Earlier this year, Robert Taylor Jr. joined MusiCares' Human Services team as Client Manager. He plays an integral role in providing supportive services including disaster relief, financial wellness, career enhancement services, senior support services, legal education and more to the diverse music community.
In addition to his incredible work towards furthering MusiCares' mission, Robert is a singer, songwriter and recording artist himself. He has a passion for engaging audiences through music and expressive dialogue.
In 2018, he released his first album, Black Gold, which was inspired by his love for black culture and his North Carolina roots. In 2020, he was the Creative Director and lead writer for a collaboration album with Student Dream, titled 600 Miles to Freedom. His newest EP, Out of Hiding, explores life after a breakup. His message within and outside of his music is simple: peace, love and joy!
Below, learn more about Robert's path to MusiCares and what keeps him inspired doing such important work as a musician himself.
What does your job entail?
I am a Human Services Client Manager at MusiCares, and I assist members of the music community with basic living needs. If someone within the music community has fallen on hard times or is experiencing an extenuating circumstance, our team provides short-term emergency relief that can range from rental assistance to funeral expenses.
What led you to a career in human services at MusiCares?
After receiving my Master of Social Work (MSW) from Howard University in 2013, I worked as a clinical social worker. I worked as a family therapist, provided counseling on the collegiate level, and was also a clinical coordinator for a homeless shelter.
After about five years, I decided to take a break from social work and moved to New York City to fully pursue music. I did various shows in the city, busked in the subways, collaborated with various artists, and led praise and worship at my church. I became the Artist in Residence for a Brooklyn based nonprofit and was able to create music for the organization and teach songwriting to young black and brown students.
In 2021, I moved to Los Angeles to study vocal performance at ICON Collective College of Music. After graduating, I was interested in returning to more meaningful work and happened to stumble across MusiCares. I thought the position would be a great match, and it has turned out to be!
How have you been able to merge your creativity and personal experience as a musician into your role at MusiCares?
Combining my love for music with my love for human services has been a dream. I'm not sure if I knew such a job existed, with the exception of music therapy. Working at MusiCares is actually the perfect job for a singing social worker. I get to support and assist clients with their basic living needs, and in return we get to motivate and encourage each other to keep creating. My experience as a musician allows me to be empathetic to the community I serve.**
What inspires you the most about working at MusiCares on the Human Services team?
My biggest inspiration about working at MusiCares is that I get to serve the very community that I'm a part of. I know what it feels like to be a "struggling artist." In fact, if I had known about MusiCares when I was living in NYC, I would have applied for assistance. I'm grateful to be on the other side of the struggle, and now my personal goal is to make as many musicians as possible aware of our services because if we attempt to meet their needs, they're more likely to meet our musical needs.
What keeps you inspired and/or motivated at work?
Music is my inspiration at work. If I stay motivated at work, I'm able to assist music makers with their needs, which then puts them at a better place to create. Likewise, if I'm doing my job well, I'm putting myself at a better place to create because I'm less stressed and more inspired.
What are you most proud of in the last year at MusiCares?
I'm proud that I'm able to contribute to my team beyond clinical work. I'm proud that I get to bring a new perspective. I'm proud that my lived experiences can help elevate the voices of the music community that haven't always been the loudest. I'm proud that I get to advocate for music makers. I'm proud that I get to serve clients directly, while also creating programming that has the potential to reach the general music community as well.