FARE-THEE-WELL Cool Cats: Chuck Taylor exiting Billboard

[nystrele]

hello celine cool cats!

 

after 14 years at billboard -- and six glorious celine cover stories (whoo-hoo!!) -- i was one of 10 staffers axed this month. sadly, layoffs are suffocating the print pub business and as we all know, the music industry is suffering, so i had a feeling it was only a matter of time before they got to me. after all, having history is sort of like wearing a big bulls-eye on your forehead anymore.

 

but i must say, i have fulfilled so many dreams in my time there, of course, led by so many magical moments with our lady celine and her fine gentleman of a husband, rene. it has been so rewarding and humbling sharing some fun inside stories with you guys, meeting many of you in vegas and reading your smart insight here on a regular basis.

 

my last day at billboard is march 25, and then i am fortunate enough to have 13 weeks severance, so CC's, i am going to be just fine. i feel full of positivity, appreciative for the opportunities that i've had... and perhaps after so many years, it's time to turn the page and hand over the torch to a new generation. folks are asking me what's next and my response: "I'm planning to paint the living room, clean out closets and enjoy new york in springtime." after working with a deadline in front of me for =25= years (eek!), i am looking forward to taking a month off, drinking a lot of gin, processing this transition, then putting it in a box, tossing it into the wind and figuring our what life's next glorious opportunity will be.

 

the good news is that i hope to continue to freelance for billboard, so there may yet be more opportunities to share the celine love. cross your fingers for me. i would love that.

 

for anyone in the new york vicinity, i am hosting my own fare-thee-well blowout this tuesday, march 24, at central bar UPSTAIRS. 109 east 9th street between 4th and 3rd avenues. come one, come all!

 

please feel free to check out my blog (the invite has a pic with celine, but of course!!): chucktaylorblog.blogspot.com.

 

and you are all welcome to reach out anytime: NYstrele@yahoo.com.

 

much love,

=chuck=

Edited March 21, 2009 at 01:44 AM by nystrele

[Krys]

its sad to hear you will not be working at Billboard anymore but you're positive about it thank you for all the inside stories you've shared with us. all the best in whatever you decide to do next Edited March 21, 2009 at 01:56 AM by lamourpourCeline

[Matias]

ohhh so sad!!! but hey good things will come along! you have a great Celine informer!!! the best of lucks!!!

[bkitt]

Hi Chuck, So sorry to hear about your job...I think almost everyone - everywhere - is in the same boat with you in this bad economy. I've enjoyed reading your posts, and have looked forward to your interviews with Celine. Now, I'll be looking forward to those freelance articles! Good luck to you!

[Bellamy]

Chuck, we'll miss your articles on the Billboard. But please do keep posting here. I'm glad you're positive about it.

 

"I'm planning to paint the living room, clean out closets and enjoy new york in springtime."

Sound a little bit like Celine. Will you pick your own tomatoes?

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_215NG_qKOew/ScHGwcdSU5I/AAAAAAAADek/gHFmoucezOE/s400/IMG_7010_2.JPG

[clbmed02]

Thank you Chuck for all the positive coverage you did for our Celine in BB, we will definitely miss you. Hopefully you will be able to interview her in the future for her big comeback.

Come join us in Vegas in 2010 for her debut.

 

Unfortunately, I will be working on Tuesday so I will not be able to bid you a farewell.

 

Keep in touch,

Christine

[celínico_sin_remedio]

Though I was sad to read the news on your blog, now I'm glad about your positively too, you're great, keep those excellent works and interviews coming Chuck!

[Shesings2me]

Chuck...dear Chuck,

 

Thank you for all that you have shared with us and for your unconditional love for Celine. I hope that in future there is still a chance to meet you at a Celine event of some sort. Let's hope there's many more opportunities for you to write about her as well. I would like to wish you all the best as you enjoy some time off to smell the roses (after you plant them, ). But most of all I wish you a happy life wherever it leads you. Afterall, life is all about change and growth!

 

Take care,

Tracy

[celinesounds]

Thanks Chuck for everything.

 

Keep this one "The Best Is Yet To Come" – Celine Dion

[nrcda88]

Chuck that's sad news But it's good you have a positive attitude towards it. It's been great reading your exclusives with Celine & I hope things will work out with the freelancing. Best of luck with whatever comes your way.

[luciusbright]

what a sad news, fist I even got an feeling that we are losing you....how foolish of me!!!!!

that's a new chaptor for you, for all of us, we can still read from you and Celine will still sing for us

so just have a break, a wonderful one

I wish I could be in NY......HAHA~~

[CellyDee87]

Awww Chuck I'm sorry to hear the news I hope the future brings you everything you wish for, thank you for your insights, hope to see you in Vegas next year

[Thomas]

Good luck for the future Chuck!

[stevo]

Thanks for being such an honest supporter of Celine in the face of what was probably opposition at Billboard. Good luck with everything...wish we could all fly over for the NY Shindig

[Filine]

Chuck, I wish you all the best...it's been such a wonderful thing to have you as one of Céline's strong supporters in the media through Billboard, and I am sure you will continue to do so!! Take your time to do the fun stuff for a while and good luck with the dozens of new opportunities that will surely come your way!!

 

Cindy

[Javito]

My best wishes for you Chuck, you have provided such a great work with Céline during all these years and had been a big supporter of her in the media, when others failed .

 

Thanks for all your hard work and hope to see you again when Céline's back!

 

Good luck!!

[Lizzy]

Thank you Chuck for all the things you shared with us and I wish you all the best for your future

[Ronny83]

I wish you all the best for the future, Chuck.

[Kyle_Jared]

Loved your reviews and articles with Billboard, Chuck. Especially the Celine ones

 

Keep in touch with us all!!

[ce-line]

Thanks for all you've been sharing with us and good luck for the future!

[LuisMa]

Awww you know, I swear I was going to PM you if everything was alright, since I've missed your reviews on Billboard.com.

 

That means Billboard has lost another great writer, along Mr. Bronson.

 

I am deeply sad, especially since I have enjoyed your writing for BB for more than a decade, and I got to learn about so many things about Celine because of you.

 

Also, you were the one who introduced me to "To Love You More" thanks to a great report under the Airwaves column back in 1996.

 

And who could forget the cool introduction to "I Drove All Night" you gave at Billboard Radio when you said "Roy Orbison did it, Cyndi Lauper covered, but NOONE sings it like Celine Dion."

 

Thanks for all you did at Billboard

 

Hope to see you posting here!!!!

 

Take care

 

Luis

[xo1hrt4celineox]

Aw, so sorry to hear the news Chuck. We can never thank you enough for all the scoop you gave us and for being such a great writer and representative of Celine!! Will miss your awesome articles. Best of luck in all your future endeavors, hope to still see you around the forum!

 

 

CHEERS to the next month and to the future! "Shall we go for it?!" lol

Edited March 21, 2009 at 08:46 PM by xo1hrt4celineox

[CelineDionFan710]

your leaving thats so sad!

[Jacqui]

Aww that sucks! I wish you the best of luck in all you do!!! I don't think I've ever spoken to you before, but I liked your articles about Celine, and Delta too, it was awesome that you were one of the first ones to support her in America!

[Bumble]

So, who's gonna defend , cheesy songs and bad taste, which turn to be listenable music we all love, now you're gone from Billboard?

[Thecolourofmylove]

I'll certainly miss your stories Chuck but will be following your blog!! Good luck!!

[I Surrender]

what a shame chuck. but i am sure other chances will come your way. glad to hear ur keeping a positive attitude about it all.

no more deadlines for a little while !! have a fab time off and enjoy every minute of it.

i really hope you can still do freelance work for billboard in the future. i've always enjoyed reading ur reviews !!

 

take care. Suzanne

[kathyc25]

Hi Chuck,

Thanks so much for alll of your contributions here, its more than appreciated!

Maybe I`ll pop by your party tonight

[max24]

You better look at Chuck's blog. Today he posted a new Billboard magazine cover with him and Celine on it Edited March 25, 2009 at 10:23 AM by max24

[fabtasticfoo]

Sorry to hear that, and I commend you for your positive outlook.

 

Thanks for always giving us the inside scoop. Your voice will definitely be missed in Billboard.