Doc City takes you on an eclectic, untethered journey through the universal mind on Welcome To Doc City Deluxe Edition — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
Musically extracting equal influence from R&B, pop and jazz sounds, Welcome To Doc City‘s lyrics cover everything from social issues to deeply human themes of love and loss, with ample dashes of philosophy and abstract thought intended to unravel the mind and reveal something truly fresh. Given Doc City’s unique history, the spiritually charged energy in his music makes sense.
Award-winning musician and producer Doc City is the musical alias of Cleveland’s Clarence Taylor, MD. As the son of a Baptist minister, gospel music, spirituals and the soul were an essential part of Clarence’s musical foundation. His years of experience as a doctor allows him an intimate view into the depths of humanity. Fittingly, the compositions on Welcome To Doc City lean heavily towards the immersive and profound, musing on the most important questions of life. Uplifting, dense and thought-provoking, this is music for soul-searching and contemplation.
The 12-song album includes Sweetest Taboo, a cover of Sade’s classic weaving through jazz, gospel, rock and rap influences. What Love Is focuses on the refrain of unconditional love. The soulful No Goodbyes was written after the loss of his best friend. I’ll Still be There For You is a spiritual-based composition of faith and commitment.
The retrospection of Heart Just Won’t Give Up complements the beautiful love ballad When You Are Near. He pivots to address social/political issues on Did You Choose?, dealing with the insanity of prejudice, bias, hate and bullying. The funky upbeat gospel-like Your Ego Too addresses narcissism and the twisted delusional perspective of one’s over-importance of self.
Doc City (vocals / keyboards) is accompanied by a stellar cast of musicians, including four Grammy-winning artists who have played with Herbie Hancock, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Garth Brooks, Gloria Estefan, Trisha Yearwood, The Winans, Paul Simon, Peter Frampton, The Dazz Band, Dolly Parton, Anita Baker, Parliament Funkadelic, Alison Krauss, Yo Yo Ma and Nancy Wilson.
Taylor started playing music in clubs and venues at age 15 as bassist for several D.C. and Virginia R&B, funk, jazz and pop bands. In 1997, Pieces Of A Dream recorded a song he co-wrote on their album Pieces. Produced by George Duke and Jeff Lober, this album stayed on the Billboard Top 10 Contemporary Jazz chart for several months. In 1998, he received an Achievement Award for Outstanding Song Composition in the International John Lennon Songwriters Competition for his composition What Have I Done. Adopting the moniker Doc City in 2001, he and his band were first runnerup in the Jazziz Magazine/Mercedes Benz/Smooth Jazz Radio Ohio Silver Cup Competition. In 2002, Doc City were nominated for Best R&B/Soul Band in the Cleveland Free Times Music Awards. In 2012, Doc City had several of his songs featured on the soundtrack of the international movie Never Bloomers.
Listen to Welcome To Doc City Deluxe Edition above and below, and connect with Doc City at his website and Facebook.
