Home / Arts and Entertainment / Rockabilly Icon Vernon Taylor Dies at 88
Rockabilly Icon Vernon Taylor Dies at 88
23 Jul
Summary
- Rockabilly musician Vernon Taylor passed away at age 88.
- Taylor reportedly succumbed to complications from dementia.
- He had a significant career spanning several decades.
Rockabilly artist Vernon Taylor, whose birth name was Walter Adalton, has died at the age of 88. Born in 1937, Taylor developed a passion for music early on, moving to Maryland at age 11 and learning to play the guitar. By 15, he had formed his band, The Nighthawks, with classmates.
Taylor initially stepped away from his music career in 1959 to focus on family and business, but he returned to his musical roots in 1989. Recent reports indicate that dementia was the cause of his passing. It is noted that his brother, Luthar Taylor, also passed away from dementia approximately one year prior to Vernon's death.
Taylor's musical journey included a significant early break when his band, The Nighthawks, was hired to perform during a Curley Smith concert. This led to various performance opportunities, including a spot on a Saturday night television show for three years, and contracts with Dot Records and Sun Records. Despite his efforts, he did not achieve a major hit, prompting his retirement until a later comeback at a benefit concert.
