The Two Sides of Carmen Taylor

 

The daughter of a Philadelphian bandleader and a Cuban dancer, Carmen Taylor was born in Cuba ca. 1928. She came to the United States of America at age two, began singing at age three. She sang with musicians like Tito Puente and Duke Ellington.  As Elen Madera, she had an international hit with the song "Pepito,"  

She was also a prolific songwriter, and her repertoire included Clyde McPhatter's "Seven Days," as well as the Clovers' "Little Mama." 

There was never, as far as I know, any Carmen Taylor biography published, in print or on internet, a compilation of her songs neither.

Early in June 1974, bride of a day, Carmen Taylor (Carmen Griffith) was gunned down by her ex-convict husband at Fifth and Market Streets in San Francisco.

A talented woman whose life remains a mystery.

tracklist

1 - Can't Understand It (Mercury, 1951)
2 - Lovin Daddy (Atlantic, 1953)
3 - Ding Dong (Atlantic, 1953)
4 - Mama Me And Johnny Free (Atlantic, 1953)
5 - Big Mamou Daddy (Atlantic, 1953)
6 – Freddie (Atlantic, 1954)
7 - Ooh I (Atlantic, 1954)
8 - No More No Less (Guyden, 1954)
9 - The Bride Should Have Been Me (Okeh, 1955)
10 - Teenage Ball (Apollo, 1956)
11 - Oh Please (Apollo, 1956)
12 - So What (King, 1957)
13 - Love Me Baby (Teen Time, 1962)
14 - You're Puttin' Me On (Kama Sutra, 1965)
15 - Hey Son (aka My Son) (Kama Sutra, 1965)
16 - Willie B (EL Toro, 1959)

As Elen Madera : 

17 – Pepito (Decca, 1960)
18 - El-Chipi-Chipi (Decca, 1960)
19 - Otra Vez (Decca, 1960)
20 - Callate Corazón (Decca, 1960)
21 – Florecita (Decca, 1960)
22 - Quisiera Saber (Decca, 1960)
23 - Pu-Chung Ga (Decca, 1960)
24 – Tu Eres Todo  (Columbia, 1961)
25 - Canto Karabali (Columbia, 1961)
26 - Mi Cumbia Son (Decca, 1967)

If you have any information or missing songs not listed above (a total of some 60 songs were released), feel free to leave a comment.

Carmen or Elena