(Chicago, IL) - The legendary blues cub Rosa's Lounge, a staple of Chicago blues, has been awarded teh 2015 "Keeping The Blues Alive Award" for the Blues Club category. The KBA awards are presented by The Blues Foundation to individuals and organizations for having made significant contributions to the blues.

Currently located at 3420 W. Armitage Ave., Rosa's continues to showcase first class performances nightly. On any given evening audiences can experience the likes of Eddie Taylor, Jr., Jimmy Burns, Dave Specter featuring Jimmy Johnson, Toronzo Cannon, Corey Dennison, Lurrie Bell and Melvin Taylor.
American Blues Scene Magazine - By Casebeer (November 4, 2015)

Mississippi Blues Trail Goes to France
"Gerard Tertre planted the seeds for the Cahors Blues Festival in the ?70s, and in 1979 presented a concert at the Municipal Theater near this site. Aided by sponsors and many volunteers, Tertre produced the first festival in 1982, with guests including Mississippian Luther Johnson, Jr. Other Mississippians who have performed at the festival over the decades include B. B. King, Otis Rush, Jimmy Johnson, Jessie Mae Hemphill, Eddie C. Campbell, Charlie Musselwhite, R. L. Burnside, Louis Myers, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Magic Slim, Willie Kent, Zac Harmon, John Primer and Melvin Taylor. The festival continued booking Mississippi artists under the leadership of veteran blues enthusiast Robert Mauri?s, aided by the City of Cahors and over 100 volunteers. The festival is the longest established blues event in France, drawing tens of thousands of fans every July." Jo-Carolyn Goode | , Style Magazine Newswire | 7/14/2014

Living Blues Magazine - Scott M. Bock
"I Wanted People to Hear the Real Melvin Taylor"
(#225 Vol. 44 pg. 32-33) article (May 30, 2013)

Melvin Taylor - Beyond the Burning Guitar CD
"Over the years, America has produced some of the greatest guitarist the world has known. That list is very long indeed. It includes: BB King, Jimi Hendrix, Wes Montgomery, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Robert Cray, George Benson and Freddie King just to name a few. We can add Melvin Taylor to that list. His latest CD is titled Beyond The Burning Guitar. This project is a two disc recording that includes 24 tracks. Taylor wrote and arranged all but one of the songs and that is quite an accomplishment in itself.

The first disc includes: Steppers, Passionate, Next Phase, Rock In Blues, The Hook Up and more. These tunes are a mixture of jazz, rock and a little blues. Taylor's style reminds me a lot of Wes Montgomery. It is a smooth and hollow sound as some people call it. He has the unique ability to combine different styles into well constructed solos. He is joined on the album by Bernell Anderson on keyboards and Senor Jefe on drums and percussion..."
Oscar Brooks | , Style Magazine Newswire | 09/17/2012

The Sweet Taste of Guitar
An Interview with versatile Melvin Taylor, one of the greatest guitarists in the history of rock, blues & jazz...

"Most music has become digital - real musicians have been replaced by high-tech electronic devices. It takes the true feeling out of the music."

Melvin's 2012 release, "Sweet Taste of Guitar" is a splendid accomplishment for this virtuoso - he composed, arranged, produced and plays the entire instrument on the CD.

Melvin Taylor continues his musical journey into the 21st century. His unique sound and outstanding performance skills continue to thrill and entertain audiences around the globe. Melvin's love of music shines through as he crosses over many styles - mixing fluid jazz, blues, rock and soulful moments on his newest release "Taylor Made".

Read the interview:
Posted by Michael Limnios Blues Network on June 8, 2012 at 2:00am

Beyond the Blues Melvin Taylor
"Back during its hey-day, there was arguably no better place to hear the blues in Chicago than on a Sunday afternoon at the Maxwell Street market.

With regulars like Blind Jim Brewer, Jimmie Lee Robinson and Robert Nighthawk holding court on a weekly basis – all fiercely competitive performers who would not surrender their chunk of concrete to just anyone - Maxwell Street was certainly not the place for the meek or the timid to get up and perform.

Especially those that were not even at the legal age to possess a driver’s license.

And although he may have been a bit on the young side when he made his debut playing on famed Maxwell Street at the tender age of 11, Melvin Taylor was neither meek nor timid.

Maybe just a tad bit nervous.

"My first time going out there, man, I was so nervous with all those people out there,” he said. “All these thoughts kept going through my head – what am I supposed to do? What if they don’t like me? … all these what-ifs.""
Terry Mullins | Blues Blast Magazine | 04/19/2012