One of the great bebop musicians, a contemporary of Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, with whom he performed at the famed Birdland club as house pianist in the 1950's. He became musical director for The David Frost Show in 1969 and later formed the Billy Taylor Trio for which he composed and arranged (including a piece of chamber music entitled 'Homage'). His best-known composition was the anthemic 'I Wish I Knew (How it Feels to be Free)'. He held a doctorate in music education and promoted jazz through his Jazzmobile movement from the 1960s.