Biographie

8 septembre 1997 · Londres, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni (cancer)

Became The Beatles' press agent at the request of Brian Epstein; left in late 1964, after helping Epstein with his autobiography "A Cellarful of Noise" (he interviewed Epstein over a weekend at a posh resort, with a tape recorder; the tapes became the basis for the book, refined later by Taylor).

Reportedly was an early convert to LSD, and was once reprimanded for holding a press conference at Apple while using the drug.

First met The Beatles in his early days as a newspaper reporter, when he was sent to review them in concert and expected to bring back a negative story. He praised them instead, winning the favor of both the band and their manager Brian Epstein. Later, George Harrison was asked to lend his name to a regular newspaper column, with Taylor ghostwriting it for him; Harrison's critique of the first one turned it into a collaborative effort between the two.

Moved to America (with his wife and children) after leaving The Beatles in 1964, and opened a press office in Los Angeles, representing The Byrds and The Beach Boys, among others (he first pinned the "genius" label on Brian Wilson, which Wilson's been trying to live down, or up to, ever since). Eventually tired of the L.A./Hollywood scene, and returned to England when The Beatles asked him to become the publicist for their company, Apple Corps.

George Harrison's song, "Blue Jay Way", was written one night when he was visiting Los Angeles (staying in a rented house on Blue Jay Way), waiting for Taylor and his wife (still living in California) to come over; it was foggy out, and they'd gotten lost en route.