The many hats of GT Taylor

Curtis Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Veteran disc jockey/producer George 'GT' Taylor is the last producer to have recorded Mavado and Vybz Kartel in a positive collaboration, with the single Happiest Days in 2008. The versatile producer says that he loves positive reggae and dancehall music.

"I love real reggae music one drop because reggae represents us as Jamaicans, I was brought up in reggae music so I grew up with a love for the authentic one drop," he said.

GT Taylor has also done acting, and even landed a role in hit Jamaican play Obeah Wedding, where he played the lead role in the form of the character affectionately called Roy Sweetness.

According to GT Taylor, entertainment is inborn and he has always worked to maximise his potential by learning as much as he can.

"I learnt and basically started music in the same time as veteran Sly Dunbar, it was like a calling for us, but doing music from that time until now is like many many years and I have done almost everything in the entertainment spectrum," he said.

International rotation

Under his producer's hat, GT Taylor can boast that some of his productions have been getting international rotation.

"I get calls from all over the world and my productions get worldwide plays, so it's a positive look," he said.

Speaking of international attention, GT Taylor recently recorded and co-produced a single with New Zealand-based producer Dub Terminator called Guideline which features upcoming Jamaican artistes Villa Dutch and Melloquence.

The Sunday Gleaner spoke to Dub Terminator and according to the producer he enjoys working with GT Taylor.

"It's really great working with a veteran dancehall producer because it's a whole different vibration - the accent, the lyrics and flow is just mean bro. I'm keen to do more work with more producers as well," he said.

GT Taylor is currently eyeballing a compilation called The Steady Flow featuring Khago which he is expecting to be a major hit.

The entertainment entrepreneur says that he is aiming to take the music as far as he can..

"I wanna take my productions as far as there is life. Songs that I produce have longevity and that is why I don't try to flood the market, I do one or two compilations per year," he said.

GT Taylor is also the promoter of the annual reggae music stage show called GT Extravaganza held on December 25 at Independence Park in St Elizabeth.