Tait was raised in Illinois outside of Chicago. He started playing professionally at 17 and received a Bachelor’s degree in Clarinet performance from Illinois Wesleyan University.

After receiving his degree, Tait joined the USAF and performed with Air Force Bands for 27 years in 3 stateside locations and 2 overseas assignments. His stateside assignments included a special assignment at the Air Force Academy with the Falconaires in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Tait’s final assignment was in Tokyo, Japan as director of 31 member band which performed across 2 million square miles of the Far East and Central Asia. During his Air Force Band experience, Tait’s performance opportunities included stages with four US Presidents, two Kings, and five Prime Ministers.

Since his Air Force retirement, Tait has apprenticed with Larry Naylor of Naylor’s Custom Woodwind Repair where he has concentrated on saxophone and clarinet repair. His performance opportunities in Denver and Colorado Springs include contract musical theater performances, big band shows as well as casual performances.

During Tait’s 45 years in music he has performed with Bob Hope, Wayne Newton, Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra Jr, Herb Jeffries, Mel Torme, Merv Griffen, Jon Faddis, Steve Smith, the Four Freshmen, Tony Williams, Ricochet, Joan Rivers, Bobby Shew, Gary Foster, Pete Christlieb, Henry Mancini, Hootie and the Blowfish, Gordon McRae, the Smothers Brothers, Wilford Brimley, James Morrison, Jack Sheldon, Phil Wilson, Marvin Stamm, the Les Brown Band, the Tommy Dorsey Band and Mary Ann Moss.

Tait currently performs with, and is the music director for, the Thunderhill Jazz Band and is the musical director for the Joe Peterson Orchestra as well as performing free-lance.  He has also performed in the orchestras for Porgy & Bess, Cabaret, 1776, Gypsy, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Into the Woods. La Cage au Folles, City of Angels, Crazy for You, Girl Crazy, The Producers and others.