Dr Billy Taylor , Grammy-nominated jazz pianist

Dr Billy Taylor is one of America’s most influential jazz ambassadors. A Grammy-nominated artist, his career spans over 60 years. His mentor was Art Tatum and through the 1940s and 50s he played the legendary New York clubs with the likes of Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie. He has performed with many of the great giants of jazz including Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Quincy Jones, Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong.

His career as a broadcaster and educator is no less impressive from arts correspondent for CBS television's "Sunday Morning" program to his pioneering educational work on jazz in schools and universities across America. Billy Taylor has composed well over 300 songs but his most well-known composition is “I Wish That I Knew (How It Would Feel to Be Free)”.  Among many awards and honours he holds a Peabody Award, an Emmy Award and a Grammy-nomination for his recording Homage (featuring the Turtle Island String Quartet).