{"id":17129,"date":"2026-07-25T21:11:25","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T16:11:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=17129"},"modified":"2026-07-25T21:11:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T16:11:25","slug":"vernon-taylor-rockabilly-artist-dies-at-88","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=17129","title":{"rendered":"Vernon Taylor, rockabilly artist, dies at 88"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<p>Updated July 23, 2026, 9:04 a.m. ET<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_img\"><img class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" style=\"height:446px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2026\/07\/23\/USAT\/91019505007-1252449671.jpg?width=660&amp;height=446&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2026\/07\/23\/USAT\/91019505007-1252449671.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=892&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" elementtiming=\"ar-lead-image\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Crown City Bombers perform during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender in Las Vegas, on April 28, 2023. The notorious rockabilly music weekend draws approximately 20,000 attendees annually.\"\/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Vernon Taylor, the 1950s rockabilly musician, has died. He was 88.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">An <a href=\"https:\/\/www.legacy.com\/us\/obituaries\/name\/vernon-alderton-obituary?id=61956595\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-t-l=\":b|z|k|\u2691u\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">online obituary<\/a> lists the artist born Vernon Walton Alderton&#8217;s death as July 12, noting he died after a lengthy battle with dementia.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Born on a farm in Layhill, Maryland, a small town southwest of Baltimore, Taylor got his start in his high school band The Nighthawks, which performed with Curley Smith, later of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/entertainment\/music\/2026\/03\/09\/tommy-decarlo-boston-dead-brain-cancer\/89073295007\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|\u2691u\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">Boston<\/a> fame. The band also had a stint on an hour-long local TV show in Washington, D.C. He signed with the record label Dot Records, releasing the singles &#8220;Losing Game&#8221; and &#8220;Why Must You Leave Me&#8221; in the late 1950s, which weren&#8217;t commercial hits, before the label and musician parted ways.<\/p>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_x__c gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">After a performance on &#8220;American Bandstand,&#8221; he was signed by rock and roll producer and legendary <a href=\"https:\/\/sunrecords.com\/artists\/vernon-taylor\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-t-l=\":b|z|k|\u2691u\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">Sun Records<\/a> founder Sam Phillips, where he would release two singles, including &#8220;Today Is A Blue Day&#8221; from Elvis songwriter Jack Clement. Neither were massive hits at the time but have gone on to be revered by rockabilly fans.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_fb\" aria-label=\"Facebook Embedded Post\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"loadFacebook\" data-v-src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/kevinwbooth\/posts\/pfbid02CsW4Xg1vsiiHQePbQVsTHN1f7YqK7fMPKFrc3HtivAMiMUkc2s6JNaktMgFQbj7tl\"><a class=\"gnt_em_fb_ph gnt_em_fb__ps_ph\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/kevinwbooth\/posts\/pfbid02CsW4Xg1vsiiHQePbQVsTHN1f7YqK7fMPKFrc3HtivAMiMUkc2s6JNaktMgFQbj7tl\" aria-label=\"Facebook Post on facebook.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\/><\/aside>\n<aside class=\"gnt_ar_b_sp\">Boston lead singer <a href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/entertainment\/music\/2026\/03\/09\/tommy-decarlo-boston-dead-brain-cancer\/89073295007\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-t-l=\":b|e|spike click:7|\u2691u\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_sp_a\">Tommy DeCarlo dies at 60 after brain cancer battle<\/a><\/aside>\n<aside class=\"gnt_ar_b_sp\">Remembering those we lost: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":body nav (deaths)|e|auto spike click:7|\u2691u\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_sp_a\" href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/celebrity-deaths\">Celebrity Deaths 2026<\/a><\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Taylor left the music business and, according to his obituary, found work in printing, though he continued making music. A 1989 benefit concert led to a career resurgence, followed by a rerelease of his previous music and new music released by Run Wild Records for the album &#8220;Daddy&#8217;s Rockin,&#8221; in 1999.<\/p>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_x__c gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Taylor retired from printing at 79 due to struggles with anxiety and dementia, per his obituary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">He is survived by his wife, Brenda Alderton, three children and five grandchildren.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_gl gnt_em__el\" href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/picture-gallery\/entertainment\/celebrities\/2026\/01\/13\/celebrity-deaths-died-2026\/87991173007\/\" data-t-l=\"\u2691g:l|l|c|view gallery:inline promo\" aria-label=\"View Gallery - Passages 2026 \u2013 Kaylee Hottle, Tony Thorpe, more stars we lost\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"gnt_em_gl_i\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-src=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2026\/07\/21\/USAT\/90997235007-20240326-t-014942-z-1373053915-rc-2-dt-6-azc-6-el-rtrmadp-3-filmgodzillaxkong.JPG?crop=5465,3074,x0,y283&amp;width=660&amp;height=372&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" data-gl-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2026\/07\/21\/USAT\/90997235007-20240326-t-014942-z-1373053915-rc-2-dt-6-azc-6-el-rtrmadp-3-filmgodzillaxkong.JPG?crop=5465,https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/3074,https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/x0,https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/y283&amp;width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"372\"\/><svg class=\"gnt_em_gl_i_svg\"><use xlink:href=\"#gnt_svg_camera\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/kevinwbooth\/posts\/10236856809692380?ref=embed_post\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-t-l=\":b|z|k|\u2691u\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">Facebook<\/a> tribute shared July 15, singer Kevin Booth recognized Taylor as &#8220;one of the last Sun artists&#8221; and remembered playing a show with the musician and pop-country star Ronnie Dove. He called Taylor a &#8220;very nice man and a great performer.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Nostalgia rock band The Fabulous Hubcaps also paid tribute, recalling Taylor inducting them into the Southern Legends Entertainment and Performing Arts Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_anc\" id=\"gnt_atomsnc\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"loadAnc\" aria-label=\"Newsletter signup form\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">&#8220;From that day on, a long and lasting friendship ensued between Vernon, his beautiful wife, Brenda, and The Fabulous Hubcaps. Thank you, Vernon \u2026. for this great honor,&#8221; the group wrote on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0saCxjJ6gB4asDRsbSYQPXsFKduaxBTUaqPae6yTBvqZ1Usf7AyBvqqCj8o4ouHz2l&amp;id=100060243735159&amp;__cft__[0]=AZYbDsQYUeU0zIlw_FrFrHfsA9hMMMu2Laxn8W5nu1OQxsIveFcrogdAopAM6sVHrLqfT1Df-4Dc_pDqCDYkUanUFPSYw8DF46Loidpyhuxh4V0mEK5TAlmdf5gaffrpMSCJ-PXsADVl6WG-pL_T8gC0MS8wPSaPzDaXVxY7BtRRbbNdh4RjgkCot1TU4XayFC4&amp;__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-t-l=\":b|z|k|\u2691u\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">Facebook<\/a>. &#8220;Vernon \u2026. we&#8217;re sure they welcomed you into Rock and Roll Heaven with open arms and big wide hugs! Rock on friend.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Updated July 23, 2026, 9:04 a.m. ET Vernon Taylor, the 1950s rockabilly musician, has died. He was 88. An online obituary lists the artist born Vernon Walton Alderton&#8217;s death as July 12, noting he died after a lengthy battle with dementia. Born on a farm in Layhill, Maryland, a small town southwest of Baltimore, Taylor&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17130,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2026\/07\/23\/USAT\/91019505007-1252449671.jpg?crop=3199,1800,x0,y108&width=3199&height=1800&format=pjpg&auto=webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-trending-viral-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17129","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17129"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17129\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/17130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17129"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17129"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17129"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}