B. Taylor will never forget the day he moved into his new condo. Instead of doing the responsible thing and unpacking boxes, he decided to unwind and play some tunes. That was when a neighbor heard Taylor’s piano through the wall and put him in touch with Motown legend Pete Moore of Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.
Moore, who happened to live in the same building, knew within seconds that he wanted to work with Taylor, saying later that the meeting reminded him of the day The Miracles discovered Stevie Wonder and brought him to Motown.
Thanks to that chance introduction, Taylor had a choice to make: Would he continue his career with the military, or follow his musical dream? Taylor opted to pursue music and is now a two-time Grammy nominee.
Yet, despite the success, he retained his passion for the armed forces. Today, he uses his music to establish a nonprofit wellness organization that supports military veterans.
The 1 Life Organization
Taylor founded The 1 Life Organization in 2016 to help active-duty military, veterans, first responders, and family members who are dealing with issues such as post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), suicide, homelessness, and depression. The nonprofit utilizes alternative healing therapies such as music, arts, yoga, sports, martial arts, and animal therapy to treat these combat-induced ailments.
“Our work for veterans is being recognized by the government, elite athletes, and celebrity artists,” Taylor says, “but the true honor is the chance to serve the organization that made me who I am today. I’m able to do these great things thanks to everything I learned in the military.”
Taylor partners with the NFL, NBA, and NASCAR to offer a program called the Heroes Experience. In this initiative, he creates unforgettable experiences by bringing veterans, military, and first responders onto the field, introducing them to professional players and sports legends.
Taylor is in the process of procuring additional space for the 1 Life Wellness Center. The center will be a one-stop shop for wellness, complete with a fitness gym, as well as rooms for music therapy, yoga classes, pilates, and art animal therapy sessions. Veterans will also be able to access career counselors, job placement resources, and diet counselors.
Taylor is working to bring attention to the need for organizations like 1 Life. In collaboration with the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, he recently recorded the video for his track “We Are One, Love Is All We Need.” Footage incorporates the Coast Guard, Navy, Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps. The video also highlights the work of VA nurses, doctors, and first responders.
“That project took 30 days of shooting on multiple locations,” recalls Taylor. “We debuted the video at the Superbowl’s pregame. It was introduced by Terrell Owens. That was a historic moment for me.”
Exciting upcoming events for 1 Life
November 11, Veterans Day, is a fitting occasion for 1 Life’s first-ever annual gala. This Las Vegas event will bring together several hundred exclusive guests and high-profile celebrities in the city’s most expensive private mansion.
Taylor continues to keep music at the forefront of his outreach. During the next few months, Taylor is partnering with Sony Music to produce a holiday compilation called “1 Life Heroes Christmas Classic.” Rather than contacting musical celebrities, he plans to collaborate with talented veterans and active-duty military members.
“I want to showcase the musical journeys of vets and active military,” he explains. “This album is for military, by military.”
All proceeds for the album go directly to help fund the 1 Life Wellness Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Readers can visit www.btaylor.com/1-life-organization to learn more about B. Taylor and his inspiring work.
About the Author:
Marcy Paulson is a full-time writer based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She’s been featuring her clients’ stories for eight years and still can’t wait for the next interview. When she’s not near a keyboard, you’ll either find her picking guitar with her husband in their old-time string band, paddling the Tennessee River, or hiking through the Appalachian foothills with their kids.
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