Eve Taylor

Eve Taylor (born Evelyn Henshall, 28 February 1915 – 31 August 1983) was a British talent manager, notable as one of the early female music managers. She managed singers Adam Faith, Sandie Shaw and Val Doonican, and composer John Barry, among others.

Early life She was born in London in 1915. Her father, William Henshall, was a well-known show business impresario, and her mother, born Evelyn Taylor, was a music hall artiste. During the 1930s, Eve Henshall worked as a foil to comedian Sid Field, credited as "Sue Brett", before becoming part of a comedy and tap-dancing act.

She briefly managed Larry Grayson (while he was known as Billy Breen) and is credited with being the source of his catchphrase "shut that door!" as several of her clients revealed that whenever she wanted to discuss money or personal issues with her clients, she would always take them aside and tell them to "shut that door". From 1959 to 1961, Taylor also managed the Lana Sisters, who included Mary O'Brien prior to her adoption of the stage name Dusty Springfield. Her other management clients included composer John Barry, singers Val Doonican, Jackie Trent, and Peter Gordeno, and Ready Steady Go! choreographer Patrick Kerr.

Known in the 1960s as the "Queen Bee of Show Business", Within two weeks, Taylor had obtained a contract for Shaw with Pye Records, and had also made an agreement with songwriter Chris Andrews to write for Shaw. Sandie Shaw's singles were produced by Eve Taylor, Chris Andrews and Sandie Shaw (uncredited), with help from Pye Records arranger Ken Woodman.

Both Shaw and Faith eventually ended their professional relationships with Taylor acrimoniously, and both criticised Taylor openly in TV interviews and in their respective biographies. In the 1997 UK Channel 4 series BritGirls, during the episode focussing on Shaw, Faith described Taylor as "emotionally violent" and said she would threaten to end her clients' careers if they did not accept her demands. Shaw does concede in her autobiography, The World at My Feet, that she was saddened when she learned of Taylor's death after many years without contact.

Death Taylor died in 1983, and was buried in what Shaw described as "an uncelebrated plot in a Jewish cemetery in North London".