Born in Birmingham, Alabama on May 11, 1980, Taylor Hollingsworth is a guitarist and singer-songwriter best known for being a member of Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst’s solo band as well as one half of duo Dead Fingers with his wife Kate Taylor. His musical journey began when he developed a connection to music at a young age and picked up the guitar as a teenager. He came to prominence in 2003 when he released the album You Know That Summer’s Comin in 2003, with his band Taylor and the Puffs. His proper debut solo album was the Shoot Me, Shoot Me Heaven EP in 2005, which was followed by Tragic City (2006), Bad Little Kitty (2008), and Life with a Slow Ear (2008). Taylor Hollingsworth then joined Conor Obert’s solo band and spent years touring with Conor and appearing on the albums Conor Oberst (2008), Gentleman’s Pact (2008), Outer South (2009), and One of My Kind (2012). He then formed folk duo Dead Fingers with his wife Kate Taylor. The duo released the albums Dead Fingers (2012) and Big Black Dog (2014). An extremely prolific artist, he continued with solo albums including Knifer (2016), Tap Dancin’ Daddy (3019), and Country Visons (2020). Across decades of work, Taylor Hollingsworth has remained rooted in a DIY ethos—favoring direct recording styles, small-label releases, and constant reinvention over mainstream polish. His music blends the immediacy of punk, the storytelling of folk, and the feel of blues into something that feels both rough-cut and deliberate. Rather than chasing trends, he continues to carve out his own lane, building a body of work defined by independence, instinct, and a deep connection to the traditions he reshapes.
