Brad Taylor selected as Chinook's "Senior Citizen of the Year"
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Brad Taylor was recently selected as the "Senior Citizen of the Year" by the members of the Chinook Senior Center. Brad started his career as a self-taught guitarist at age ten or eleven years when his folks gave him a guitar. He's been playing ever since and says, "I plan to play music as long as I still can."
Brad Taylor was recently selected as "Senior Citizen of the Year" by the members of the Chinook Senior Center. The annual award recognizes a volunteer who made significant contributions toward the operation and services at the Center. At a recent recognition luncheon at the Center Brad received the award accompanied by his wife of thirty years, Sharon, as well as the couple's two adult daughters and six grandchildren, family members and other well-wishers from the community. He is now part of the group of special volunteers selected for the honor over the past three decades.
Brad was born and grew up in Chinook, graduating from Chinook High in 1974. Asked about how he got interested in music he shared, "I asked for a guitar when I was about ten or eleven years old. My folks figured it was another 'fad' but this one stuck with me." He taught himself to play and still plays "mostly by ear." He started playing in local bands in high school and has continued to develop his musical connections.
During two years at MSU-Northern, while a student, he played in local bands and worked at local music stores. Brad said, "In the 1970's there was a lot of music happening in Havre. Music was big there." Later he moved to Missoula which he described at the time as, "The little Nashville of Montana." He was in Missoula for about 15 years playing in many different bands and honing his musical skills. He added, "At one point I was a full blown rocker with long hair and platform shoes."
While living in Whitehall for a time Brad said he learned a new occupational skill. "Our pastor at the church we attended," he explained, "was a window washer and taught me that trade." When Brad and his family moved back to Chinook he opened his own window washing business. Of that business he said, "It's one occupation not affected by economic fluctuations. There are always windows that need to be washed." He retired a few years ago because of health issues. He described his decline in health as resulting from, "Too many trips up and down ladders and too much stooping, bending and reaching." A son-in-law took over the business.
Changing conditions, changing music
Brad has been with the band that plays at lunch time each Friday at the Senior Center for about 12-15 years. Once referred to as the "Kitchen Band," the group now calls itself the "R.O.C." band-meaning "Real Old Country." Regular R.O.C. members in addition to Brad are Roger Fischer and Elaine Campbell.
About three years ago Brad started a "solo act." "During COVID," he explained, "opportunities to do live music shrank." He created a new solo musical platform he calls "guitar karaoke." In this version of karaoke vocalists sing with the melody played by a guitarist and backed up with "music on track." Brad described the new solo act as "unique to this area." The music is a combination of variety and country.
In addition to the R.O.C. band he plays at the Havre Farmers' Market during the summer. He's played solo at Andy's and the Bone and Marrow in Havre. He's available for parties and social gatherings of all sorts and said he enjoys doing this new solo act. He prefers to use "older technology' to do the music. He added, "I use both analog and digital but prefer to keep digital to a minimum." He shared that the key to lasting long term in music is to be adaptable.
As to his future plans in music he summed it up this way: "I plan to play music as long as I still can." That pretty well sums up his approach to music, keep on keeping on. The "Journal" congratulates Brad on his recognition as Senior Citizen of the Year and wishes him well on his future musical endeavors.
