Andre Lavon Taylor was born on July 13, 1968 to  
a father who was a pimp and a mother who was a  
prostitute.  From an early age, it became clear to all  
who knew Andre that he was destined for a life that  
would be nothing short of extraordinary.  

From early childhood, Andre grew up inside the  
lining of the underworld, and in that setting gained a  
remarkable understanding of various facets of  
human nature that many people never even begin  
to grasp during their lives.  Despite growing up in  
what many would consider a seedy or perhaps  
immoral environment, Andre's childhood was a  
happy one, and one in which he enjoyed the love  
and attention of both his parents.  Andre's father,  
Mel Taylor, instilled in his son life lessons such as  
personal accountability, integrity, the value of  
spirituality, and the importance of education.  
Andre's unique circumstances allowed his young  
mind to soak up an education in three forums; the  
classroom, the church, and the street.  

At the age of sixteen, Andre Taylor began thinking  
seriously about the Lord and his meaning in life.  
Taylor's spiritual interests led him toward further  
studies in divinity, culminating in Taylor's ordination  
as a minister by the time he turned eighteen.  Andre has kept up his ordination since then, and continues to grow and  
develop spiritually. By the age of twenty three, Andre underwent some changes that would greatly impact his future. He  
followed in his  
father's footsteps and began a chapter of his life that brought him some of his life's highest moments, and its lowest.  
Andre Taylor became a pimp.  Andre's good looks, charm, and sense of style earned him the street moniker "Gorgeous  
Dre," and it was by that nickname that he would be known during his tenure in the pimp game.  Andre's experiences as  
a pimp were as interesting as they were invaluable.  In such a profession, he was able to interact with all segments of  
society, gaining insight into the human mind on levels a conventional psychologist could only dream about.  Though  
most of all this lifestyle allowed him to understand himself as a product of his parents.  It was by walking a mile in his  
father's shoes that he became able to understand that human beings and the lives they lead are more complex than the  
black-and-white moral judgments some people make.  Andre learned to accept.  Andre learned to forgive.  During this  
time, Andre never forgot the words his father told him, "You've got to be a man before anything."  As such, Taylor never  
allowed pimping to compromise his manhood and the values that came with it.  He maintained his independence, and  
earned the respect of the various types of people who came in contact with him over the years.   

In May 1997, the Hughes brothers approached Andre Taylor about being a consultant in their documentary movie  
"American Pimp."  Taylor readily agreed to work with the Hughes brothers, and brought a genuine level of authenticity to  
the movie. He and other colleagues showed the real face of pimping, not the exaggerated caricature of the profession  
that Hollywood and popular culture portray. It was during the filming of this documentary that Andre would face the most  
daunting challenge of his life; the power of the United States government.  

In 1997, Andre Taylor lost nearly everything.  He was stripped of his financial resources, many of his friends and  
confidants had deserted him, and worst of all, he was staring down the very real possibility of spending the rest of his  
life in federal prison.  While being in such straits would break many men, Andre drew strength from his faith in God, his  
loving wife Athena, and from the depths of the manhood that he had developed throughout his life.  Andre refused to  
plea bargain, refused to cry about his circumstances, and refused to blame any person or prosecutor for his legal  
difficulties.  By the time the gavel hit the bench, Andre Taylor was sentenced to just over five years in confinement.  

Prison's iron bars and thick walls didn't embitter Andre, nor weaken him.  He was assigned to landscaping detail as a  
means of humiliating this former "man of leisure," but worked in the garden with the same dedicated zeal that he brought  
to the street, the pulpit, or any other enterprise he undertook.  He gradually earned the respect of all in his orbit, be  
they his jailers or his fellow inmates.  Andre took what he could from this experience, and true to his father's teachings,  
used his time to expand his knowledge base and his understanding of life.   

Upon his release in 2001, Andre Taylor had to start again from scratch.  He was broke, living with relatives, but still in  
possession of his most valuable commodities; his keen mind and his personal integrity.  It was his core principles  
learned throughout his life that facilitated his most impressive achievement to date, his rebirth.  

Since then Andre has wasted no time in building an impressive resume of accomplishments.  Andre Taylor attributes his  
inspiration from being intellectual, spiritual, and worldly. In turn, others can legitimately look to him for guidance, wisdom,  
and counsel. With these basic fundamentals, he was able to create some powerful tools that allow people from all walks  
of life to benefit from the lessons Andre has both learned and taught.  Since 2001, Andre Taylor has had several  
speaking/teaching engagements, including lecturing in criminal justice programs on major college campuses.
Andre Taylor  appeared  as a guest on "The Montel Williams Show," on May 24th  
2007 to offer his guidance and help in understanding the street life.  Andre has held seminars at treatment centers,
spoken at prisons and appeared on the TBN network several times.

With all that Andre Taylor has gone though in his life, he was inspired to write "The Road To Paradise," a book written  
about recollections from a life that has challenged him to live by his principles. This book allows the reader to accompany  
Andre on the journey of spiritual and mental awakening within the mind of Andre Taylor, and in turn challenges the  
reader to embark on a similar spiritual and mental quest within the reader's own mind. This book has been recognized  
as an important tool in the empowerment of readers of all ages.  

Andre Taylor created "Operation Andre Taylor.org" to continue the journey and reach out to audiences through  
cyberspace throughout the world. Andre Taylor continues to open doors and build bridges within the minds and hearts of
those who have the pleasure of meeting him, and is today making a living through his teachings,
most notably as a life coach/minister.  Andre Taylor seeks to do more than teach professionally, he aspires to inspire.

"Salt is the only baptism that transforms a male into a man." - Andre Taylor  
OPERATION
    ANDRE TAYLOR.ORG
© 2013 Created by ANDRE TAYLOR
BIO