(April 4, 2017) TJ Hooker-Taylor is a natural storyteller. You might say that the ability to spin a musical yarn is something that Hooker-Taylor got honestly. He’s the son of Johnnie Taylor, the man who gave us classic stories such as “Jody’s Got Your Girl and Gone,” and “It’s Cheaper to Keep Her.” Of course, the southern soul genre that fuses good old fashioned blues with R&B lends itself to stories cheating men, seductive women and the dangers of fame and money.
Hooker-Taylor’s new song “Don’t Do It for the Money” is a cautionary tale about the perils of going into a business like show business for the wrong reasons. Let’s just say that “Don’t Do It for the Money” gives a new but familiar meaning to the observation that music is a soul stealing pursuit.
Of course, the music business has always played a big part in Hooker-Taylor’s life. He sang in church before venturing off and fronting an R&B band. Hooker-Taylor notes that he never tried to sound like his legendary father, and besides blues and southern soul weren’t really his thing when he was growing up. However, TJ’s voice started to change in his early 20’s and suddenly the son heard traces of the father’s gravelly and powerful baritone coming from his mouth. TJ went with it and he has crafted a solid career as a blues singer in his own right. I’m sure you’ll hear a little of dad in the son’s voice. And when the dad is Johnnie Taylor, that’s not a bad thing at all. Check it out.
By Howard Dukes
TJ Hooker–Taylor – “Don’t Do It For the Money”
