2.10: The Ripple — Taylor Hanson

That’s Taylor Hanson, and if you live in Tulsa or if you’re a fan of eponymous band Hanson, he needs no introduction. The band is comprised of brothers Isaac (guitar, bass, piano, vocals), Taylor (keyboards, piano, guitar, drums, vocals), and Zac (drums, piano, guitar, vocals). They started the band in 1992 when they were 11, 9 and 6, and skyrocketed to fame with MMMBop in 1997. Now, 27 years after the band’s founding, they are still making music. 

Part of the reason these brothers are so beloved in their hometown is that despite their massive international following, they remain deeply rooted here in Tulsa, working to make the community stronger. 

Taylor Hanson started Food on the Move in 2014 inspired by the community-focused work of Edward Perkins, a former U.S. ambassador to South Africa. The mobile food project brings food trucks, fresh produce, cooking demonstrations, music, and health and social services to food deserts — economically strapped areas with limited access to nutritious food options. 

From a Tulsa Voice article that focuses on FOTM: “Food On The Move is visionary because it deals with the problem of food access in a way that both meets an immediate need and asks anyone who’s paying attention to re-think the way our community lives, works and eats.”

This episode of Tulsa Talks is brought to you by the Tulsa Regional Chamber.

Taylor Hanson knows a thing or two about success. And one thing he’s learned? What hits and what fades is often unpredictable, and your ability to be flexible — to be willing to reinvent — is crucial.

So in case you’ve been living under a rock, the 6th annual Hop Jam Beer and Music Festival is this Saturday, May 19. The festival has grown immensely since it began in 2014, and has evolved alongside Hanson Day (which, by the way, is now several days) as a destination for Hanson fans to gather from all over the world here in Tulsa.  

Up next, Taylor shares what it was like to reinvent some old hits for Hanson’s newest album “String Theory.” But first, a special guest segment from the hosts of The Middle of Everything Podcast. Working moms Claire and Sarah are up next with their top tips for summer camp survival.