 Taylor played bass guitar in The Gamblers, one of the first rock groups to play instrumental surf music.Its personnel also included Elliot Ingber, a future member of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention, Fraternity of Man and Captain Beefheart's The Magic Band; Bruce Johnston, half of the Bruce and Terry duo with Terry Melcher from 1962–66 and longtime "sixth" member of The Beach Boys, for a time brother Mel Taylor, and guitarist-songwriter-bandleader Derry Weaver, who would record and perform in several capacities during the early 1960s.The Gamblers had a local hit in the Los Angeles area with "Moon Dawg" and Taylor played on the recording.