The following piece originally ran as part of Matt’s “On the Job” column in The Boston Herald:
Entertainment Producer
Boston is known as a major stop for musicians and artists of all kinds. And most of them have worked with Fred Taylor.
For the past 12 years, Taylor has handled booking at Scullers in Allston. Before that, he brought world famous musicians to legendary venues like Paul’s Mall and The Jazz Workshop.
But don’t call him a booker.
“I hate the term ‘booking,’” the former mattress salesman says. “It sounds too much like a ‘bookie.’”
With all the work he has done for the Boston music scene in his nearly 50-year career, it is appropriate to call Taylor what he wants.
“I am an entertainment producer,” he suggests. “I handle booking, but also other elements of production as well.”
Having gotten his start in music as a bandleader during his days at Boston University, Taylor has become a Jack of all trades and a man for all seasons. From last Summer’s Tanglewood Jazz Festival to this Fall’s 15th annual “Steppin’ Out” fundraiser for the Dimock Community Health Center (Nov. 8-10 at The World Trade Center), and from advertising to technical production, Taylor has done it all.
“The art of bringing artists in is truly an art,” he says. “There are so many considerations involved. It only starts with the venue.”
The details can be quite overwhelming, Taylor admits, especially when he is organizing multiple events simultaneously.
“But once the music starts,” he says, “it’s all worth while.”
