Researching Alex Taylor

Alexander Taylor was the eldest child of Gertrude and Isaac M. Taylor. He was a member of a family which produced a number of musicians, the most famous of whom is James Taylor, as well as Livingston, Hugh, and Kate Taylor.

Alex Taylor had two sons, Edward and James. The elder son, Edward was adopted, and lives in North Carolina; his second son James, who resides on Martha's Vineyard, is the namesake of Alex's brother James, and inspired his uncle's 1970 hit "Sweet Baby James." Alex Taylor traveled around Florida gigging and recording his finest work at a little studio in Tampa called Progressive Music. Taylor suffered a heart attack on March 7, 1993, in Sanford, Florida, while recording a third album at King Snake Records Studio. He died on March 12, 1993 (James's birthday), at age 46. He was survived by his wife Brent B. Taylor, then age 46, of West Tisbury; his two sons; and granddaughters Caroline, Anna Kate, Paige, and Claudia.

According to the official Rolling Stone biography of James Taylor, Alex Taylor's death has been attributed to alcoholism. Livingston Taylor has said in an interview that Taylor suddenly stopped breathing while sleeping in a Kingsnake Records studio and that this occurred shortly after Taylor downed almost an entire bottle of vodka ("what was for him... not an exceptional amount of booze"). James Taylor wrote his song "Enough To Be On Your Way" with Alex's funeral in mind then changed some of the details to commemorate a fictional "Alice".

Livingston Taylor called him "generous to the very fiber of his soul" and "the greatest older brother ever." Livingston also said that Alex supported and protected him during his troubled childhood.

In 1891, Taylor co-founded Edmonton's first electric company, the Edmonton Electric Lighting and Power Company. Taylor also co-founded Edmonton's first newspaper, the Edmonton Bulletin with Frank Oliver in 1880. Taylor also served on the Edmonton Public School Board from 1899 to 1909, and was the chairman of the board in 1907.

In 1904, ill health prompted Taylor to sell his telephone company to the City of Edmonton for $17,000, which later became known as Edmonton Telephones. Taylor died on February 12, 1916. He is buried in the Edmonton Cemetery.

He was born in Richmond to cutter Albert Alexander Taylor and Annie Barbara Turner. He attended Melbourne Technical College, and worked as a jackeroo and a ham and bacon curer. On 23 May 1936 he married Enid Mary Robertson, with whom he had five children. He served in World War II and attained the rank of major. He was awarded the Efficiency Decoration, and in 1944 commenced work with Commonwealth Food Control. From 1946 he was export and sales manager for Boston Canning Company, becoming a director in 1949 before beginning his own import/export business in 1950. From 1953 to 1955 he was on the state executive of the Liberal and Country Party, and in 1955 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly as the member for Balwyn. He did not attain a ministerial position, and was known as a prominent critic of party leader and premier Sir Henry Bolte. Taylor lost preselection for his seat in 1973 and retired from politics, becoming a farmer at Metung. He died in 1976 at Malvern.