James Taylor Biography

James Vernon Taylor (March 12, 1948) is a singer, composer, and guitarist. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, his family was middle-upper socio-economic level. His father, Dr. Isaac Taylor and his mother the opera singer, Gertrude Taylor, was the reason that two of their five children opted to enter in the music industry. James and Livingston Taylor, who released his first album in 1970, with “Alex” as his artistic name. Both made their first appearance in the music industry in 1971. They both were known as singer-songwriters. Although they worked together, it was not until 1990, when James decided to release his album as a soloist, and months later his first LP vinyl.

Once, Taylor released his first solo album, he started giving shape to his style and career in the mid-seventies singing soft and sensitive acoustic songs. Taylor was part of a wave of acoustic style that includes artists like Carole King, Joni Mitchell, John Denver, Jackson Browne and Carly Simon, a singer with whom he would get married later. It was precisely Taylor’s commercial success that traced his way for this new style in favor of this generation of singer-songwriters.

Subsequently, he wrote his first hit, the single “Fire and Rain”, contained in his second album “Sweet Baby James” (1970), that record reached the 103rd position in the list of the 500 best albums of all time made by the Rolling Stone magazine. This album was published by the record discography Apple Records and was made with the participation of George Harrison and Paul McCartney. The next year, he made a cover for the song called “You’ve Got a Friend”

written by Carole King who also was James’ friend. This version was received in the best way, reaching the first position in the charts.

“Fire and Rain”, turned out to be a success for the sensitivity of their lyrics, whose verses narrate different stages of the artist’s life. For instance, his time in a psychiatric hospital to recover from the episodes of anxiety caused using drugs.

He was awarded with the Diamond Disc prize given by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in recognition to the success of the compilation album, “Greatest Hits of 1976”, which sold over twelve million copies only in the North American territory. His experience is extensive. He participated in many recordings as acoustic guitarist and vocalist, as in the case of LP Tapestry by Carole King. His style was called Fingerpicking and he has been a reference for acoustic guitarists since 1970. He toured alongside with great figures such as Larry Goldings, Steve Gadd, Danny Kortchmar, Michael Brecker, Michael Landau, David Sanborn, Arnold McCuller, and more.

His career was booming, and James’ next LP would sell more than a million copies. The album was called “Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon”

, which included the single “You’ve Got a Friend”, written by his close friend Carole King. Thanks to the single, he won a Grammy in 1971 for the best male pop singer. The song also appeared with some changes in the 96^th episode of the fifth season of “The Simpsons”. In addition, in this same episode he helped with his voice.

In 1972, Taylor earned a Gold Disc award for the sales of his LP “One Man Dog”. The album “Gorilla” (1975) included two other great songs that were on the US music charts: “How Sweet It Is (to be loved by you)” and “Mexico”.

Taylor changed his record company and signed with Columbia Records. With this company, created and released some of his most successful albums: ‘JT”, an album that won two platinum awards; Flag (1979); Dad Loves His Work (1981); That’s Why I’m Here (1985); Never Die Young (1988); New Moon Shine (1991). The awards and recognition did not stop, and the US National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences selected him as his character MusiCares in 2006. In addition, in 2007 he received an Emmy Award nomination for his new CD, “One Man Band” (2007). Taylor performed the song “Our Town” by artist Randy Newman, this song was nominated for Best Original Song at the 2006 Oscars.

This talented singer also had occasional appearances on the big screen. In 2009, he was in the film “Funny People” with the comedian Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann. A long time before had appeared in the “Cine del vino y el cava” festival in the movie “Two-lane blacktop” directed by Monte Hellman.

He entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2012, he received the distinction of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the Government of France. Other American artists who have received this award are Bob Dylan, Juanes, Kylie Minogue, Patti Smith, Van Morrison, Frederica von Stade, Philip Glass, and Andre Rieu.

James Taylor linked his artistic career with his own beliefs. He participated in several Non-nuclear concerts, one of his best concerts was performed in the “No Nukes” concert in which groups like Bruce Springsteen, The Doobie Brothers, Jackson Browne, Tom Petty and American country rock band participated.

He also developed and supported charity events and environmentalists. James Taylor has been a reference for artistic support in the presidential race of Barack Obama, lent his voice to numerous events and collaborated in obtaining funds for Obama’s electoral campaigns. In response, he received the National Medal of the Arts 2010 from President Barack Obama at a ceremony in the White House.