Dr. Billy Taylor (1921–2010) was a pianist, composer and educator. He dedicated his life to teaching jazz history and was a regular voice heard on NPR, making jazz accessible to a large audience and putting public radio on the cultural map. Brilliant song stylist Nancy Wilson also worked for NPR as host of Jazz Profiles, a companion series to Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz. This special edition commemorates the 20th anniversary of Piano Jazz in 1999. Wilson and Taylor join McPartland for an hour of music and memories, guest hosting the episode along with Branford Marsalis and Wynton Marsalis.
Billy Taylor on NPR: https://www.npr.org/artists/15404963/billy-taylor
Nancy Wilson on NPR: https://www.npr.org/people/2101390/nancy-wilson