Crystal Taliefero

{{Short description|American multi-instrumentalist and vocalist (born 1963)}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Crystal Taliefero

| image = Crystal Taliefero May 2007 (cropped).jpg

| alt =

| caption = Taliefero performing in May 2007

| image_size =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|01|05}}

| birth_place = Bourne, Massachusetts, US

| instrument = {{hlist|Percussion|saxophone|harmonica|vocals|guitar|drums}}

| genre = {{hlist|Rock|rhythm and blues}}

| occupation = Musician

| years_active = 1974–present

| associated_acts = Billy Joel, Billy Joel Band, John Mellencamp

| website = {{url|crystaltaliefero.com}}

}}

Crystal Taliefero-Pratt (née Taliefero, born 5 January 1963){{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/billyjoel/posts/10159060444686598/ |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=www.facebook.com}}{{Cite web |title=HOME |url=https://www.crystaltaliefero.com/ |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=CrystalTaliefero |language=en}} is an American multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. Taliefero grew up with a musical family, performing rhythm and blues with her brother in the Chicago metropolitan area. During her college years she was discovered by John Mellencamp, who helped guide her to a career as a professional musician. Taliefero performed with several artists throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In 1989 she was hired as a studio musician for the Billy Joel Band, and she has been touring and recording with them ever since.

Early life

Born in Bourne, Massachusetts,{{cite web|title=Crystal Taliefero-Pratt| url=http://www.sabian.com/en/artist/crystal-taliefero-pratt|website=Sabian|access-date=July 13, 2014}} Taliefero spent most of her childhood in Hammond, Indiana.{{cite web|last1=Requet|first1=Thad|title=Former Band Member Spotlight: Crystal Taliefero-Pratt|url=http://www.mellencamp.com/index.php?page=news&n_id=1457|website=johnmellencamp.com|access-date=July 13, 2014|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001822/http://www.mellencamp.com/index.php?page=news&n_id=1457|url-status=dead}} By the age of 11 she had begun performing rhythm and blues around Hammond{{cite web|title=IU honoring alumna and talented musician Crystal Taliefero-Pratt with Herman Hudson Alumni Award|url=http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news-archive/18131.html|website=Indiana University|access-date=July 4, 2014}} and nearby Gary, Indiana, where her family moved two years later. She joined her brother Charles in the singing group Black Mist (later renamed Magic Mist),{{cite web|last1=Poulton|first1=Diane|title=Ex-teacher devoted to music, family| url= http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/obituaries/ex-teacher-devoted-to-music-family/article_c4be34ff-9f9d-59a4-a040-cec207ec0e0f.html | website= The Times of Northwest Indiana|date=September 17, 2013 |publisher= The Times Media Co. |access-date=July 4, 2014}} who performed in the Chicago area.{{cite web| url= http://www.crystaltaliefero.com/ct/ct_bio.pdf#!biography/c1enr| title= Crystal Taliefero| website= crystaltaliefero.com| access-date= June 23, 2014| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140714210425/http://www.crystaltaliefero.com/ct/ct_bio.pdf#!biography/c1enr| archive-date= July 14, 2014| url-status= dead}}

Taliefero attended William A. Wirt High School{{cite web|last1=Poulton|first1=Dianne|title=Ex-teacher devoted to music, family|url=http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/obituaries/ex-teacher-devoted-to-music-family/article_c4be34ff-9f9d-59a4-a040-cec207ec0e0f.html|work= The Times of Northwest Indiana|date=September 17, 2013 | access-date= June 24, 2014}} where she was a top athlete and graduated in 1981. She studied music at Indiana University, eventually making the dean's list.{{cite magazine |last1=Greene |first1=Andy |title=Rock's Greatest Sidewoman on What Springsteen Taught Her, Why Billy Joel Is the Perfect Boss |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/crystal-taliefero-interview-billy-joel-bruce-springsteen-john-mellencamp-1004252/ |access-date=23 August 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=29 May 2020}}{{cite journal|last1=Kelper|first1=Nicole|title=The Beat Goes On|journal=Nashville Arts|date=July 10, 2012|pages=38–39|url=http://nashvillearts.com/2012/07/10/crystal-taliefero/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714183753/http://nashvillearts.com/2012/07/10/crystal-taliefero/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 14, 2014|access-date=June 24, 2014}} There, Taliefero was part of the Indiana University Soul Revue, Dr. James Mumford tutoring her.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nwitimes.com/entertainment/music/region-multi-instrumentalist-crystal-taliefero-to-lead-iu-soul-revue/article_c966e987-972d-5b84-bbc3-54b3ab6c9f80.html|title=Region multi-instrumentalist Crystal Taliefero to lead IU Soul Revue|last=Rico|first=Damian|website=nwitimes.com|date=September 5, 2016 |language=en|access-date=2020-04-29}} She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

Career

In college Taliefero performed in a band called Kilo, which included future Saturday Night Live drummer Shawn Pelton, former Tonight Show bassist Robert Hurst, and trumpeter Chris Botti.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JZ0TAAAAIBAJ&pg=3653,8042522|title=Crystal Taliefero adds spice to Billy Joel's band|last=Benarde|first=Scott|date=March 30, 1990|work=Ocala Star-Banner|access-date=February 12, 2010}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} John Mellencamp's drummer Kenny Aronoff often sat in on drums, and in 1986 after hearing the first song of a live performance, Mellencamp invited Taliefero to join his touring band. In a Spring 2011 interview, Taliefero credited her experience with Mellencamp as the fundamental training that "changed the whole course of [her] life". In 1989, Mellencamp took time off as a musician to focus on painting. When asked, he lent Taliefero $3000, and with that she headed to New York City to pursue more musical opportunities.

Two and a half months into living in New York, Taliefero received a phone call from a Mellencamp associate, asking her to play drums and sing for 1989's Storm Front, the upcoming album from Billy Joel. After a successful audition, she was invited to join the Billy Joel Band, who she has been with ever since.{{cite web|title=12–12–12 Concert for Sandy Relief and Our Student Crystal|url=http://www.darkhorseinstitute.com/our-student-crystal-12-12-12-concert-for-sandy-relief/|website=Dark Horse Institute|date=December 12, 2012 |access-date=June 24, 2014}} With time, Taliefero claimed the role as background vocal arranger, which she is credited with on 1993's River of Dreams.

In 1991 Taliefero accompanied Bee Gees in their tour. A show in Europe needed an opening act, and they asked if she could perform some of her own material. She then formed a one-off band called Bonzai for the opening show which featured Pat Peterson, a Mellencamp backup singer, backed by the Bee Gees band.

1992 saw Taliefero taking a lead role in Bruce Springsteen's extensive 107-date world tour, ending in June 1993.{{cite magazine|last1=Greene|first1=Andy|title=Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel Form Supergroup for Obama in NYC|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bruce-springsteen-billy-joel-form-supergroup-for-obama-in-nyc-20081017|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=July 14, 2014}} The tour landed Taliefero a number of press hits. The New York Times music critic Jon Pareles described Taliefero as a "sassy female foil",{{cite news|last1=Pareles|first1=Jon|title=Review/Rock; Springsteen, 42, Leans Toward Family Values|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/25/arts/review-rock-springsteen-42-leans-toward-family-values.html|access-date=July 14, 2014|work=The New York Times|date=July 25, 1992}} while Edna Gundersen of USA Today praised her performance alongside Springsteen. Taliefero's collaboration with Springsteen also includes a 1992 MTV Unplugged documentary performance. However, Gary Graff, writing in the Detroit Free Press, lamented that Taliefero only played saxophone on "Born to Run" and missed longtime E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons, who was not invited on the tour.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uTj_AgAAQBAJ&q=%22Crystal+Taliefero%22&pg=PT227|title=Springsteen on Springsteen|first=Gary|last=Graff|editor1-first=Jeff|editor1-last=Burger|publisher=Music Sales Group|page=227|year=2013|isbn=978-0-857-12999-4}}

Taliefero has performed with a wide range of other artists, including Faith Hill, Garth Brooks, Joe Cocker, Tina Arena, Bob Seger, Brooks & Dunn, Richie Sambora, Elton John, Enrique Iglesias, Natalie Merchant, Meat Loaf, and Michael McDonald.{{cite web|title=Crystal Taliefero|url=http://www.lpmusic.com/artists/artist/CrystalTaliefero/|website=Latin Percussion|access-date=September 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009075405/http://www.lpmusic.com/artists/artist/CrystalTaliefero/|archive-date=October 9, 2014|url-status=dead}}

Musicianship

Taliefero's credits as a musician are chiefly as a vocalist and percussionist.{{cite web|title=Crystal Taliefero - Credits|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/crystal-taliefero-mn0000133615/credits|website=Allmusic|access-date=September 30, 2014}} Instruments in her percussion kit include bongos, cabasa, mark tree, congas, cowbell, güiro, hand percussion, jam block, shaker, tambourine, timbales, triangle, Djembe, and wood block. In addition, Taliefero is also quite accomplished on the guitar, keyboards, harmonica and saxophone, among other wind instruments. She is known for her energetic stage performances.

In its 2008 article "The 125-Plus People, Places and Things Ruling the Rock & Roll Universe", Rolling Stone magazine declared Taliefero the "Best Secret Weapon".{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/20200609/page/43|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421200609/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/20200609/page/43|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 21, 2008|title=Best Secret Weapon – Crystal Taliefero|last=Hiatt|first=Brian|year=2008|work=rollingstone.com|access-date=February 20, 2010}}

Personal life

In 1986, Taliefero suffered a ruptured appendix while touring with Bob Seger. She was hospitalized for several weeks.{{cite news|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20070312/ENT04/103120112/08/29/86--Concert-review-(Pine-Knob-Music-Theatre)|title=Seger's storm electrifies home crowd|last=Graff|first=Gary|date=August 29, 1986|work=freep.com|access-date=February 20, 2010|archive-date=June 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606194349/http://www.freep.com/article/20070312/ENT04/103120112/08/29/86--Concert-review-(Pine-Knob-Music-Theatre)|url-status=dead}}

Taliefero's goal is to establish the Taliefero Music Foundation that will inspire and shape young upcoming lives in the world of live entertainment. As part of her purpose to inspire young musicians, she visited Central High School in East Chicago, Indiana (her home state), in 2009.{{cite web|url=http://nwitimes.videos.vmixcore.com/p/video?id=3252766|title=Crystal Taliefero|last=Watkins|first=John J.|year=2009|work=The Times of Northwest Indiana|access-date=February 20, 2010|archive-date=July 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717225244/http://nwitimes.videos.vmixcore.com/p/video?id=3252766|url-status=dead}}

Taliefero was awarded the Indiana University African-American Arts Institute's Herman C. Hudson Alumni Award on April 19, 2011.{{cite news|url=http://www.indianapolisrecorder.com/image_025dd0f4-71b4-11e0-a2c2-001cc4c002e0.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127051500/http://www.indianapolisrecorder.com/image_025dd0f4-71b4-11e0-a2c2-001cc4c002e0.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 27, 2013|title=Crystal Taliefero-Prat|date=June 18, 2011|work=indianapolisrecorder.com|access-date=June 19, 2011}} In a congratulatory statement, Billy Joel noted that some of his songs would not have been written without her inspiration.

Film and book collaborations

Taliefero has contributed narration, compositions and/or music to a range of child-oriented videos and audiobooks though the Weston Woods Studios division of Scholastic Corporation:

{{cite book|last=Martin|first=Bill Jr.|others=Ehlert, Lois (illustrator); Taliefero, Crystal (narrator)|title=Chicka Chicka Boom Boom|year=1989| isbn= 1-55924-577-8}}
{{cite book | author = Lester, Julius | others = Narrated by Jackson, Samuel L. and Taliefero, Crystal | title = John Henry|edition= June 1998| isbn= 0-7882-0086-0}}
{{cite book|last=Ehlert|first=Lois|others=Taliefero, Crystal (narrator)|title=Planting a Rainbow|year=2007| id= BNID [http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/?ean=2000003675593 2000003675593] }}
{{cite book|last=Rappaport|first=Doreen|others=Collier, Bryan (illustrator); Duncan, Michael Clarke (narrator); Taliefero, Crystal (music)| isbn= 1-60514-944-6|title=Martin's Big Words|year=2002}}
{{cite book|last=Martin|first=Bill Jr.|others=Ehlert, Lois (illustrator); Taliefero, Crystal (narrator)|title=Chicka Chicka 1 2 3|year=2006| isbn= 0-439-89629-0}}
{{cite book|last=Ehlert|first=Lois|others=Taliefero, Crystal (narrator)|title=Planting a Rainbow|year=2007| id= BNID [http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/?ean=2000003675593 2000003675593] }}
{{cite book|last=Ehlert|first=Lois|others=Taliefero, Crystal (narrator)|title=Waiting for Wings|year=2007| id= BNID [http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/?ean=2000003675067 2000003675067] }}
{{cite book|last=Hamanaka|first=Sheila|others=Taliefero, Crystal (narrator)|title=All the Colors of the Earth|year=2007| id= BNID [http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/?ean=2000003674978 2000003674978] }}

External links

{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p130278}}
{{Discogs artist}}
[https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/crystal-taliefero Crystal Taliefero Interview] at NAMM Oral History Collection (2019)