Coral Reefer Band

Greg “Fingers” Taylor

Greg “Fingers” Taylor met Jimmy in 1970 when they were students at The University of Southern Mississippi. They would occasionally jammed and perform together. Fingers worked with Jimmy on his first three albums. In 1974 Jimmy called Greg and asked him to be part of the first “Coral Reefer Band” road unit.

Fingers is considered by many musicians to be one of the best harp players around. Among his early influences were Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, but he especially loved to emulate the sounds of Little Walter Jacobs.

How did he get the nickname Fingers? Greg says “I’m afraid that I’m responsible for the nickname, I had a band called the Buttermilk Blues in high school and I decided to give everybody in the band a bluesy nickname. Being the keyboard player, I picked ‘Fingers.’ It wasn’t until I switched to the harp that I realized I had the wrong name. But by then it was too late.”

Fingers resigned from the Coral Reefer Band in May 2000. He decided to play solo shows for awhile and he occasionally appearred with KD Moore. He has since reunited with Jimmy Buffett and has appeared on two albums, “Hoot” and “Take the Weather With You”. His first appearance back on stage with Jimmy and the Coral Reefer Band was on June 8th, 2006 in Cincinatti.

An interview with Fingers is available at Time After Island Time – On Demand

Official Website

Album Credits (Jimmy Buffett albums)
Year Album Title Credit Notes
1973 A White Sport Coat & A Pink Crustacean Harmonica
1974 Living & Dying In 3/4 Time Harmonica
1974 A1A Harmonica
1975 Rancho Deluxe (Movie Soundtrack) Harmonica
1976 Havana Daydreamin’ Harmonica, Piano
1977 Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes Harmonica and one line in “Lovely Cruise”
1978 Son Of A Son Of A Sailor Harmonica
1978 You Had To Be There Harmonica
1979 Volcano Harmonica
1981 Coconut Telegraph Harmonica
1982 Somewhere Over China Harmonica
1984 Riddles In The Sand Harmonica
1985 Last Mango In Paris Harmonica
1986 Floridays Harmonica
1988 Hot Water Harmonica
1989 Off To See The Lizard Harmonica
1990 Feeding Frenzy Harmonica
1992 Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads Harmonica on Elvis Imitators
1992 Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads Harmonica on Love and Luck
1992 Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads Harmonica on Everlasting Moon
1994 Fruitcakes Harmonica
1995 Barometer Soup Harmonica
1996 Banana Wind Harmonica
1996 Christmas Island Harmonica
1998 Don’t Stop The Carnival Harmonica
1999 Beach House on the Moon Harmonica
1999 Buffett Live – Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays Harmonica
2006 Hoot (Movie Soundtrack) Harmonica
2006 Take the Weather With You Harmonica

Tours (with the Coral Reefer Band)
Year Tour Name Credit Notes
1975 1975 Tour Harmonica, Keyboards
1976 A Pink Crustacean Tour Harmonica, Keyboards
1977 1977 Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1978 Cheeseburger in Paradise Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1979 You Had to Be There / Volcano Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1981 Coconut Telegraph Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1982 Homecoming Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1983 Somewhere Over China Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1984 Feeding Frenzy Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1985 Sleepless Knights Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1986 Floridays Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1986 World Tour of Florida Harmonica, Background Vocals
1987 A Pirate Looks At Forty Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1988 Cheap Vacation Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1988 Hot Water Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1989 Off To See The Lizard Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1990 Jimmy’s Jump Up Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1991 Outpost Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1992 Recession Recess Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1993 Chameleon Caravan Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1994 Fruitcakes Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1995 Domino College Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1996 Banana Wind Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1997 Havana Daydreamin’ Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1998 Don’t Stop The Carnival Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
1999 Beach House On The Moon Tour Harmonica, Background Vocals
2006 Party At The End Of The World Tour Harmonica Guest 6/8/06, 9/14/06, 10/21/06
Special Appearances
Date Show Info Credit Notes
06/08/06 Riverbend Music Center – Cincinnati OH Harmonica
09/14/06 Madison Square Garden – New York NY Harmonica
10/21/06 MGM Grand – Las Vegas NV Harmonica
06/28/07 Nissan Pavilion – Bristow VA Harmonica
06/10/08 DTE Music Theatre – Clarkston MI Harmonica

Solo and Other Albums

Year Album Title  
2003
Hi Fi Baby
1996
Old Rock ‘n’Roller
1996
New Fingerprints
1996
Harpoon Man