Ted Taylor was born in Okmulgee; Oklahoma; but in the early 1950s he moved to California; where he would become a member of several vocal gospel groups. He became the tenor singer of Santa Monica´s Soul Seekers; who gained a couple of record contracts and ended up recording as The Cadets on the Modern label and as The Jacks on the subsidiary RPM label. Taylor sang lead vocals on their performances until he left the group before thei recorded their biggest hit ´Stranded In The Jungle´ to pursue his solo career; releasing records in several different labels until he reached Duke Records; where he cut his first classic sides. His vocal style was influenced by Little Willie John; Clyde McPhatter and Jackie Wilson. Despite having only one national hit; Taylor´s recordings have become much appreciated. Already in the mid 1960s the MC5 took his arrange-ments of ´(Love Is Like) A Ramblin´ Rose´ to base their version on it. The MC5´s cover opens the very first album of the band; Kick Out The Jams; and is sung by Wayne Kramer in a falsetto that supplies the amazing tenor voice of Taylor.