R. DEAN TAYLOR, CANADIAN MOTOWN SINGER-SONGWRITER, DEAD AT 82
Jan 20, 2022
By Bob Komsic
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Toronto-born R. Dean Taylor died earlier this month at his LA home, more than one year after catching COVID-19 and was placed in hospice care.
He started performing at the age of 12 at local country and western shows.
By his early 20s, Taylor – his first name was Richard – was playing piano and singing in Toronto bands.
Then in 1963 a friend in Detroit shared a local newspaper article about the rising label, Motown Records, and told Taylor he could get him an audition.
He met with Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier of the songwriting trio Holland-Dozier-Holland and joined Motown.
Taylor first made his name as a songwriter, co-writing ”Love Child” for the Supremes, ”All I Need” for the Temptations and ”I’ll Turn to Stone,” for the Four Tops.
Considered one of Motown’s most successful white musicians, Taylor also sang his way up the charts with ”Indiana Wants Me,” which went to number one in 1970, ”Gotta See Jane” and ”Ain’t It A Sad Thing.”