Dallas Woodrow Taylor Jr. was born in Denver on April 7, 1948, and raised in San Antonio. He was the son of a stunt pilot.



When Dallas Taylor was about 10, he saw the "The Gene Krupa Story," a screen biography of the jazz drummer, and his course in life was set. He dropped out of high school at 16 and headed for Hollywood, where he tasted success with the rock band Clear Light.



In the late 1960s, Dallas Taylor met David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash, joining them on their first album, "Crosby, Stills and Nash." He also performed with them when they added Neil Young and belatedly showed up at Woodstock.



At a time when excessive drug use was common in the music industry, Dallas Taylor's habit stood out. He was fired from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young after their 1970 album, 'Déjà Vu'. Keith Moon, the notoriously self-destructive drummer for the Who, warned Taylor about the price he ultimately would have to pay.



Dallas Taylor also worked with Van Morrison and performed with him at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1974.



Dallas Taylor was diagnosed with terminal liver disease in 1989. His friends in music held a benefit concert in 1990 to help fund his transplant.



After he became sober, Dallas Taylor acquired a credential in treating addictions.