Meet Taylor Roberts | Guitarist & Music Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Taylor Roberts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Taylor, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I consider myself pretty fortunate. I started on piano when I was 6 years old, but hadn’t planned on making a living on music. However, I got my first guitar at 13, and that was it. I simply knew that music was going to be my livelihood, right then and there, by any means necessary.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve been a full-time musician for about 20 years. In my early adulthood, I worked some minimum wage jobs and majored in Jazz Studies at UNF in Jacksonville, FL, along with playing gigs and teaching lessons. By the time I finally kicked off the training wheels, so to speak, I was performing nearly every night and teaching a handful of students weekly. I was barely scraping by, being that the gigs in Gainesville didn’t pay very well. Couple that with the fact that there was a LOT of undercutting, and hobbyists who “just wanted to play” and didn’t charge anything. Ultimately, I lost a lot of gigs as a result, and was essentially forced out of town. I had bills to pay!

After settling in Jacksonville, I worked my way into the scene and became a top call for gigs in and around the area. Once I started honing my skills as a solo guitarist, the weddings and corporate gigs (which pay significantly higher than club dates) started rolling in.

At this stage in my career, I’m enjoying a higher degree of stability than ever. I’ve been at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island for over 8 years now, currently performing 5 nights per week. I also take opportunities to travel, tour, and play festivals in addition to my residency.

I believe what sets me apart is not only my personal approach to solo guitar, but my ability to play with groups, primarily in a jazz setting. Add the fact that I play 7-string, and that makes me a relatively unique artist.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well I’d start out by inviting them to one of my gigs! The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is world-renowned, and the fine dining restaurant where I perform, Salt Restaurant, is simply one of the best dining experiences you’ll ever have.

Jacksonville has a very strong music scene. I’d encourage anyone to attend a show at the Blue Jay Listening Room, which is one of my favorite venues in the world. There is a Jazz jam there every Tuesday, and the ticketed shows have as wide a range of performers as there are genres of music. It’s truly a magical place.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Frank Sullivan comes to mind immediately. He was my mentor for years, and not just musically speaking. He’s a world-class pianist, but more importantly, he’s a world-class human. He’s over 40 years my senior, so he took on something of a paternal role towards me when I was in my early 20s. We played together for years at the Hilton in Gainesville, FL and spent lots of time just hanging out, listening to music, watching ridiculous TV shows, etc. He also introduced me to meditation, which has been a crucial element of my life for the better part of the past 20 years. At 87, he’s still in great health and as sharp as ever.

Website: http://tr7guitar.com

Instagram: tr7guitar

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-roberts-0ab234251

Facebook: Facebook.com/tr7guitar

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@tr7guitar

Image Credits
Lilly Scheetz