Garth Taylor celebrates 20 year music anniversary
At the age of 7, Garth Taylor was given his first guitar. His mom taught him how to play his first song. It has been 20 years since Garth was catapulted to fame with his first hit single, Why, back in 1998 and he has continued to cultivate his raw talent and love of music.
East London fans will be excited to hear that Garth will be marking this special occasion with two shows at the Guild Theatre on the 20th and 22nd of July, with the show on the 22nd being a fundraiser for CHOC. The show is a showcase of his biggest hits over the years, highlighting his remarkable moments of his career.
Local East London rising star, Tyra Aaliyah Bowles, will be opening for Garth on both days.
“I want to take my fans on a journey from the very first song I wrote and the influencers I had at the time of each song. I am so grateful for the support of my friends and family and my dedicated fans who have continued to support my career,” says Garth Taylor.
“Garth’s attention to detail and passion for what he does is evident in his career. Garth had a start in life that would’ve broken many. It was his guitar, a pen and paper that have been the only constants throughout his life,” comments Garth’s publicist, Monica Steyn from MS Publicity, who has worked with Garth for almost ten years.
Garth comes from a long line of musical people, but he was never interested in the confines of what constituted the ‘normal’ rules of learning. He taught himself how to play by touch, by emotion, by what felt right. Garth toured Zimbabwe and South Africa’s local cover-band circuit in his late teens.
Garth has continued to produce chart-topping hits including Only With You (2003), If I Gave You My Soul and Home Again from ‘Stripped Down, Soul’d Out’ (2009) and his more recent works, Stronger, Try, If I Don’t Call and Crocodile Tears, off the ‘Re-Made’ album (2016/2017). Few people know that Why was written in 1996 already, but it only made it to radio in 1998. The song topped the charts for five consecutive weeks and continues to be a crowd firm favourite.
“I am an observer of humanity. Humanity is what inspires me, the trials and tribulations of real life and the triumph of the human spirit – that’s what I wrote songs about and that’s what people love to hear from me,” adds Garth.
Garth has performed on stages and events all around South Africa as well as treating audiences on international stages. He has opened for the likes of Shaggy, Simply Red, Bryan McKnight and Judy Boucher as well as having shared the stage with some of South Africa’s biggest music legends.
Although, Garth will tell you that his biggest highlight was performing for orphaned children during a Christmas Charity Drive.
“I used to be the orphan dreaming of being a pop-star and having my photo taken with a famous musician. I then got to become the musician who brought joy and laughter to orphans and have them look at me with the same hopes and dreams that I had as a child.”
Tickets for Garth’s show are available at R120 per person on Computicket. Friday, 20 July show starts at 19h30 and Sunday, 22 July show starts at 15h00.
Press release provided by The Guild Theatre