Taylor Sappe

BMI affiliated published songwriter since 1979
Private Music Instructor at DeMelfi School of Music and "in-your-home" instruction
Record producer and A&R for Captain Blue Records

Photo by Ken Gallagher

Special Thanks

I give my special thanks to the following people who made it possible for me to be where I am today. This list is not in order of priority, but in the order of occurance.

Jim Gasper for constantly encouraging me to do better.

Barry Hirschberg who saved me from starvation when I lived in New York in 1971. After losing my job at Braniff International Airways at JFK airport, I persued the tough course of trying to make a living with music. The gigs didn't provide enough income to survive. Barry had a deli/sub shop called, "My Hero". At closing time he would give me all of the left over food. Barry truly is my hero! He  now owns and operates a video production company in New Jersey. Click on the link to see how far Barry has come over the years.

George Graham for playing my music on both Homegrown Music and Mixed Bag radio shows on WVIA FM.

Mike Naydock for the Cellar Full of Noise radio and TV shows that aired my songs.

Ken Gallagher for encouraging me to get back into it.

Lucyann Edwards for the acoustic guitar she gave me for a birthday present. I was procrastinating about buying a guitar and probably wouldn't have had one to this day if it wasn't for Lucyann.

Bob Gidosh for having me play at his camp site each time he goes camping and for not missing any of my performances unless he was extremely sick. Also for his ongoing support and constant encouragement.

Deva-kant for the use of his PA system during the times when he is not booked, until I was able to afford my own PA system.

Keith's Bistro for providing me with a venue for my first public solo performance in 28 years. Keith's Bistro is now out of business. What a shame! It was a great place for musicians to perform and people to enjoy the entertainment.

L.A. Tarone for the many kind articles he wrote on me in the Hazleton Standard Speaker and for playing my music on his radio show.

Patrice Baker for supplying me with some of the music that I needed to complete my show, and her constant encouragement and ongoing support.

Jerry Krakovesky for his constant support, needed critiques, and occasional technical help.

Mary Laser for helping to steer me away from making costly mistakes.

Intrepid Dective Agency for providing me with part time employment for an extra income while preparing my solo act.

Wister Yuhas for his help in creating the time slots I needed for practicing, rehearsal and organizing my show.

Michelle Potts for her constant support and help in getting gigs. And for showing up at all of my gigs, even under the worst conditions. But most of all, for rescuing me from a bad situation and giving me a loving home with her two children.

Danny DeMelfi for giving me the opportunity to teach at his music school, which I am now doing full time. He has provided me with the best job of my life. I am now earning a good living doing something that I love. Teaching music is the only work I love more than performing.

Dean Reinbold for helping me to redeem myself from a mistake I made in 1971 and have been beating myself up over all these years. See The Guild That Got Away.

The following people have helped me in ways that they are unaware of:

Brian Sheuthrumph for helping me to reduce my obligations to the toner business and focus more on music.

Earl Schoonmaker for giving me the motivation to leave my part time job and focus more of my energy on music.

George Fulton for helping motivate me to leave my part time job and focus more on music.

The gangs who drove me out of my home: They say "Every dark cloud has a silver lining." A few years ago, shortly after I met Michelle, she took me to visit her home. I always wanted to live in a single house in a wooded area, back far enough that you can't see it from the road. She had this kind of home. As soon as I saw it I said, "I want to live here." A few years later, a sequence of events took place that resulted in my living at that place now. I am living in my dream home because of a few bad neighbors. How's that for fate?