James Taylor, "the archetypal 'sensitive' singer/songwriter of the
Seventies" according to Rolling Stone, created a style of acoustic
pop that has been often imitated but never reproduced. He overcame a
difficult youth, troubled by drug addiction and a disposition to
depression, to become a musical hero and inspiration to millions of
fans.
Taylor grew up in North Carolina and Massachusetts. His entire family
was musically inclined, and he was introduced to folk and country
music by his brother Alex. Inspired, he began playing guitar and took
a semester off from boarding school to join his brother's band.
In 1965, Taylor found himself overwhelmed by a severe depression and
committed himself to a mental institution - McLean Psychiatric
Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts. It was during this time that he
began writing songs.
Ten months later Taylor checked out of the hospital and moved to New
York City. There he joined the Flying Machine with a childhood
friend and guitar buddy, Danny Kortchmar. The group played a few
downtown gigs and recorded two of Taylor's songs, only to break up
in 1967, due in part to Taylor's heroin addiction.
The next few years were rough ones for Taylor. He moved to England,
where Peter Asher of Apple Records took an interest in his work
and signed him up to record a solo album. "James Taylor" was produced
by Asher and featured guest appearances by Paul McCartney
and George Harrison. Despite the star power behind it, the album was
not well-promoted and received little attention from the public.
(Although it included the classic "Carolina On My Mind," a tune he
still describes as his favorite, that song didn't reach the charts until
1970.) Disheartened and still struggling with his addiction, Taylor
returned to Massachusetts and another psychiatric institution.
Meanwhile, Asher continued to work on behalf of his new discovery. By
the time Taylor released himself from the hospital, Asher had
negotiated a contract with Warner Brothers for him, as well as a live
solo debut at the Troubadour in L.A. Taylor emerged from that
performance triumphantly, but soon suffered a guitarist's worst
nightmare when he broke both hands in a motorcycle accident.
Finally, Taylor signed the deal with Warner Brothers and began work on
his second album, "Sweet Baby James." Kortchmar rejoined him
in the studio, along with songwriter and pianist Carole King. Taylor
reached # 3 with the album and with a single called "Fire and Rain,"
probably one of his most famous songs to date. The album entered the
top ten in 1970 and stayed there into 1972. His first solo album
and Flying Machine recordings were re-released, with much greater
fanfare than the first time around. Taylor had finally reached
success, though he now faced public criticism and curiosity about his
continuing drug abuse and family troubles.
In a 1978 interview, he looked back at that era with a critical eye.
"I think what the press has found to sell in me has been my
self-destructiveness. They spent a lot of time - and I'm guilty of it
too - talking about my hospital days and drug problems. It was really
overdone. Things simply never were that bad."
In fact, Taylor's music was growing stronger and his audience growing
wider. Within two months after its release in 1971, Taylor's
next effort, "Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon," reached # 2. His
version of Carole King's "You've Got a Friend" hit # 1 and brought
Taylor a Grammy award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. That year,
Taylor also made his film debut with Dennis Hoppper and the
Beach Boys' Dennis Wilson in the road movie "Two Lane Blacktop."
The following year, Taylor married singer/songwriter, Carly Simon.
The couple recorded the duet "Mockingbird" in 1974. Taylor
continued to collaborate with other interesting musical partners,
including King, Linda Ronstadt, and his siblings Alex, Hugh and Kate.
He returned to the charts with his cover of Marvin Gaye's "How Sweet
It Is" and the "Gorilla" album. "How Sweet It Is" is a prime
example of Taylor's ability to mix folk, jazz and soul influences into
a melodic pop song, colored with both sweetness and sorrow. He
told Rolling Stone, "Often you can express things in songs where other
modes of communication are hopeless. Perhaps that's why songs
are written."
More hit albums followed throughout the 70's, including a "Greatest
Hits" compilation, the classic "JT," and "Flag," which included a
few songs he had contributed to the Broadway musical "Working," based
on the life of Studs Terkel. Taylor later appeared as a truck
driver in a PBS version of the play.
In the mid-70's, he finally kicked his drug habit for good. He told
Stereo Review, "There is no doubt that success has made me happier
with myself. When it hasn't been too easy for me, it's because I'm
taking myself too seriously. It never hurts to lighten up."
He found a lot of happiness in his live performances. He continued to
tour, and performed in benefit concerts supporting various social
causes. He made another appearance on the silver screen in the concert
film, "No Nukes." The film documented a concert series
produced by anti-nuclear activists MUSE (Musicians United for Safe
Energy) at New York's Madison Square Garden. Another nifty side
project was his appearance with many family members on "In Harmony,"
an all-star children's album recorded for the educational TV
program "Sesame Street."
His 1981 album "Dad Loves His Work" featured a duet with J.D. Souther
on the hit single "Her Town Too." 1982 marked his divorce with
Simon, but also the start of an extensive world tour. He returned to
the studio in 1985 to begin work on his next album, his first
self-production. The resulting "That's Why I'm Here" featured guest
appearances by Don Henley, Graham Nash, David Sanborn and Joni
Mitchell. (Taylor had also played on Mitchell's groundbreaking
autobiographical album "Blue.")
In 1985 he also married Kathryn Walker. Since then, he's released
"Never Die Young," "New Moon Shine," and a live double-CD. He
continues to perform in benefits, notably the Rainforest Action
Network benefit with Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John and more.
He admits, "I'm not as prolific as I used to be," but he plans to
continue recording, slowly but surely. Meanwhile, his concerts still bring
the fans out in droves. Taylor confesses to a little stage fright, but
told The New York Times, "On the whole, I feel that my best
performances are my live performances. Live, I can shout it out pretty
good."