Taylor, Greg “Fingers” (3rd June 1951-23rd November 2023)

He was a harmonica player and songwriter born in Jackson, Mississippi, who studied at the University of Southern Mississippi. He gave himself the nickname “Fingers” when he played keyboards, prior to concentrating on the harmonica, in his high school band Buttermilk Blues as he thought it would be good idea to give everyone a nickname.

In 1971 he became a member of Larry Raspberry & The Highsteppers and then in 1974 he got a call from Jimmy Buffett, who he had met while at university. He was asked to become one of the first official members of the Coral Reefer Band, which he duly accepted and this would see the start of a 26 years stay with them until leaving in May 2000, although he continued to appear on a further two recordings and rejoined them on stage in 2006.

During this time Jimmy Buffett would record his song “Big Rig” and also their co-written “Miss You So Badly” which would appear on the albums Havana Daydreamin’ and Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes respectively. At the same time he branched out on a solo career, releasing his first album, Harpoon Man, in 1984 and his seventh, Hi Fi Baby, in 2003.

He appeared with numerous acts over the years, which include Clint Black, Rita Coolidge, Steve Cropper, Charlie Daniels, Bo Diddley, J. Geils Band, Howlin’ Wolf, Alan Jardine, Leo Kottke, Tim Krekel, Jerry Lee Lewis, Peter Mayer, Mac McAnally, Delbert McLinton, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Bonnie Raitt, Jay Spell, The Tams, Irma Thomas, War, Muddy Waters, Hank Williams Jr. and many others. As the mid-2000s came around he toured with the singer K.D. Moore and becoming a member of the band A1A.

Albums he appeared on during the course of his long career include his own Chest Pains, New Fingerprints and Back to the Blues, at least 27 albums by Jimmy Buffett and From a Road Engine to the Photon Wing by Mike Nesmith and That’s Why I’m Here by James Taylor.

He retired after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and died in November 2023 when he was 71 years old.

Jimmy Buffett recordings
Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes (Jimmy Buffett)
Cheeseburger in Paradise (Jimmy Buffett)

Sources:

Taylor, Greg “Fingers” (3rd June 1951-23rd November 2023)

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