Billy Taylor was a prominent American jazz pianist, composer, broadcaster, and educator, born on July 24, 1921, in Greenville, North Carolina. Taylor's musical journey began in Washington, D.C., where he moved with his family at a young age. He grew up in a musical family and explored various instruments before focusing on the piano, receiving classical training from Henry Grant.

Taylor attended Dunbar High School and later Virginia State College, where he initially majored in sociology before switching to music, graduating in 1942. After moving to New York City in 1944, he began his professional career with Ben Webster's Quartet and quickly became a fixture in the New York jazz scene, notably serving as the house pianist at Birdland. He played alongside jazz legends such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis.

In 1952, Taylor composed "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free," a song that gained prominence during the civil rights movement. Beyond performance, Taylor was deeply involved in jazz education and advocacy. He earned a Master's and Doctorate in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and held academic positions, including the Duke Ellington Fellow at Yale University.

Taylor's influence extended to television and radio, serving as musical director for The David Frost Show and hosting various programs, including Jazz Counterpoint on Bravo and as an arts correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning. He was a key figure at the Kennedy Center, where he served as the Artistic Director for Jazz from 1994, creating series like the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival.

Throughout his career, Taylor received numerous accolades, including two Peabody Awards, an Emmy, a Grammy, and induction into the International Association of Jazz Educators Hall of Fame. He was a founding member of The Jazz Foundation of America, advocating for the welfare of jazz and blues musicians. Taylor passed away on December 28, 2010, in New York City, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of jazz.