DJ Taylor, a pivotal figure in 90s American trance, has died

The artist passed away days after entering hospice care for stage 4 cancer.

Photo credit: DJ Taylor – Facebook

Myles “Taylor” Wooten, best known as DJ Taylor, has passed away after a difficult battle with stage 4 cancer. His death, confirmed in August 2025, marks the loss of one of the most influential figures in the early American trance and progressive house movement.

A central figure in the Southern California scene, Taylor played a vital role in shaping the West Coast sound. In 1994, he invited John Digweed and Sasha to his Thursday residency at Metropolis in Orange County — a landmark moment that introduced the European progressive style to a burgeoning US audience.

Taylor co-mixed the iconic ‘Trance Nation America (2000)’ with Jimmy Van M for Ministry of Sound, cementing his place in trance history. With BT, he created ‘Calling Your Name’ under the Libra alias, a defining mid-90s trance anthem. His melodic, driving sets helped establish the American rave scene, connecting European and US electronic communities.

Tributes have poured in following the news of his passing, including a heartfelt message from John Digweed, “This week sadly we lost a dear friend who made a real impact on the scene, starting on the west coast in LA and building his reputation to become one of the biggest DJ’s in the USA in the 90’s.”