Full Name: Taylor Roberts
Thanks for your time. So, tell us in what part of the First Coast you reside now and how long you have lived there?
I live in Jacksonville, Florida, and have resided here for the better part of the past 20 years.
When did you know you had an interest in music?
It goes as far back as to when I first learned to walk! I began taking music lessons around age 6. I had more fun picking out melodies from the radio and television than I did practicing what my teacher gave me. Not much has changed!
Did you start with any specific instrument and migrate to other instruments?
Yes, piano was my first instrument, but I switched to guitar at age 13.
Are you currently in a band (or bands)?
When I’m not performing solo, I generally lead either a quartet or quintet in a more straight-ahead jazz setting. We have performed at major festivals and jazz clubs around the country.
Who is your favorite musician, or what musician influenced you the most?
Stevie Wonder has been, and likely will be for the rest of my life, my all-time musical hero. To be alive on the same planet at the same time as him is nothing short of a miracle.
Are there any specific memories or highlights of your career that you would like to tell us about?
Sure! When the Rolling Stones were coming through Jacksonville on their No Filter tour in 2019, they hired me to play a couple of their private events. Keith Richards even gave me one of his personal guitar picks!
What area bands or musicians are at the top of your list to go out to hear?
I rarely get a chance to check out my friends around town just because of my busy schedule, but some noteworthy bands would be Billy Gilmore and Friends, LPT, Tori Nance, and 1BlackFriend. This town is so stacked with talent that it’s impossible to compile a concise list.
Do you have a favorite venue that you enjoy playing locally?
The Blue Jay Listening Room. Hands down.
Do you have any gigs coming up to tell our readers about?
My schedule can be viewed on my social media pages and website. What I’m most excited about, though, is my second tour of Southern California, coming up in February 2026.
What is the best way for musicians to network?
Social media can only take us so far, especially if we’re just starting out or moving to a new city. In my experience, going out to shows and jam sessions really is the key. There are no shortcuts… Just be easy to get along with and bring all of your talent to every performance that you possibly can.
Are there any local venue owners/managers that you would like to rave about?
Cara Murphy! I struck an immediate kinship with her the first time I played at the Blue Jay Listening Room back in 2018.
If you had a question you would like to ask another musician, what would it be?
What keeps you interested in and curious about music, decades into your career?
Personal hobbies or interests? Family?
I have two grown boys, Boston and Griffin. They live on the West Coast and are both thriving. The biggest part of my life is recovery, in that I got clean and sober back in 2011. I am heavily involved in that community worldwide.
What’s the best thing for you about living on the First Coast?
The people! I’ve developed so many amazing relationships over the years with people whose musicianship only matches their generosity and inclusive spirits.
Where and how can folks learn more about you and/or your band? Links to your website?
If you just Google “Taylor Roberts Guitar,” you will be pointed in the right direction.
Is there anything else that you want to tell everyone reading this?
The most powerful business card you can have, in music or any other walk of life, is just being a kind and decent person.
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