TheFamousPeople

James Taylor Biography

(Singer-Songwriter & Musician - One of the Best-Selling Artists of All Time)

Birthday: March 12, 1948 (Pisces)

Born In: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Advanced Search

With a combined sale of more than a 100 million copies throughout his career, James Taylor is a sensitive and deep-rooted singer-songwriter who rose to fame during the 1970s. His songs were the reflection of troublesome society he was living in and he became an inspiration to many musicians from all around the world. In the 60’s, the state of the society in the U.S. was stressful and frustrating, his music, however, paved the way for more stability and civility. His music was primarily a mixture of folk and jazz. The lyrics of the songs he wrote early in his career were a description of the personal problems he was facing at that time. There was a certain vulnerability in his songs which made the fans feel secure and connected to him. He had a unique style of playing the guitar which inspired and influenced numerous musicians all over the world. His life has been full of addictions, marriage and career problems, but James Taylor has shown an incredible strength in fighting off the world and doing what he does best which has resulted in his everlasting popularity. His first hit album ‘Sweet Baby James’ was just the tip of the iceberg of James Taylor- the legend.

Birthday: March 12, 1948 (Pisces)

Born In: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

31
Guitarists #117
Folk Rock Singers #2
Musicians #441
Guitarists #117
Folk Rock Singers #2
Musicians #441
31

Recommended For You

Ben Taylor Biography Ben Taylor
Eminem Biography Eminem
Katy Perry Biography Katy Perry
Kanye West Biography Kanye West
DID WE MISS SOMEONE?
CLICK HERE AND TELL US
WE'LL MAKE SURE
THEY'RE HERE A.S.A.P
Quick Facts

Also Known As: James Vernon Taylor

Age: 76 Years, 76 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Caroline

father: Isaac M. Taylor

mother: Gertrude Woodard

siblings: Alex Taylor, Hugh Taylor, Kate Taylor, Livingston Taylor

children: Ben Taylor, Sally Taylor

Born Country: United States

Guitarists Lyricists & Songwriters

Height: 6'3" (190 cm), 6'3" Males

Notable Alumni: Milton Academy

Ancestry: British American

City: Boston

U.S. State: Massachusetts

More Facts

education: Milton Academy

Recommended For You

Ben Taylor Biography Ben Taylor
Eminem Biography Eminem
Katy Perry Biography Katy Perry
Kanye West Biography Kanye West

You wanted to know

  • 1

    What is James Taylor's best-selling album?

    James Taylor's best-selling album is "Greatest Hits," released in 1976.
  • 2

    What is the inspiration behind James Taylor's song Fire and Rain?

    The song "Fire and Rain" is inspired by Taylor's experiences dealing with depression, addiction, and the suicide of a close friend.

  • 3

    Which famous musicians has James Taylor collaborated with?

    James Taylor has collaborated with artists such as Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Paul Simon throughout his career.
  • 4

    What is the significance of James Taylor's song You've Got a Friend?

    The song "You've Got a Friend" was written by Carole King but popularized by James Taylor, becoming an anthem of friendship and support.

  • 5

    How has James Taylor influenced the music industry?

    James Taylor is credited with popularizing the singer-songwriter genre and has influenced generations of musicians with his introspective lyrics and unique guitar playing style.

Recommended Lists:

American People
Folk Rock Singers
American Men
Tall Celebrities
Tall Male Celebrities
Childhood & Early Life
James Taylor was born in Massachusetts, Boston. His father, Dr. Isaac M. Taylor was a resident physician who came from a well-off family of Southern Scottish ancestry. His mother, Gertrude Woodward was an aspiring opera singer.
He had three brothers, Alex, Livingston and Hugh, and one sister, Kate. His siblings all became musicians and recorded albums of their own.
At the age of three, James and his family moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina when Dr. Taylor was appointed dean of the Medical School at the University of North Carolina.
He started attending a prep school called Milton Academy in 1963 where he met fellow guitarist from New York, Danny ‘Kootch’ Kortchmar. Both began listening to blues and folk music.
He wrote his first song when he was just 14 years old and started performing at local coffeehouses with Kortchmar, and formed a band with his brother Alex, called The Corsayers.
He fell into a depression when he started applying for colleges and checked himself into McLean Hospital in Massachusetts in 1965, a stay that inspired many of his early songs. He moved to New York after being discharged.
Continue Reading Below
Recommended Lists:
Male Singers
Pisces Singers
Male Musicians
Pisces Musicians
Career
In 1966, he formed a new group called The Flying Machines, with Kortchmar and Joel O’ Brien. The band played some of Taylor’s songs that he had written in the hospital like ‘Knocking 'Round the Zoo’, ‘Don't Talk Now’, and ‘The Blues Is Just a Bad Dream’.
They released one single, ‘Brighten Your Night with My Day’ written by Taylor but it did not do well and the band broke up in the spring of 1967.
He became addicted to heroin and moved to London to recover where he got in touch with Peter Asher who was working for Apple Records.
He released his debut solo album, ‘James Taylor’ in the U.K in 1968 and in U.S. in 1969 but it did not do well.
After an unfortunate accident in July 1969 which forced him to take a break from playing music, he signed a new deal with Warner Bros. Records.
His next release called ‘Sweet Baby James’ (1970) resulted in a major success triggered by the hit single ‘Fire and Rain’ which was a song about his experiences in the psychiatric institution.
The album ‘Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon’ (1971) featuring the hit single ‘You’ve Got A Friend’ sold over two and a half million copies in the U.S. alone.
The next few albums like ‘One Man Dog’, and ‘Walking Man’, didn’t do well, but Taylor bounced back with ‘Gorilla’ in 1975. It contained one of his biggest hit singles, a cover of Marvin Gaye's ‘How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)’.
In 1977, he signed with Columbia Records and released ‘JT’ which gave him a Grammy nomination for The Album of the Year.
Continue Reading Below
During the 1980’s he became embroiled in several personal problems which kept him away from the musical scenario. He released only a few albums during the decade including ‘Dad Loves His Work’ (1981).
His career saw a resurgence in 1997 with the release of ‘Hourglass’. The album focused on his troubled past and received the best critical reviews in two decades.
He released two albums during the new millennium—‘October Road’ (2002) and ‘Covers’ (2008)—both of which reached No. 4 in the U.S. Billboard 200.
In March 2010, he commenced on the Troubadour Reunion Tour with Carole King and members of his original band, including Russ Kunkel, Leland Sklar, and Danny Kortchmar.
He also performed ‘America the Beautiful’ for President Obama’s second inauguration.
Recommended Lists:
Male Guitarists
Pisces Guitarists
American Singers
American Musicians
Major Works
His first commercially successful album ‘Sweet Baby James’ featuring the hit single ‘Fire and Rain’ hit No. 3 in the Billboards. The album sold around 1.5 million copies in the first year and almost 3 million eventually in the U.S. It was received as a folk-rock masterpiece.
His 1971 album ‘Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon’ was a even bigger hit than ‘Sweet baby James’. The hit single ‘You’ve Got a Friend’ became No. 1 in the Billboards and the album surpassed its predecessor by reaching the No. 2 position.
‘JT’ was a triple platinum success with more than 3 million copies being sold in the US alone. His hit cover of Jimmy Jones and Otis Blackwell's ‘Handy Man’ hit No. 1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart and reached No. 4 on the Hot 100. The song also topped the Canadian charts
Continue Reading Below
Recommended Lists:
American Guitarists
Male Lyricists & Songwriters
American Lyricists & Songwriters
Awards & Achievements
He is a five time Grammy award winner, of which three were for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male in 1971, 1977 and 2001.
He was presented the George and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement in 2004.
Personal Life & Legacy
Taylor got married to his fellow singer-songwriter Carly Simon in 1972. They have two children, Ben and Sally who are also aspiring musicians. The couple divorced in 1983.
He remarried in December 1985 to actress Kathryn Walker in New York. They got divorced in 1996.
In February 2001, Taylor wed for the third time marrying Caroline ‘Kim’ Smedvig. They presently live in the town of Washington, Massachusetts with their twin sons, Rufus and Henry.
A permanent exhibit was dedicated to him in the Chapel Hill Museum in North Carolina in 2003.
Facts About James Taylor
James Taylor is an accomplished pilot and has been flying airplanes since the 1970s, showcasing his passion for aviation outside of his music career.
He once performed a concert at a maximum-security prison in Massachusetts, showcasing his commitment to using music as a means of connection and healing.
James Taylor is known for his love of nature and the environment, and he actively supports various conservation efforts, including the Forest Stewardship Council.
Taylor's hit song "Fire and Rain" was inspired by his struggles with depression and addiction, showing his willingness to openly address mental health issues through his music.

Awards

Grammy Awards
2021 Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album Winner
2007 Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media Cars (2006)
2004 Best Country Collaboration with Vocals Winner
2003 Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) Winner
2002 Best Male Pop Vocal Performance Winner
1998 Best Pop Album Winner
1998 Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical Winner
1978 Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male Winner
1972 Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male Winner
Recommended Lists:
Singers #303
Lyricists & Songwriters #32

See the events in life of James Taylor in Chronological Order

How To Cite

Article Title
- James Taylor Biography
Author
- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
Website
- TheFamousPeople.com
URL
- https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/james-vernon-taylor-1750.php

People Also Viewed

Ben Taylor Biography
Ben Taylor
(American)
 
Eminem Biography
Eminem
(American)
 
Katy Perry Biography
Katy Perry
(American)
 
Kanye West Biography
Kanye West
(American)
 
Lana Del Rey Biography
Lana Del Rey
(American)
 
Post Malone Biography
Post Malone
(American)
 
Bruno Mars Biography
Bruno Mars
(American)
 
Tito Jackson Biography
Tito Jackson
(American)
 

Also Listed In

20th Century | 21st Century | Celebrity Names With Letter J | 20th Century Singers | 21st Century Singers | 20th Century Musicians | 21st Century Musicians | 20th Century Guitarists | 21st Century Guitarists | 20th Century Lyricists & Songwriters