Sometimes having house-guests can be challenging, but in the Simon household, sometimes those house guests become extended family and musical collaborators. This was the case for England native David Saw, who came to the island as a guest of Carly’s son Ben Taylor at their Vineyard home (see Vineyard Scene - Episode 4). Since arriving on this side of the Atlantic, Saw not only has recorded an album on Ben’s independent label Iris Records, but he’s also had his songs recorded by Carly Simon, in addition to playing guitar and singing back-up vocals on her latest projects, he has collaborated with her in writing the song featured in this episode, “How Could You Ever Forget?” which is on Carly’s latest release, “This Kind of Love”.
Singer/songwriter Ben Taylor tempts some of his friends from London to come to the Vineyard for the summer to create and record music. First we see Ben artfully explain to his mother Carly Simon the imminent British invasion and then we follow him as he hosts David Saw, Carrie Tree, Rumor Joyce, Amity Fletcher, Jonathon Quarmby and his family.
Aside from being a gifted musician, Ben Taylor co-owns his own independent record label, Iris Records. Since this episode was shot, Iris Records has released David Saw’s latest CD, “Broken Down Figure”.
Born in New England and raised in North Carolina, Kate Taylor’s dual musical heritage is one she shares with brothers James, Livingston, Hugh, and her late brother Alex. In this episode of “The Vineyard Scene”, Kate talks about spending summers on the island as a child, and brings us back to the Vineyard of the 60s and 70s with stories about the music scene past and present, and about setting up a life on the island.
Musician, concert organizer and music reviewer for the Martha’s Vineyard Times, Colin Ruel has his finger firmly on the pulse of the Vineyard music scene. We caught up with Colin outside Che’s Lounge in Vineyard Haven, where he’s been putting together unique shows of local talent on the weekend, and he shares his take on the current Vineyard music scene.
The Black Brook Singers of the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah on the island of Martha’s Vineyard use Native American musical traditions to create new songs for today.
