Richard Taylor Jr. has truly made a mark with his holiday album and the special song he wrote for Edmonds. This local Edmonds crooner has a passion for the holidays that is truly remarkable. His Christmas tree goes up in late September and comes down in late March, showing his dedication to the season. His first holiday EP features five songs, including two originals and three covers, each one carrying a unique charm.

Discover Richard Taylor Jr.'s Holiday Musical Journey

Richard's Singing Journey

Richard has been singing since childhood, growing up in Chicago. Even at the age of 5, when he got tired of singing the same song repeatedly, he continued his singing path in high school. There, he was given opportunities for solo roles in multiple stage plays, and he juggled football and the arts with a passion for music. Despite his musical talent, his parents initially saw his dreams as just a "pipe dream." However, his experiences continued to shape his musical career.After facing racism in his college music department, Richard chose to use his vocal gifts only with his church and joined a traveling gospel choir. This led to an amazing opportunity to sing background vocals for Trace Adkins, showing him that he could be on a big stage in front of 10,000 people. These experiences gave him a taste of what could be, but there were still hurdles and fears ahead.

The Creation of "An Edmonds Kind of Christmas"

The "An Edmonds Kind of Christmas" song was crafted over the last three winters. Richard would sit in a booth at Santa Fe Mexican Restaurant, watching the holidays unfold and writing down notes. All these notes came together to create a holiday song that expresses his love for small towns. Growing up in Chicago and listening to crooners like Frank and Nat sing about big cities, Richard wanted to make songs about specific places like Edmonds. He plans to release a version of the song that can be relatable to other small towns in the future.

Richard's Musical Future

In 2025, Richard's music will be expanding beyond the holidays. His first non-holiday song will be released just before Valentine's Day, and he has another song scheduled for Mental Health Awareness month in May. He is working towards a full album for the summer. His current "pipe-dream" goal is to sell out a venue like Climate Pledge. Although he dreams of doing bigger tours and playing in larger venues, his ultimate goal is to brighten someone's day with his music.Richard's advice to aspiring musicians is to embrace their sound and not be afraid to take opportunities. He believes that fear should not stop one from pursuing their dreams.Richard's album release party is on Thursday, Dec. 5 at the Opera House, and his CDs and children's book will be available this month.There is a new website to keep track of live music around town: www.edmondslivemusic.com. Here are some of the live music events in December:Wednesday, Dec. 4Engels Pub – Wood N Villians – 8-11 p.m.Vinbero – John Pinetree – 7-8:30 p.m.Edmonds Center for the Arts – Michael Cavanaugh's Merry Rocking Christmas – 7:30 p.m.Thursday, Dec. 5Salish Boathouse – The Blue Healers – 7-9 p.m.Musicology Co – Luke Borchelt on tour – 8-9:30 p.m.Dusted Valley Winery – Jake Bergevin – 5:30-7:30 p.m.Edmonds Opera House – Richard Taylor Jr. – 7-9 p.m.Edmonds Center for the Arts – Celtic Christmas – 7:30 p.m.Friday, Dec. 6Engels Pub – Joe Cook Blues Band – 9 p.m.-midnightSaturday, Dec. 7Musicology Co – John Pinetree – 6-7 p.m.Engels Pub – Midnight Snack – 9-12 p.m.Vinbero – Luigi & Co – 7-8:30 p.m.Edmonds Center for the Arts – Christmas in Edmonds Mosaic Chorus – 3 and 7 p.m.Sunday, Dec. 8Vinbero – Jazz Brunch! – noon-2 p.m.Edmonds Center for the Arts – Kalani Pe’a’’s Hawaiian Christmas – 7:30 p.m.Tuesday, Dec. 10Musicology Co – Karl Blau on tour – 8-9:30 p.m.Wednesday, Dec. 11Engels – DNCR Band – 8-11 p.m.Thursday, Dec. 12Salish Boathouse – The Battiste Brothers – 7-9 p.m.Friday, Dec. 13Engels Pub – Lone State – 9 p.m.-midnightMusicology Co – El Guanaco 5-7 p.m.Musicology Co – Richard Taylor Jr 7:30 p.m.Saturday, Dec. 14Musicology Co – Matney Cook – 6-7 p.m.Engels Pub – Scott E Lind – 9 p.m.-midnightSunday, Dec. 15Edmonds Center for the Arts – Cascade Symphony Happy Holidays – 7:30 p.m.Monday, Dec. 16Edmonds Center for the Arts – Cascade Symphony Happy Holidays – 7:30 p.m.Wednesday, Dec. 18Engels Pub – Joshua Red Uttech – 8-11 p.m.Thursday, Dec. 19Salish Boathouse – Bill Derry & the Sidekickers – 7-9 p.m.Musicology Co – All Vinyl DJs featuring DJ MizRhiFriday, Dec. 20Dusted Valley Winery – – 5:30-7:30 p.m.Engels Pub – After 4 Band – 9-p.m.-midnightSalish Boathouse – Nicholas Russell – 7-9 p.m.Saturday, Dec. 21Musicology Co – Washington Creative District – 6-7 p.m.Engels Pub – The Weatherheads – 9-12 p.m.Vinbero – Ricardo Valenzuela – 7-8:30 p.m.Salish Boathouse – DJ Shane – 7-9 p.m.Sunday, Dec. 22Vinbero – Jazz Brunch – noon-1 p.m.Friday, Dec. 27Engels Pub – Rocket Bleach – 9 p.m.-midnightSalish Boathouse – Steve Fletcher – 7-9 p.m.Edmonds Center for the Arts – Take 6 – 7:30 p.m.Saturday, Dec. 28Vinbero – Josiah Bogle – 7-8:30 p.m.Engels Pub – Super Tonix – 9 p.m.-midnightSalish Boathouse – Acoustic Avenue – 7-9 p.m.Musicology Co – Soulcen – 6-7 p.m.Tuesday, Dec. 31Vinbero – Josiah Bogle – 7-8:30 p.m.Engels Pub – 9 p.m. to midnightSalish Boathouse – Acoustic Avenue – 7-9 p.m.Enjoy the music!