Today we’d like to introduce you to Carole Ann Taylor.
Hi Carole Ann, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey truly began in the choir of my father’s historic Baptist church and continued through my college days at Central State University. Many extraordinary musicians attended Central State, and like so many of them, my foundation was built on those deep, sacred church traditions of singing and harmony—roots fundamentally inseparable from the evolution of jazz itself.
Carrying that spirit with me as a young woman, I found success early as a jazz singer, performing for and with the likes of Duke Ellington, Luther Henderson, and Brooks Alexander in places like New York City, Cleveland, Washington, D.C., and the Catskills. Yet at the same time, I was forging an equally compelling career in advocacy. I first worked for Nelson Rockefeller to advance opportunities for women, and later became a founding member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. For several unforgettable years, I also worked proudly alongside Gloria Steinem in the early days of the National Women’s Political Caucus.
In fact, during the 1972 Democratic National Convention, I was right there at The Betsy Ross Hotel with Gloria and Bella Abzug, pushing for historic trailblazers like Shirley Chisholm, Gwen Cherry, and Evelyn Cunningham.
That history is exactly what makes my work today feel like a beautiful full-circle moment. For the last ten years, I’ve been back at The Betsy Hotel, continuing to drive change in new ways. In addition to my monthly jazz residency, I co-produce The Betsy’s Overture to Overtown Legacy Jazz Series. Today, I advocate for a better world through the power of jazz, with the incredible support of community partners like the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, the City of Miami Beach, the Overtown CRA, and the Pérez CreARTE program.
The Betsy’s Overture to Overtown Legacy Jazz Series is a powerful example of how art can bridge historical divides, celebrate resilience, and confront the racial barriers that still exist today. We book performers of all ages, life experiences, and career stages—from brilliant local talent to national and internationally renowned figures. By bringing Overtown’s rich musical legacy to Miami Beach and vice versa, this initiative physically and culturally retraces historical steps. But this time around, our visiting performers are celebrated as Artists in Residence. The festival actively pushes back against the historical erasure of Overtown’s contributions, cementing the neighborhood’s rightful place as the foundational heartbeat of Miami’s music history.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve had an incredible personal journey across all facets of my life. While it certainly hasn’t always been easy, trust me when I say that I am deeply thankful for every single experience—in music, philanthropy, advocacy, and as a mother and grandmother. Every challenge has shaped the path.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have spent my life working to make the world a better place, firmly believing that it takes all of us to become the change we wish to see. Not a single one of us can do it alone; we are always made stronger when we come together. Now, I have the profound chance to sing my way forward—keeping Sam Cooke’s timeless vision and voice alive: knowing deep down that “a change is gonna come.”
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
I am incredibly proud of my role in The Betsy’s Overture to Overtown Legacy Jazz Series. Together with my Betsy team, we explore the improvisational freedom of jazz to show us what a connected, equitable Miami can look like, while serving as a vital reminder that the work of dismantling geographic, economic, and racial isolation—in Miami and everywhere—is an ongoing journey.
