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“I can remember Mick practising with a group of boys outside our house in Beckwith. They called themselves Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys. We used to sit in the next room and crease up with laughter. It was lovely but so loud! I always hear more of Mick than I saw of him. I didn’t dream they were serious. I thought it was all just for fun” (Mrs. Taylor, neighbour of the Jaggers and mother of original group member Dick Taylor)
Dick Taylor, born on January 28, 1943, in Dartford, Kent, played a pivotal role in the early formation of what would become the Rolling Stones. As a teenager, Taylor attended Dartford Grammar School alongside Mick Jagger, where their shared passion for blues and rock ‘n’ roll sparked a musical connection. By the early 1960s, while studying at Sidcup Art College, Taylor formed Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys with Jagger and mutual friend Keith Richards. This trio, rooted in their love for American artists like Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters, laid the groundwork for something bigger. The group practiced in informal settings, honing their sound with covers of blues classics. Taylor initially took on guitar duties, reflecting his preference for the instrument. Little Boy Blue was a casual yet crucial stepping stone, embodying the raw energy and enthusiasm of its young members as they explored their musical identities.
Transition to the Rolling Stones and Beyond
In July 1962, the three members of Little Boy Blue and The Blue Boys merged with Brian Jones and Ian Stewart, thus marking the birth of the Rolling Stones. Taylor shifted from guitar to bass to accommodate Jones, who favored the lead guitar role. However, Taylor’s tenure with the Stones was short-lived; by November 1962, he left to resume his art studies, unwilling to stay on as a bassist. Bill Wyman soon replaced him, and the Stones’ lineup solidified. Taylor never recorded with the band, whose debut single dropped in June 1963. Undeterred, he formed the Pretty Things in 1963 with Phil May, returning to his beloved guitar. This move launched a decades-long career, cementing his legacy in British rock beyond his brief but foundational stint with the Stones’ early incarnation.
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