Impresario Fred Taylor lit up the Boston music scene for decades. He made one of the first recordings of Dave Brubeck, and brought to his venues — notably, the Jazz Workshop, Paul’s Mall, and Scullers — headliners such as Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Art Blakey, Weather Report, Pat Metheny, and Charles Mingus. Bob Dylan played his first Boston concert at Symphony Hall on Fred’s invitation. Fred was known for letting Berklee Music students into his late shows for free, inviting them to play with visiting bands, and he helped launch the careers of Danilo Perez, Diana Krall, and Grace Kelly. The Fred Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund continues to support Berklee students as they find their way from the practice room to the performance stage.

OBS felt lucky to help shepherd Fred’s book “What, and Give Up Show Biz?” to publication during one short year, to get to know the man who had brought music and light to so many. Music and comedy kept Fred young, into his nineties; at his 90th birthday party, he shared his secret for staying young and optimistic: he always found something to look forward to. Many years in the writing, Fred’s book will be a posthumous publication; its many stories will bring to life the mostly pre-internet, live music and entertainment scene of the bustling city of Boston. In honor of the publication of Fred’s book, saxophonist and singer/songwriter Grace Kelly will host a Virtual Book Launch concert. Watch this space for the date and time of that concert!