James TaylorJames Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter, born in Boston, Massachusetts. He grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where his father was the dean of the University of North Carolina Medical School. His family summered on Martha's Vineyard. Taylor's career began in the mid-1960s, but he found his audience in the early 1970s, singing sensitive and gentle acoustic songs. He was was part of a wave of soft singer-songwriters of the time that also included Carole King, John Denver, Jackson Browne and Carly Simon. His Greatest Hits album from 1976 was certified diamond and has sold more than 11 million copies. "The Best of James Taylor" album coverTaylor's four siblings, Alex, Livingston, Hugh and Kate have also been musicians with recorded albums. (Livingston is still an active musician; Kate was active in the 1970s and did not record another album until 2003.) Taylor's children with Carly Simon, Ben and Sally, have also embarked on musical careers. Early careerTaylor first learned the cello as a child, then switched to the guitar in 1960. While attending Milton Academy, a prep school in Massachusetts, Taylor met Danny Kortchmar at Martha's Vineyard and the two began playing folk music together. After dropping out of school, James formed a band with his brother, Alex, then was committed to McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts due to depression. He believes that this action on his behalf saved his life. He earned a high school diploma while in the asylum, then left and formed a band called the Flying Machine with Kortchmar and Joel O'Brien. The band was signed to Rainy Day Records and released one single, "Brighten Your Night with My Day"/"Night Owl"; the song was not a success. While living in New York, Taylor became addicted to heroin. After a desperate phone call, his father drove to New York and "rescued" him. In 1968, Taylor moved to London. He was signed to Apple Records after sending a demo tape to Peter Asher (of Peter & Gordon) and released his debut album, James Taylor. The album did not sell terribly well and Taylor's addiction worsened. Moving back to the United States, Taylor checked into Austin Riggs Hospital in Stockbridge, Massachusetts to try to kick the habit. By 1969, he was well enough to perform live and had a six-night stand at the Troubadour Club in Los Angeles. On July 20, 1969, he performed at the Newport Folk Festival. Shortly after that, he broke both hands in a motorcycle accident on Martha's Vineyard and was forced to stop playing for several months. 1970s successOnce recovered, Taylor signed to Warner Brothers Records and moved to California, keeping Peter Asher as his manager and record producer. His second album, Sweet Baby James, was a massive success, buoyed by the single "Fire and Rain", a song about his experience in an asylum and the suicide of a friend. The success of this single and the album, piqued interest in Taylor's first album, James Taylor, bringing it and the single "Carolina on My Mind" back onto the charts. Taylor worked with Dennis Wilson (of the Beach Boys) on a film, Two-Lane Blacktop, but this was unsuccessful at the time. 1971 saw the release of Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon, another hit album. He won a Grammy Award for his version of Carole King's "You've Got a Friend". In 1972 (see 1972 in music) Taylor returned with One Man Dog and married Carly Simon, another singer-songwriter. His next album, 1974's Walking Man, was a disappointment but the following one, Gorilla, was a success, partially because of a successful single, a cover version of Marvin Gaye's "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)". This was followed by In the Pocket in 1976, and then a Greatest Hits album that included some rerecordings of Apple Records-era material. It became a huge hit and remains Taylor's best-selling album. Taylor and Simon had two children, Benjamin ("Ben") and Sarah ("Sally"). Simon was unhappy with Taylor's being out on the road traveling so much; he rejected an ultimatum from her that he spend more time with his children, and they eventually divorced in 1983. Taylor signed to Columbia Records and released JT in 1977, winning another Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, for "Handy Man". After collaborating with Art Garfunkel and briefly working on Broadway, Taylor took a two-year break, reappearing in 1979 with Flag. The album was a success, though there were no hit singles from it. Taylor also performed at the No Nukes concert in Madison Square Garden, then appeared on the album and film from the concert. Later careerBeginning in 1985 Taylor staged a career resurgence. He put his addiction problems behind him. That's Why I'm Here started a series of studio recordings that, while spaced further apart than his previous records, showed a more consistent level of quality. He toured regularly, and was especially popular on the American summer outdoor amphitheatre circuit. His concerts feature songs from throughout his career; a particular strength is his section of backup singers, especially Arnold McCuller. Taylor's two albums of original material from the 1990s were notably successful: his thirteenth album, New Moon Shine, went platinum in 1991, and he won the coveted Grammy for Best Pop Album in 1998 for Hourglass. Flanked by two greatest hits releases, the new October Road appeared in 2002 to a receptive audience. It featured a number of quiet but sophisticated instrumental accompaniments and passages, one of which won the corresponding Grammy. In 2004, with his Columbia/Sony record contract having concluded, he released James Taylor: A Christmas Album with distribution through Hallmark Cards; it continued the accompaniment trend. Always visibly active in environmental and progressive causes, in October 2004 Taylor joined the "Vote for Change" tour, playing a series of concerts in American swing states. These concerts were organized by MoveOn.org with the general goal of mobilizing people to vote for John Kerry and against George W. Bush in that year's Presidential campaign. Taylor's appearances were joint performances with the Dixie Chicks. In 2001 Taylor wed for the third time to Caroline (Kim) Smedvig, Director of Public Relations and Marketing at the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Awards and recognitionGrammy Awards:
Other recognition:
Discography
Videography
Further reading
This page about James Taylor includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about James Taylor News stories about James Taylor External links for James Taylor Videos for James Taylor Wikis about James Taylor Discussion Groups about James Taylor Blogs about James Taylor Images of James Taylor |
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Other recognition:. UB40's music has often tackled social issues such as racism and unemployment. Grammy Awards:. Their new injection of life into so many old Jamaican hits has resulted in many musicians and producers renewed popularity and income. In 2001 Taylor wed for the third time to Caroline (Kim) Smedvig, Director of Public Relations and Marketing at the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Many of UB40's later recordings were inspired by 1960's ska and early lovers rock songs that would have otherwise been forgotten in the public eye. Taylor's appearances were joint performances with the Dixie Chicks. They have had a number of hits, most commercially and to amusement of the band, "Red Red Wine", a cover version of a Neil Diamond song (in an arrangement similar to that of Tony Tribe's version). Bush in that year's
Presidential campaign. It featured a number of quiet but sophisticated instrumental accompaniments and passages, one of which won the corresponding Grammy. UB40 were influenced by the many Blues Parties they attended as teenagers in multiracial Birmingham, their love of ska and reggae inspired such original tracks as "King", "Madam Medusa", "Ivory Madonna", "Signing Off" and "One in Ten", later covered by 808 State. Flanked by two greatest hits releases, the new October Road appeared in 2002 to a receptive audience. for claiming unemployment benefits (UB40 = Unemployment Benefits, Form 40). Taylor's two albums of original material from the 1990s were notably successful: his thirteenth album, New Moon Shine, went platinum in 1991, and he won the coveted Grammy for Best Pop Album in 1998 for Hourglass. The band is named from the paper form issued by the U.K. His concerts feature songs from throughout his career; a particular strength is his section of backup singers, especially Arnold McCuller. The band may be the world's most culturally diverse dub reggae band with English, Turkish, Welsh, African and Jamaican parentage musicians. He toured regularly, and was especially popular on the American summer outdoor amphitheatre circuit. UB40 is a popular dub reggae / reggae pop music band formed in 1978 in Birmingham, England. That's Why I'm Here started a series of studio recordings that, while spaced further apart than his previous records, showed a more consistent level of quality. Homegrown (2003),UK #49. He put his addiction problems behind him. Cover Up (2001), UK #29. Beginning in 1985 Taylor staged a career resurgence. The Very Best of UB40 (2000), UK #7. Taylor also performed at the No Nukes concert in Madison Square Garden, then appeared on the album and film from the concert. Labour of Love III (1998), UK #8. The album was a success, though there were no hit singles from it. UB40 Present the Dancehall Album (1998). After collaborating with Art Garfunkel and briefly working on Broadway, Taylor took a two-year break, reappearing in 1979 with Flag. Guns in the Ghetto (1997), UK #7. Taylor signed to Columbia Records and released JT in 1977, winning another Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, for "Handy Man". The Best of UB40 - Volume Two (1995), UK #12. Simon was unhappy with Taylor's being out on the road traveling so much; he rejected an ultimatum from her that he spend more time with his children, and they eventually divorced in 1983. Promises and Lies (1993), UK #1. Taylor and Simon had two children, Benjamin ("Ben") and Sarah ("Sally"). Labour of Love II (1989), UK #3. It became a huge hit and remains Taylor's best-selling album. UB40 (album)|UB40 (1988), UK #12. This was followed by In the Pocket in 1976, and then a Greatest Hits album that included some rerecordings of Apple Records-era material. The Best of UB40 - Volume One (1987), UK #3. His next album, 1974's Walking Man, was a disappointment but the following one, Gorilla, was a success, partially because of a successful single, a cover version of Marvin Gaye's "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)". UB40 CCCP: Live in Moscow (1987); Live in Moscow, Russia 1986. In 1972 (see 1972 in music) Taylor returned with One Man Dog and married Carly Simon, another singer-songwriter. Rat in the Kitchen (1986), UK #8. He won a Grammy Award for his version of Carole King's "You've Got a Friend". Baggariddim (1985), UK #14. 1971 saw the release of Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon, another hit album. Geffery Morgan (1984), UK #3. Taylor worked with Dennis Wilson (of the Beach Boys) on a film, Two-Lane Blacktop, but this was unsuccessful at the time. Labour of Love (1983), UK #1. The success of this single and the album, piqued interest in Taylor's first album, James Taylor, bringing it and the single "Carolina on My Mind" back onto the charts. UB40 Live (1983), UK #44. His second album, Sweet Baby James, was a massive success, buoyed by the single "Fire and Rain", a song about his experience in an asylum and the suicide of a friend. UB44 (1982), UK #4. Once recovered, Taylor signed to Warner Brothers Records and moved to California, keeping Peter Asher as his manager and record producer. Present Arms in Dub (1981), UK #38. Shortly after that, he broke both hands in a motorcycle accident on Martha's Vineyard and was forced to stop playing for several months. Present Arms (1981), UK #2. On July 20, 1969, he performed at the Newport Folk Festival. Signing Off (1980), UK #2. By 1969, he was well enough to perform live and had a six-night stand at the Troubadour Club in Los Angeles. Pablo Falconer (producer). Moving back to the United States, Taylor checked into Austin Riggs Hospital in Stockbridge, Massachusetts to try to kick the habit. Astro (toasting vocals). The album did not sell terribly well and Taylor's addiction worsened. Terence Wilson (percussion, trumpet). In 1968, Taylor moved to London. He was signed to Apple Records after sending a demo tape to Peter Asher (of Peter & Gordon) and released his debut album, James Taylor. Mickey Virtue (keyboards). After a desperate phone call, his father drove to New York and "rescued" him. Brian Travers (saxophone). While living in New York, Taylor became addicted to heroin. Norman Hassan (percussion). The band was signed to Rainy Day Records and released one single, "Brighten Your Night with My Day"/"Night Owl"; the song was not a success. Earl Falconer (Bass guitar, vocals). He earned a high school diploma while in the asylum, then left and formed a band called the Flying Machine with Kortchmar and Joel O'Brien. Robin Campbell (lead guitar, vocals). He believes that this action on his behalf saved his life. Ali Campbell (guitar, lead vocals). After dropping out of school, James formed a band with his brother, Alex, then was committed to McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts due to depression. Jim Brown (drums). While attending Milton Academy, a prep school in Massachusetts, Taylor met Danny Kortchmar at Martha's Vineyard and the two began playing folk music together. Taylor first learned the cello as a child, then switched to the guitar in 1960. (Livingston is still an active musician; Kate was active in the 1970s and did not record another album until 2003.) Taylor's children with Carly Simon, Ben and Sally, have also embarked on musical careers. Taylor's four siblings, Alex, Livingston, Hugh and Kate have also been musicians with recorded albums. His Greatest Hits album from 1976 was certified diamond and has sold more than 11 million copies. He was was part of a wave of soft singer-songwriters of the time that also included Carole King, John Denver, Jackson Browne and Carly Simon. Taylor's career began in the mid-1960s, but he found his audience in the early 1970s, singing sensitive and gentle acoustic songs. His family summered on Martha's Vineyard. He grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where his father was the dean of the University of North Carolina Medical School. James Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter, born in Boston, Massachusetts. ISBN 0711991936. Omnibus Press. James Taylor: Long Ago and Far Away. White, Timothy (2002). Pull Over (2002) - Recording of a 2001 show in Chicago, Illinois. Live at the Beacon Theatre (1998) - Recording of a show in New York City. Squibnocket (1993) - Tour rehearsals on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. James Taylor: In Concert (1988). James Taylor: In Concert (1982) - CBS/FOX laserdisc of a 1979 concert in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. James Taylor: A Christmas Album (2004). The Best of James Taylor (2003). October Road (2002). Greatest Hits Volume 2 (2000). Hourglass (1997). (Best LIVE) (1994). (LIVE) (1993). New Moon Shine (1991). Never Die Young (1988). That's Why I'm Here (1985). Dad Loves His Work (1981). Flag (1979). JT (1977). Greatest Hits (1976). In the Pocket (1976). Gorilla (1975). Walking Man (1974). One Man Dog (1972). Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon (1971). James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine (1971) - recorded 1966-1967. Sweet Baby James (1970). James Taylor (1968). Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, 2000. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 2000. Best Country Collaboration With Vocals, 2003, "How's the World Treating You", with Alison Krauss. Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s), 2002, "Mean Old Man", arrangement by Dave Grusin. Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, 2001, "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight". Best Pop Album, 1998, Hourglass. Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, 1977, "Handy Man". Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, 1971, "You've Got a Friend". |