Bobby Taylor, (Washington, DC, February 18, 1934 - 22 July 2017) was raised in Washington. As a young man, he moved to New York City and sang in doo-wop groups with singers who later joined successful acts such as Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers and Little Anthony & the Imperials. In 1958 he began his music career as a member of The Four Pharaohs, who released a few locally-selling recordings in the Columbus, Ohio area.
In the early 1960s, Taylor met the Calgary group The Shades, made up of vocalist Tommie Melton, guitarist Tommy Chong, bassist Wes Henderson, pianist Bernie Sneed, drummer Floyd Sneed (later the drummer for Three Dog Night) and Dick Bird. The word Shades in the group's name referenced the fact that the band was interracial. Chong (later famous as one-half of comedy duo Cheech and Chong) was Chinese and Scottish-Irish. The other members were black Canadian, white Canadian, and aboriginal. Taylor was of African-American, Puerto Rican, and Native American heritage.
By the time Taylor joined the group as lead vocalist and producer a couple of years later, they had moved to Vancouver, changed their name to "Little Daddy & The Bachelors", and recorded a single, "Too Much Monkey Business" / "Junior's Jerk". Taylor and Chong opened a Vancouver nightclub in 1963 called the Blues Palace, which was formerly a movie theatre. They brought in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, which had never been to Vancouver before. Although Little Daddy & The Bachelors built up a small following, things soured when they went with Chong's suggestion and had themselves billed as "Four Niggers and a Chink". (or, bowing to pressure, "Four N's and a C") before taking on the moniker Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers.
Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers join Motown
In 1965, Supremes members Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard heard the band — whose repertoire consisted primarily of Motown covers — at the Elegant Parlor in Vancouver, and alerted Motown CEO Berry Gordy, Jr.. Gordy brought the Vancouvers to Motown Records in Detroit, Michigan, and signed them to his Gordy Records imprint. By this time the evolving lineup consisted of Taylor, Henderson and Chong along with guitarist Eddie Patterson, organist Robbie King, and drummer Ted Lewis (aka Duris Maxwell), the latter three having come as a package when the original Vancouvers merged with another local group, the Good Shepherds. Claims have been made that future star guitarist Jimi Hendrix played with them in those early days, but Chong has been quoted as saying that any such appearance is a product of Taylor's "imagination." Nevertheless, it seems likely that Hendrix, as a regular visitor to and sometime resident of Vancouver in the early '60s, would have performed with earlier groups featuring some of future Vancouvers. Hendrix and Taylor certainly knew each other from their early days in the Seattle-Tacoma area, and Hendrix later jammed onstage with the Vancouvers in Europe.
The group recorded its debut album, an eponymous release, and their debut single, the Tommy Chong co-composition "Does Your Mama Know About Me," peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100.
For a July, 1968 engagement at Chicago's Regal Theater, Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers had a local-area family band, The Jackson 5, as their opening act. Impressed with the children, Taylor personally brought them to Detroit and the Motown offices, arranging an audition for them with Motown executive Suzanne de Passe. de Passe and Berry Gordy were impressed with the Jacksons, and the group was signed to the label within a year.
They released two further singles, "I Am Your Man," (US #85, US R&B #40) produced by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, and the Smokey Robinson-written and produced "Malinda" (US #48, US R&B #16). The Vancouvers ended up performing in support of Motown artist Chris Clark. Tommy Chong and Wes Henderson were fired by Clark and Motown producer Johnny Bristol for missing a gig to apply for Green cards. The group broke up shortly afterwards, when Chong attempted to have the Vancouvers' contract halved, so that he, Taylor, and Henderson would constitute the group, while Robbie King, Eddie Patterson, and Ted Lewis would simply be regarded as sidemen and session artists. Taylor auditioned for the then-vacant lead singer position in The Temptations (following David Ruffin's expulsion from the group), but was turned down.
After the Jackson 5 signed to Motown in March 1969, Taylor became the group's first producer. He supervised the bulk of their first album, Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5, recording the Jacksons on a number of soul covers, including The Miracles' "Who's Lovin' You".[8][1] Berry Gordy would later move the group to California and take personal control of their sound. Although Taylor would briefly join the Jacksons in California, he did not receive credit for working on the group's early singles such as "I Want You Back" and "ABC" alongside Gordy's team known as The Corporation™ .
As a solo artist, Taylor was shifted to Motown's V.I.P. label and continued as a solo artist. Although his "Oh, I've Been Blessed" later attained a cult status, Taylor's solo singles failed to sell well. By 1971, Taylor had departed Motown because of a financial dispute, recording sporadically into the mid-1970s.
Taylor later successfully sued Motown for a substantial amount of money. Moving to the United Kingdom, Taylor started an offshoot group, Bobby Taylor & the New Vancouvers, and recorded an album for Ian Levine's Motorcity Records. His later musical efforts were tempered by bouts with throat cancer, which he had treated by various holistic doctors.
As of 2014, Bobby resided in Hong Kong.
On Saturday, 22nd of July 2017 Bobby died in Hong Kong
Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers discography
All items issued on Gordy Records unless otherwise noted.
Singles
1968: "Does Your Mama Know About Me" (US #29, US R&B #5)
1968: "I Am Your Man" (US #85, US R&B 40)
1968: "Malinda" (US #48, US R&B #16)
Album
1968: Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers
1990: Find My Way Back (Motorcity Records)
Bobby Taylor solo discography
1969: "Oh, I've Been Bless'd" (V.I.P. Records)
1969: "Blackmail" (V.I.P. Records, promo-only)
1969: "My Girl Has Gone" (Gordy Records)
1971: "Hey Lordy" (Mowest Records)
1972: "There Are Roses Somewhere In The World" (Sunflower Records)
1973: "I Can't Quit Your Love" (Tommy Zs7 Records)
1973: "Why Play Games" (Playboy Records) (US R&B #83)
1973: "I Can't Quit Your Love" (Philadelphia International, by "BT & TB"—Bobby Taylor and Thom Bell).
Albums
1969: Taylor-Made Soul (Gordy Records)
2006: Motown Anthology (Hip-O/Select)
Does Your Mama Know About Me
Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Does she know just what I am?
Will she turn her back on me)
Or accept me as a man?
And what about your Dad?
Did you think of what he'll say?
Will he be understanding
Or does he think the usual way?
But I've been through this before
And I'd like to get things straight
Before I'm knocking on your door
(Does your mama know about me?
Does she know just what I am?
If she says forget about me)
Do you think you'd understand?
And what about your friends?
Do you care what people say?
Will you accept the burdons
I know will surely come your way?
Maybe I shouldn't worry
But I've been through this before
And I'd like to get things straight
Before I'm knocking on your door
(Does your mama know about me?
Does she know just what I am?
Will she turn her back on me?)
Or accept me as a man?
We've got to stand tall
Can't stumble or crawl
We've got to be strong
For love that's so right
Can't be wrong
And every day I see it grow
And I don't want to let it go
I guess that's why I gotta know
(Does your mama know about me?
Does your mama know about me?
Does your mama know about me?
Does your mama know about me?
Does your mama know about me?)
The lyrics of "Does Your Mama Know About Me" by Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers revolve around a man questioning if the girl he is interested in has told her mother and father about him, a Black man. He wonders if her mother and father will accept him or turn their backs on him, and if her friends will accept the "burdens" that come with being with a Black man. He wants to make sure that everything is clear before he approaches her door.
This song touches on the topic of interracial relationships, which was a taboo topic during the time the song was released. The lyrics reveal the concerns and anxieties Black men had about dating interracially in the 1960s. The song was released in 1968, which was a time of social and political unrest in America. The Civil Rights Movement was in full swing, and the song serves as a reflection of the time.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was written by Tommy Chong, who would later become famous as part of the comedy duo Cheech and Chong. Another interesting fact is that the song features a spoken monologue by producer Brian Holland in the middle of the song, which was a rare technique at the time. The song reflects the sound of Motown, which was the label that Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers were signed to. The song reached number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968.
Chords:
Verse: Am, Dm, G, C
Chorus: F, G, C
Note: The actual chords might vary based on individual interpretations.
Line by Line Meaning
Does your mama know about me?
Asking if the person's mother knows about the singer's existence and identity
Does she know just what I am?
Questioning if the person's mother knows the singer's true identity
Will she turn her back on me)
Worried if the person's mother will reject the singer
Or accept me as a man?
Hoping if the person's mother will accept the singer as a mature individual
And what about your Dad?
Asking about the person's father's opinion
Did you think of what he'll say?
Asking if the person has considered the father's response
Will he be understanding
Questioning if the father will be accepting
Or does he think the usual way?
Worried if the father will hold conservative views
Maybe I shouldn't worry
Expressions of self-doubt
But I've been through this before
Drawing from past experiences
And I'd like to get things straight
Asking for clarity and honesty in the relationship
Before I'm knocking on your door
Wanting to establish these details before progressing further in the relationship
(Does your mama know about me?
Repeating the question from earlier
If she says forget about me)
Asking if the person would abandon the singer if the mother objects
Do you think you'd understand?
Questioning if the person is empathetic towards the singer's situation
And what about your friends?
Asking how the person's social circle would react
Do you care what people say?
Asking about the person's attitude towards social pressure
Will you accept the burdons
Asking if the person will be willing to take on the challenges that may arise
I know will surely come your way?
Acknowledging the difficulties that may arise
We've got to stand tall
Recognizing the importance of confidence in the relationship
Can't stumble or crawl
Emphasizing the need to remain firm and determined
We've got to be strong
Reiterating the importance of strength and resilience
For love that's so right
Reminding the person that their connection is important
Can't be wrong
Stating the importance of their love being right
And every day I see it grow
Noticing the development and growth of their relationship
And I don't want to let it go
Expressing a desire to maintain the relationship
I guess that's why I gotta know
Explaining their motivation for seeking clarification
(Does your mama know about me?
Repeating the question from earlier
Does your mama know about me?
Repeating the question again
Does your mama know about me?
Repeating the question again
Does your mama know about me?
Repeating the question again
Does your mama know about me?
Repeating the question again
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: THOMAS CHONG, TOM BAIRD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Eugene Reed
I'm So Glad To Know Music Like This.
Today's Music Is Do Very Hard To Appreciate.
This Song Snd Many From That Time Period Has Stood The Test Of Time.
God bless Felix Hernandez and the Rhythm Revue for keeping this music alive is the New York area.
Saturday morning 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
wbgo 88.3 FM
George Rodriguez
It doesn't get old... I still love these types of songs.
No one sings like this anymore
Toni Williams
I just finished listening to this beautifully sung ballad! I miss this type of music! But I'm glad that I grew up in an era that produced so many talented artist! I'm thankful to be able to listen to Ole Skool music on Youtube
Scott Burton
This certainly qualifies as a lost hit-Outstanding song!
Lanae Marie
I remember my Dad listening to this record back in the 90s when I was a kid. I’m 39, and I appreciate music from this time.
Linda Harris
It's 2022, and I'm still loving this song 🥰
Keith Davis
Great record make u think what he's talking getting a point across about things back in the race relations ☝ TOWN PHILLY just going back in time
Mike Milburn
Yes I still love that song ever since I was a little child back in 1968 Mike Milburn my first love and her name was Evelyn
Margo Langley
I total agree, Ms Harris!
Keith Davis
True good comment 👍
Micheal Sweeney
,,2023 right there with you love this song