Steven V. Taylor ’77
“And the Dove Award goes to… Steven V. Taylor!”
University of Mobile alumnus Steven V. Taylor and co-producer Ed Cash were named Producer of the Year at the 2020 Dove Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. Steven and Ed worked together to create a project for Bethel Music entitled “Peace,” which turned out to be the catalyst for the Producer of the Year award for the duo.
While working on “Peace” prior to the pandemic, Taylor and Cash realized it had potential to bring healing and peace to listeners in a very powerful way.
“’Peace’ turned out to be a very timely record. We had been working on this album for over a year when the pandemic came to the United States. Realizing the impact the project could have throughout the world, Bethel Music decided to move the release date up to Good Friday. Our prayer was that this project would help people experience God’s presence and peace through the lyrics and devotional production of these songs in a way that only God could do,” said Taylor. Since that time, the project has streamed over 180 million times.
Taylor is known throughout the Christian music industry, winning his 11th Dove Award in 2020, and as the arranger and producer for TRUTH. His career with TRUTH spans from the first No. 1 song TRUTH recorded in 1981, “Jesus Never Fails,” to the final project for the TRUTH 40 Tour in 2011-2012.
TRUTH was started by Roger Breland in 1971 in Mobile, Alabama. Over the 30 years the group was together, TRUTH produced over 61 albums and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Breland is now dean emeritus for the Alabama School of the Arts at the University of Mobile.
“I started as a singer in TRUTH in 1974 and ended up arranging and producing hundreds of songs for them over the next 25 years or so. Roger Breland had a huge impact on my life and career choices. I will always be indebted to him for his leadership, musical direction and spiritual guidance,” said Taylor.
Taylor graduated from then-Mobile College in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in music education. Mobile College was a stepping stone that helped develop the skills he has used in his long musical career in the CCM marketplace.
“I had a number of teachers here that God used to help me develop my musical skills,” Taylor said. “Dr. Kenneth Bergdolt was my choir director and always expected excellence. Dr. Robert Sawyer, who taught theory, encouraged me to expand my musical skills in arranging and writing music. I’m thankful for those people and their influence in my journey.”
In recent years, Taylor has helped arrange and produce several Voices of Mobile albums as well as help prepare the groups for tours and concerts. Besides his production of records and songs, Taylor is currently the creative arts and music director at World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. World Outreach Church is an interdenominational church of more than 10,000, dedicated to helping people become fully devoted followers of Christ.
“I really love the University of Mobile and this city. I would encourage the university and especially the Alabama School of the Arts to continue the great work being done! Set your goals for what seems impossible! I’ve learned that God will bless us and open new avenues of influence if we are willing to believe, walk forward in faith and do the work that He sets before us,” said Taylor.
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