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)
I am your man
Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rely on me to supply
Your needs from now on
Shelter you and be
A pillow to lean on
For in your eyes, I see
What I was born to ne
And now, now my life can begin
Oh, yes, I am, yes, I am
I'm your man
Listen, darling
There's no sacrifice great or small
I wouldn't do
My ambition is
Bringing happiness to you
And if troubles comes our way
I'm gonna promise to stay
Right by your side
'Cause that's where I wanna stay
For I am your man
Oh, yes, I am, little darling
Little darling, I'm your man
My childish days are through
I wanna be someone you can look up to
Someone who can protect, oh
Someone who you can respect
I'm just trying to make myself worthy
Of the precious, precious love
I know you've been giving me
I want nothing more for myself
Your love is greatest wealth
And when you take my hand
And when you take my hand
You will proudly say
Oh, this is my man
Oh, yes, I am, little darling
Little darling, I'm your man
Oh, ooh, ooh, baby, baby
Yeah, hoo, I'm your man
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Ooh, baby, baby
The song "I Am Your Man" by Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers is a heartfelt promise of love and devotion. The singer pledges to take care of their partner's needs and be a source of comfort and support, as well as to bring happiness and protection in times of trouble. The lyrics convey a sense of gratitude for the love they have received and a desire to be deserving of it.
The song starts with a declaration that the singer will "rely on me to supply / Your needs from now on" and be a "pillow to lean on." The sentiment is echoed in the chorus, which proclaims "I am your man" with conviction. The singer acknowledges the love they have received and wants to be worthy of it by becoming someone their partner can look up to and respect. They promise to stand by their partner's side through thick and thin, no matter the sacrifices required.
Overall, "I Am Your Man" is a romantic and uplifting song, full of promises of love and devotion. The lyrics are a testament to the strength of love and the power of commitment to one another.
Line by Line Meaning
Rely on me to supply
Trust in me to provide for you
Your needs from now on
Anything you require, I will fulfill from this moment forward
Shelter you and be
I will offer you protection and support
A pillow to lean on
I'll be there for you in every possible way when you need comfort
For in your eyes, I see
I see my purpose in life when I look into your eyes
What I was born to be
I exist for the purpose of being your partner
And now, now my life can begin
My life starts now that I am your partner
For I am your man
I am honored to be your partner and protector
Listen, darling
I want to communicate with you right now
There's no sacrifice great or small
I am prepared to make any sacrifice for you, no matter how small or large
I wouldn't do
There is nothing I wouldn't do
My ambition is
My ultimate goal in life is
Bringing happiness to you
To provide you with happiness
And if troubles come our way
If we encounter any difficulties
I'm gonna promise to stay
I vow to remain committed to you
Right by your side
I will always be with you
'Cause that's where I wanna stay
Because that's where I want to be
My childish days are through
I am ready to leave behind my immature and inexperienced ways and embrace adulthood
I wanna be someone you can look up to
I aspire to be someone you admire and respect
Someone who can protect, oh
Someone who can keep you safe
Someone who you can respect
Someone worthy of your esteem
I'm just trying to make myself worthy
I am striving to become deserving of your love
Of the precious, precious love
Of the invaluable affection and care you give me
I know you've been giving me
I am aware of the love and attention you've bestowed on me
I want nothing more for myself
I have no other desires but to be with you
Your love is greatest wealth
Your love is the most valuable possession I have
And when you take my hand
When you physically touch me
You will proudly say
You'll be able to proudly claim
Oh, this is my man
That I am your partner in life
Oh, yes, I am, little darling
It's true, my love
Little darling, I'm your man
I proudly belong to you
Ooh, baby, baby
I love you, my dear
Yeah, hoo, I'm your man
Yes, I am yours
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Contributed by Mackenzie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MuddyMe
Rely on me to supply
Your needs from now on
Shelter you and be
A pillow to lean on
For in your eyes, I see
What I was born to ne
And now, now my life can begin
For I am your man
Oh, yes, I am, yes, I am
I'm your man
Listen, darling
There's no sacrifice great or small
I wouldn't do
My ambition is
Bringing happiness to you
And if troubles comes our way
I'm gonna promise to stay
Right by your side
'Cause that's where I wanna stay
For I am your man
Oh, yes, I am, little darling
Little darling, I'm your man
My childish days are through
I wanna be someone you can look up to
Someone who can protect, oh
Someone who you can respect
I'm just trying to make myself worthy
Of the precious, precious love
I know you've been giving me
I want nothing more for myself
Your love is greatest wealth
And when you take my hand
And when you take my hand
You will proudly say
Oh, this is my man
Oh, yes, I am, little darling
Little darling, I'm your man
Oh, ooh, ooh, baby, baby
Yeah, hoo, I'm your man
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Ooh, baby, baby
@Chasencharlie13
this is one song that every black man should be telling his woman every single day. growing up and listening to this song brings back so many memories of good times and just being young and happy with your friends. thank you so much ashford & simpson such a great song.
@Gr8LilLady
Music is like a Smile SOooo UNIVERSAL!!! It tares down barriers, It transcends all cultures & boundaries , as is very apparent in the racial & ethnic makeup of the voices of this group. I hear ✌ harmony & ❤! SAY AMEN SOMEBODY! 🎉
@kennethrobinson3428
No question, the lyrics are powerful and the message is strong. Kudos to the memory of Mr.Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers!
@Gitn2it
"My childish days are through. I want to be someone you can look up to. Someone who can protect, someone who you can respect." What woman would not want her man to say these things to her?
@jupitermusic6181
To all the music world we just lost one of the best singers of his era. This past Saturday July 22, 2017 Bobby Taylor of the Vancouvers was added to the heavenly choir. Bobby was in Hong Kong where he lived for a number years, at the time of his passing. Bobby Taylor's range, style and vocal passion in what he sang will always resonate with me. He was and will always be, one of my favorite singers. It is unfortunate he didn''t get all the recognition he deserved. He could hold his own with anyone then or now. Like some have already said, the man could just flat foot sing, without all the studio production help many singers need. He was a mentor, teacher and inspiration to many artist at Motown back in the day and even afterwards. To his family, I pray our Lords healing and comfort for your loss, and to the world, just remember. He will be missed. Peace
@jln195399
didn't know. Thank you.
@jupitermusic6181
Bobby Taylor was the one who actually introduced the Jackson Five to Motown, not Diana Ross. She was just a name people knew more than Bobby's. The group actually stayed with him in the early days. People have said how could a very young Michael Jackson sing with a passion well beyond his years, about love. Well I believe the mentoring he and the other members received from Bobby Taylor may have been the key to push an already very talented Michael and brothers to sing like that. Just listen to the passion Bobby has in his voice on, "I Am Your Man", and think about Michael. It's there, pure Bobby Taylor. Peace
@neosoul8958
Judy Gaines Thank you Ms. Gaines and your family for sharing Bobby with the world. I try to sing with that same passion honoring him and thanking God for the voice. Blessings to you all. Peace
@marisphere1
Got this when I was 12 and wore the grooves off of it. Decided then that I wanted a man like this and I've got him. Just celebrated our 33rd anniversary!
@midwestslotdiva
"Shelter you, and be a pillar to lean on". "For in your eyes, I see, what I was born to be". Nothing MORE needs to be said!!