Ron Taylor has been nominated for a Tony for his work in the musical It Ain't Nothin' but the Blues. Taylor is a co-author, performer and associate producer of The Blues. New York credits include The Wiz, Jesus Christ Superstar, Eubie, The Three Musketeers, and the original voice of Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors. Film and television credits include: "Trading Places," "A Rage in Harlem," "Matlock," "ER," "NYPD Blue," "Star Trek," "The Simpsons" (as "Bleeding Gums" Murphy), and "Family Matters," to name a few.
It Ain't Nothing But the Blues moved from a sold-out run at Off- Broadway's New Victory Theatre to a Broadway engagement at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre at Lincoln Center. The production began previews April 22, 1999 and opened on April 26.
The show, produced by NJ's Crossroads Theater after being initially developed at the Denver Theater Center, traces the history of the "Blues" genre from its African roots to contemporary recording artists. The 12 member ensemble performs songs including "Fever," "Strange Fruit," "My Man Rocks Me," "I Can't Stop Lovin' You," "Someone Else Is Steppin' In (While You Been Steppin' Out)," "Walkin' After Midnight" and "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man."
Blues, itself a Tony nominee for Best Musical, was written by Charles Bevel, Lita Gaithers, Randal Myler, Ron Taylor and Dan Wheetman. Myler helms the cast including: Mississippi Bevel, Gretha Boston (Tony Award winner for Show Boat), Carter Calvert, Eloise Laws, Gregory Porter, Ron Taylor and Dan Wheetman.
