we shared some great memories. After a couple of years I needed to make some noise so various rock bands followed. In 1980 Radio Northland offered Roger and I and our band "Eclipse" free studio time to record 9 original tracks. Richard from Radio Northland heard me at a talent quest at the Onerahi Hotel. I didn't win but dad bought me a Musicman Bass guitar (for my 21st) which I picked up second hand from the band "The Knobs". I still have this treasured guitar today. During this period Mike Konnings and I built out an SB3 Bedford bus with the intention to take the band on the road. I lived in it and even taught guitar students. Below the Eclispe band, Roger Ryken, me, Robert Wallace and Richard Maxwell.

Radio Northland followed this with good local radio support playing all 9 tracks everyday on air for a couple of weeks. The Shin Diggin recording is on this site. Roger and I also purchased a professional 2000w sound rig from Alistar Ridell. At this time (1982) a lot of gear was being brought back to NZ after an Aussie tour to resell as the tax and equipment pricing made it impossible to buy the real stuff. We used this for "Pilot" and hired it out a few times. I built all the light cans out of new paint tins. My trade in the electrical industry had some benifits after all.

Whangarei was booming in the 80's with Marsden Point, so numerous clubs and music venues were opening. Bands followed; Pinnups and The "Bill Coleman Trio" where I played bass/lead vocals in a restuarant jazz trio. Bill Coleman was an exceptional pianist along with the amazing Taffy Jones on drums, Bill and I worked together off and on for years.

"Shane and Roger" were a popular duo / band combination and we played every venue in Whangarei before leaving the town. Roger and I wrote and performed in many different bands, we had a synergy together where we could amost write in front of a crowd. The Pilot Rock Band with Kelvin on Keyboards, Richard Jones on Drums, myself bass and vocals where Roger could follow me anywhere thru chords and lyrics, then in 1983 we took a duo version of "Pilot" on the road to tour NZ full time working on the Lion Breweries circuit.

Roger and I together with Murray Toohill as sound man and a bedford truck we set off to conquer the world.

After a year of rock, I then free-lanced full time up and down NZ . I suddenly became a solo act in Hamilton. I learnt 40 songs and battled on and decided to get into more touristy venues to play more originals and folky covers. I loved the Masonic in Napier and played resident in the corner Med bar for weeks on end. I met soon to be long time friend and fellow musician kip Tipuna. Kip was playing resident in the Cobb bar in the next room. His jazzy laid back style was amazing. Then later that year Michelle Wade (soon to be wife) and I based ourselves in Queenstown to hold down a 6 night residency and later record a 2nd original album on vinyl in 1986 with my brother Craig Taylor and Whangarei musician Steve Wesley in Talisman Studios, Invercargill. Craig (who was 5 yrs younger) had been slowly plodding away with his band "No Restrictions" in Whangarei. He had a great voice and was playing excellent bass. The two of us sounded great together so I asked him to join me. While working in Queenstown I met Kevin Lynch. A gifted entertainer musician. I recorded a few tracks in his home studio later in 1990.

While doing the 2nd year of the 6 night residency in Queenstown a chance meeting with the ex- mayor (and music promoter) of Fremont, San Francisco, Jack Pimental invited me to the states which lead to song writing and publishing connections. I also started sending songs to Joe Reid (song publisher in California) and got involved with a music video promotion of my track "True Love" in Nashville. Craig and I travelled the length of NZ playing lots of nice venues. Craig also helped me with the video clip which went to Nashville.

More traveling, more writing and performing before I returned to Whangarei, NZ for a spell in 1987. I built a recording studio and got back into local gigs. But not for long, I got the full time music bug again, so it was off to Wellington. While holding down a 6 night residency gig, I recorded my 3rd Original Album on CD in 1992 at Marmalade Studios. It was produced by Nigel Stone along with Annie Crummer, Jackie Clarke, Clint Brown on Bass, Wayne Mason on Piano, and a few others. Craig was now in Perth and although I wanted him to come over to work on the new album it just couldn't happen. NZ is a hard nut to crack so as I was working up and down NZ I personally knocked on radio station doors and achieved dotted results with different tracks. "Nuclear Free" became my signature song. Michelle had been working hard behind the scenes posting out demos and promo.

While this was happening a NZ publisher got "Two Am" and "You Should Know" on HOLD with Bob Montgomery in Nashville to be recorded by Shelby Lynne on her next album. But HOLD is not being picked and I missed out with 12 or so tracks being picked out of 50 odd on hold. Still a great bit of excitement to have happen when living in little old NZ.

Then Nov 92 we headed off to Europe on a gig promise, I played my music in Austrian ski resorts, German Café's and became quite the novelty Kiwi in Holland. Performing solo, duo and I put an original band together although we never actually did a gig. I mostly played solo, duo with Hans and sometimes Jan Paul around Amsterdam and many beach villages. A big high was performing at an International Music Festival in Holland and often supporting act for local singer songwriter Jan Paul Van Der Meij. I also recorded "Crossfire" in Jan Paul's studio while in Holland. Jan Paul was a great inspiration to me and I saw a lot of the dutch music scence. I got to perform on Radio shows, take part in concerts and newspaper articles. Jan Paul and I also cycled everywhere.Craig came over for a brief visit and we performed together in a small pub at Wijk aan zee. I still kept writing and recording on a wee Fostex 4 trk.

I did however reach blow out New Years Eve 1994 and Michelle and I settled in London where I took a break from live gigs. After 4 years in London we returned home to NZ in 1997 but while living in Auckland Michelle and I parted ways. I hung around Auckland, did 6 months in Nepal and ended up settled in Te Aroha. I now occassionally perform solo singing my topical songs about this lovely country, the people I meet and those around me. I met a new partner Danielle in 1999 while out Mountain biking and we now have two lovely kids. I am writing more than ever and recording in my small home studio. I get great support from the local Radio and really love playing music again.

Most people say I have a smooth laid back style that appeals to all ages, influenced from jazz to country. You can really connect with my lyrics.

I have just completed a 5th Album from my home studio and I am currently working on more with my Brother Craig who is now living on the Gold Coast Australia.
Music has never not been a part of my life.

I have a day job now selling and designing Multi Room Sound Systems and HiFi, At Sound and Picture Secialist, Hamilton East, and I still find time to write and record. With Danielle and our two children Lyla and Luca I hope to pass the music on another generation. We both love Te Aroha and living in NZ and this is reflected in my music. Danielle is very supportive of my music and is constantly encouraging me to write and perform more, we both hope the kids will follow on.

I now perform solo or work as a trio with Peter Helwig on Percussion and Gary Phillips on Bass, Jean Smith or Mahara Tocker sometimes add afew backing vocals, we are all in it for fun now so have probably got to where I want to be with my music.

Thanks for reading..................take Care..........Shane