Johnnie Taylor

Johnnie Taylor (born 1934 in Crawfordsville, Arkansas; died 2000 in Dallas, Texas) was a highly successful vocalist whose career perfectly illustrates the evolution from gospel to soul-blues. Taylor initially made his mark in the 1950s by replacing his primary influence, Sam Cooke, as the lead singer of the premier gospel group, the Soul Stirrers. Transitioning to secular music, he became one of the flagship artists for Stax Records in Memphis during the late 1960s and 1970s. Billed as the "Philosopher of Soul," Taylor delivered massive, blues-drenched soul hits like "Who's Making Love."