Jazz great Billy Taylor dies at 89

Pianist and composer Billy Taylor died of heart failure on Tuesday, at the age of 89. The award-winning jazz advocate and scholar is recognized for penning compelling commentary in his jazz compositions during the civil rights era. But he’s also known for being a giant in the teaching world of jazz ? literally putting some of his peers on a truck and taking them around New York City to perform and teach the world that jazz is America’s classical music.

Today we remember the life of Billy Taylor. We’re joined by Steve Rathe, president of Murray Street Productions and senior producer of Jazz at Lincoln Center Radio. He and Billy Taylor worked together on the Jazz Alive radio program in the ?70s and ?80s.

We also speak with Thurston Briscoe, of vice president of programming and production at Newark Public Broadcasting, including jazz station WBGO, who speaks on the importance of Taylor as an educator.