Sean Thomas Taylor

Sean Taylor’s brief, bright life ended in the early minutes of February 15.

Music ran through every cell in his body. Sean (also known as Rowan to some) was an extraordinary keyboard player and singer, plucking music from the air and playing with tremendous passion. When he was 11, he fell in love with a Yamaha MODX8 Synthesizer he would play at Guitar Center most weekends, and then saved every dollar for two years to buy it for himself. The talent he honed in his room on that keyboard, Sean shared with all of us lucky enough to hear him play and sing anywhere a piano appeared before him.

While Sean’s taste in music was limitless, he had a special love for playing Billy Joel’s music, whether perfecting the opening strains of Vienna or leading people in a loud singalong of Piano Man. At home, he jammed and sang spectacularly with his brother Phio, and spent valiant hours trying to teach his mother to harmonize. He also spent many days and nights participating in the local music scene at Oakland Secret, 924 Gilman, and other all-ages venues that provide an invaluable place for his community of beautiful musicians, misfits, poets, and artists to gather and celebrate the human joys of life.

Beyond music, Sean was a deeply thoughtful, extremely funny, and compassionate soul with long, gorgeous hair that made him look like Hollywood Jesus. He was beautiful in every conceivable way.

In the past few days, his family has learned just how many people in his orbit love him, and what a huge impact he had during his 18 years.

Sean leaves on Earth his heartbroken, proud family: brother Phio Taylor of Corvallis; mother Christine Kramer of Millbrae; father Mark Taylor of San Bruno; uncle Bill Kramer (Peter Cipkowski) of Los Angeles; and grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Baltimore and Houston. Equally important to his life are a large, loving community of friends in the East Bay and San Francisco music scene, and students and staff at Capuchino High School, where he was a Senior.

Everyone who wants to celebrate Sean’s life is welcome to attend his ceremony. Please wear your favorite music/band merch or come as you are. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Sean Taylor Memorial Music Fund to keep his legacy alive (gofundme.com/sean-taylor-memorial-music-fund), or play your favorite song and sing it with your entire soul.