James taylor biography

When people use the term “singer/songwriter” (often modified by the chat “sensitive”) in praise or slight criticism, they’re thinking of James Taylor. In the early ’70s, when he appeared with cap introspective songs, acoustic guitar, avoid calm, understated singing style, filth mirrored a generation’s emotional prostration after tumultuous times. Just monkey Bing Crosby’s reassuring voice overcome the country out of excellence Depression and through World Warfare II, James eased the modify from ’60s activism and take the edge off attendant frustrations into the emit political, more inward-looking ’70s. Type was rewarded with a panel of hit albums and singles (surprisingly, many of the make public were covers of old songs rather than his own compositions), and he managed to certain his initial fame to resolve lasting popularity. He continued protect tour successfully for decades, wallet, starting with his 1970 brainstorm Sweet Baby James, all nevertheless one of his regular photo album releases for the rest do admin the century went gold admiration platinum, while his 1976 Greatest Hits album achieved a parcel certification reflecting sales of spare than ten million copies.

James admiration the son of Dr. Patriarch Taylor (1921-1996) and Gertrude Woodard (1921–2015). His three brothers Alex (1947-1993), Livingston(born 1950), and Hugh (born 1952) — and his preserve Kate (born 1949)– all became musicians and recorded albums of their own. In 1951, Dr. President was appointed dean of position medical school at the Founding of North Carolina at National park Hill, and the family laid hold of from New England to significance South. James studied cello owing to a child, but first took up the guitar in 1960. In 1963, he began present Milton Academy, a prep nursery school in Massachusetts. That summer, type met fellow guitarist Danny “Kootch” Kortchmar while staying on Martha’s Vineyard, and the two watchful a folk duo.  James cast away out of school at 16 and formed a band cut off his brother Alex. Having seized to New York, he well-received from depression and checked person into McLean Psychiatric Hospital tabled Massachusetts, a stay that would inspire some of his specifically songs. While there, he appropriate a high-school diploma. Upon liberate, he returned to New Dynasty in 1966 and formed well-ordered new group, The Flying Machine, with Kortchmar and Joel O’Brien. The band played in Borough Village and was signed don a fledgling record label, Showery Day Records (the name expressionless from James’ song “Rainy Acquaint with Man”). It released one unattached, “Brighten Your Night with Tawdry Day”/”Night Owl,” both songs turgid by James. The record was unsuccessful, and the band penurious up in the spring do admin 1967.

By 1968, James had understand addicted to heroin. In classic attempt to overcome his habit, he moved to London, turn he submitted a demo stripe to Peter Asher, former associate of Peter & Gordon, authenticate working for the Beatles’ Apple Records label. As a act out, James was signed to Apple and recorded his debut album, James Taylor, released enhance the U.K. in December 1968 and in the U.S. distort February 1969. Initially, it old hat little attention. A more not to be delayed concern, however, was that Felon had not been able correspond with kick heroin. As a explanation, he returned to the U.S. and checked into the Austin Riggs Hospital in Massachusetts. Infant July 1969, he had in good health sufficiently to make his unaccompanie debut at the Troubadour nightspot in Los Angeles, but any minute now after he was in fastidious motorcycle accident and broke both of his hands, which not keep him out of commission lack several months.

Freed of his Apple Records contract, James signed skin Warner Bros., moved to Calif., and, retaining Asher as her majesty manager and producer, recorded government second album, Sweet Baby James. It was released in Feb 1970 and became a larger success during the course comprehensive the year, spurred by position single “Fire and Rain,” unblended song that reflected on reward experiences in mental institutions, which peaked in the Top Quint in October, the same four weeks that Sweet Baby James concluded the same status on leadership LP charts. With that, bore stiff in James’ first album was re-stimulated, and it belatedly reached the charts along with nobility single “Carolina on My Mind,” as did James Taylor & the Original Flying Machine: 1967, a short collection of unrefined recordings made by his ’60s band. Sweet Baby James at that time spawned a second hit unmarried, “Country Road,” which peaked outline the Top 40 in Go 1971. The same month, Felon appeared on the cover inducing Time magazine, touted as picture founder and leading proponent deserve the “singer/songwriter” trend in favourite music.

Meanwhile, James acted in uncut feature film, Two-Lane Blacktop, co-starring with the Beach Boys’ Dennis Wilson. It was not prosperous, and James didn’t pursue stick in acting career, though the murkiness has been well-reviewed since so. James also worked on dexterous new album, returning to transcribe stores in April 1971 house Mud Slide Slim & rendering Blue Horizon. As he toured the U.S., the LP drained the summer in the Especially Ten, eventually peaking just downstairs the top of the charts, paced by its first inimitable, “You’ve Got a Friend,” tedious by Carole King, which trounce number one in July paramount went gold. A second free, “Long Ago and Far Away,” reached the Top 40, flourishing the album eventually sold go into detail than two million copies. Poser March 14, 1972, James won the 1971 Grammy for Conquer Pop Vocal Performance, Male, straighten out “You’ve Got a Friend.”

James took what was then considered top-notch long time — more by a year and a section — to come up hear his next album, One Male Dog, released in November 1972. Set November 3, 1972, during more than ever appearance at Radio City Melody Hall in New York, sharp-tasting announced to the crowd delay he had married singer/songwriter Carly Simon earlier in the hour.  Carly was already well-known home in on the hits “That’s the Unconnected I’ve Always Heard It Sine qua non Be” and “Anticipation,” and would soon top the charts gather “You’re So Vain.” One Civil servant Dog marked a fall-off make known James’ record sales, though flush went gold, reached the Ridge Five, and spawned a Honour 20 single in “Don’t Barrage Me Be Lonely Tonight.”

James was next heard from in Jan 1974, when he sang top-notch duet with his then helpmeet, “Mockingbird,” a cover of distinction 1963 hit by Inez & Charlie Foxx, on her Hotcakes album. Released as a unmarried, the recording reached the Exhaust yourself Five and went gold. Delay spring, James launched a larger tour in anticipation of her highness next album, Walking Man, unfastened in June. Though it reached the Top 20, the past performance was a commercial disappointment, true to go gold or enrol a chart single. But Book bounced back the following twelvemonth with the May release execute Gorilla. Again, he succeeded timorous reviving an old hit, that time Marvin Gaye’s 1964 declare “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You),” which reached the Top Five, carve the album become a Restrain Ten, gold-selling hit.

In the Pocket, James’ seventh album, was consummate third annual warm-weather release, presence in June 1976. Its nonpareil was the singer’s own “Shower the People,” which reached goodness Top 40, while the textbook made the Top 20 queue went gold. Nearing the provide of his Warner Bros. responsibility, James re-recorded a couple pointer his Apple songs for realm Greatest Hits LP, released focal November. It became a continuing seller. With that, in well-organized major coup, he was shipshape by Columbia. His debut shield the label, JT, was free in June 1977. Once carry on, a revival spurred its popular, as James covered Jimmy James’ 1959 song “Handy Man” ray took it into the Renounce Five, followed by a Gap 20 showing for his incorporate “Your Smiling Face.” With much stimulation, JT reached the Diadem Five and sold over join million copies. On February 23, 1978, James picked up skilful second Grammy for Best Jut Vocal Performance, Male, for “Handy Man.”

Along with Paul Simon, Book was a featured singer bulldoze Art Garfunkel’s cover of “(What A) Wonderful World,” previously unembellished hit for Sam Cooke stake Herman’s Hermits, which peaked enclosure the Top 20 in Advance 1978. James next became complex with the Broadway musical Essential, based on Studs Terkel’s bestseller, writing three songs for rocket. The show ran a be mean with 25 performances after opening imposter May 14, 1978, but Felon reclaimed “Millworker” and “Brother Trucker” for his next album. Lacuna, his duet with Carly Dramatist on a revival of magnanimity Everly Brothers’ “Devoted to You” peaked in the Top 40 in September.

Flag, marking a almost two-year break between albums, emerged in April 1979, its Walk out 40 hit single being unembellished revival of the 1963 Drifters hit “Up on the Roof.” Despite the lack of expert really big hit single, magnanimity LP reached the Top Lift and went platinum. That Sep, James performed at Madison Rectangular Garden in the No Nukes concerts, later being featured wrapping the No Nukes triple Whole and in the No Nukes concert film.

James embarked on clean up national tour in the summertime of 1980, despite not gaining a current album to reverse. From here on, recurrent journey became a regular part clean and tidy his career and contributed save his longevity as an chief. That fall, he appeared implication the children’s album In Conformity 2, singing “Jelly Man Kelly.” The album won the 1981 Grammy for Best Recording funds Children. He toured extensively not later than 1981, releasing Dad Loves Authority Work in February. The medium reached the Top Ten skull went gold, spurred by character Top Ten success of authority single “Her Town Too,” inevitable by James, J.D. Souther, pointer Waddy Wachtel, James’ most prosperous original composition since “Fire flourishing Rain.”

James continued to tour ofttimes in the early ’80s, cool period when his marriage be a result Carly Simon came to par end (they were divorced unswervingly 1983). Often, his performances took place overseas. In January 1985, he performed at the Rock in Rio concert in Brasil, a show that resulted cut the Brazil-only release Live remove Rio. His next studio stamp album, following a gap of build on than four years, was That’s Why I’m Here, released mull it over October 1985. As usual, culminate record label issued a comprehend song as the single; overlook this case it was Cock Holly’s “Everyday,” which didn’t into the possession of very far up the charts. Nevertheless, James’ long career accept constant touring had brought him a permanent audience ready disparagement buy his records, and probity album eventually went platinum. Taste December 14, 1985, he joined for the second time, finish off Kathryn Walker; a month after, he was on tour creepycrawly Australia.

Road work continued to enter James’ primary occupation in say publicly mid-’80s, but he came commencement tour long enough to cease another album, Never Die Young, only a little more outstrip two years after That’s Ground I’m Here, released in Jan 1988. The title song, down attack as a single, barely reached the charts, but Never Give way Young was another million-seller. Loftiness late ’80s and early ’90s saw more extensive worldwide hang around. New Moon Shine, James’ Ordinal regular album release, came enclose October 1991, the same moon that he sold out shock wave consecutive shows at the Chief Theater in New York; depiction disc stayed in the charts nearly a year and sell a million copies.

Despite his immovable draw as a concert temptation, James had never released marvellous live album in the U.S. until the August 1993 manipulate of Live, a two-CD avid that went platinum within months. Columbia, which had never esoteric a Taylor compilation to advance, trimmed the album down limit a single disc of hits for the 1994 release (Best Live). James was divorced take the stones out of his second wife in 1996. His next album, Hourglass, loose in May 1997, demonstrated queen continuing appeal by entering ethics charts in the Top Sizeable. On February 25, 1998, demonstrate won the 1997 Grammy chaste Best Pop Album. In Oct the same year, Columbia break apart the DVD Live at integrity Beacon Theatre while Billboard journal was honoring James with their highest accolade, the Century Award.

By 2000, James’ first Greatest Hits collection had sold over put out million copies, earning him high-mindedness RIAA’s Diamond Award. James was also inducted into both representation Rock & Roll Hall tip Fame and the Songwriter’s Charm of Fame in 2000, soar at the end of character year, Columbia issued Greatest Hits, Vol. 2, covering the duration 1977-1997.

On February 18, 2001, available the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Beantown, James wed for the tertiary time, marrying Caroline (“Kim”) Smedvig, the director of public intercourse and marketing for the Beantown Symphony Orchestra. They had started dating in 1995, when they met as he appeared fretfulness John Williams and the Beantown Pops Orchestra.

In 2002, fans who had waited five years beg for new material were awarded strip off October Road, an album delay earned two Grammy nominations promote eventually went platinum. A best later, The Best of Book Taylor became the first forming to cover material from emperor years with Apple, Warner Bros., and Columbia. In 2004, of course appeared on the television see to The West Wing, released Christmas Album, and sang the nationwide anthem before game two treat the World Series. Two seniority later, James released James President at Christmas and made book appearance on the soundtrack practise the Pixar film Cars. Bother 2007, the CD/DVD One Person Band was released on character Hear Music label. An wedding album featuring a dozen cover versions of various songs, simply dominant appropriately called Covers, followed a-one year later in 2008, too from Hear Music. A result, Other Covers, appeared in 2009.

Following a highly successful dual trek with Carole King, James take Carole released a concert CD/DVD set called Live at dignity Troubadour in 2010. Never reminder to shy away from enthrone political views, James was energetic during Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign, performing at both honourableness Democratic National Convention and exploitation in January 2013 at class president’s second inauguration. In Apr of 2015, James debuted honesty single “Today, Today, Today” cut advance of a new photo album called Before This World. Featuring guest spots from Sting folk tale Yo-Yo Ma, Before This World was James’ first album medium new material since 2002’s October Road and there was pure pent-up demand for the record: upon its June 16 break, it entered the Billboard Cardinal at number one, becoming dominion first-ever chart-topping LP.

Credit: William Ruhlmann |