James Taylor has been the voice of baby boomers since the early 1970s when he began chronicling his struggles with life, love, and loss in hits such as Fire and Rain, You’ve Got a Friend and Sweet Baby James. The singer-songwriter not only left an imprint on the era’s music, he was a friend or muse to many of those who made it, from Crosby, Stills and Nash to the Beatles and Jackson Browne; from Joni Mitchell and Carole King to his first wife, Carly Simon. Today, Taylor remains a force on the recording scene, having sold more than 100 million albums, winning six Grammys and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He also continues to influence current hitmakers—pop phenomenon Taylor Swift was named for him—and perform around the world. This special edition of LIFE, with rare family and archival photos, tracks the rise of the man known to fans as JT, a beloved icon, and celebrates his achievements as an artist.
LIFE James Taylor
Fire and Rain • For more than five decades, James Taylor has been America’s favorite troubadour, singing of life’s ups and downs, loves, losses, pains, and pleasures.
1 Out of Carolina • One of five musical siblings, James Taylor was a child of privilege who grew up in the North Carolina countryside. The evocative landscape informed some of the singer-songwriter’s most famous lyrics.
2 Breaking Through • During a short stint in Greenwich Village, Taylor discovered the rock scene, love, and heroin before heading to London to make a name for himself. His big break: a connection to Peter Asher, an executive with the Beatles’ new label, Apple Records.
YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND • Taylor encouraged songwriter Carole King to perform, and she gave him the song that would make him famous.
3 Life in the Canyon • In the 1970s, high in the Hollywood Hills, there was a creative community that was defining the music scene: the Mamas and the Papas, Frank Zappa, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Linda Ronstadt, the Byrds, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne. They were all neighbors, friends, and playing their hearts out.
4 Fortune and Fame’s Such a Curious Game • Taylor’s success in the early 1970s hit him with a gale force. He was one of the most talked about and in-demand artists on the music scene, with songs in constant rotation on the radio, a busy tour schedule, and a devoted fan base. On Martha’s Vineyard, tourists knocked on the door of his home and attempted to take pictures of him through the windows.
YOU BELONG TO ME • When Carly Simon saw Taylor’s face on the cover of Time in 1971, she told her sister, “I’m gonna marry that man.” And she did.
5 American Standard • He’s got six Grammys under his belt, has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and is one of the best-selling artists of all time. He’s also releasing music—and has been a mega-mentor on The Voice. Well into his seventies, James Taylor remains a cultural influencer.
PHOTO CREDITS
LIFE James Taylor
Boxed Set
