James Taylor: Background

James Taylor has become one of the most recognizable voices of his generation with his soft folk rock. His life has been a rocky road despite his mellow lyrics and calming guitar.

Taylor’s musical career began after he found folk music while attending Milton Academy. James dropped out of school and formed a band with his brother called the Corsayers, which promptly failed and led to depression. After checking himself into a hospital and graduating from high school through the Arlington School, he again tried to start a band. This time he and childhood friend Danny Kortchmar moved to New York and formed the Flying Machines with Joel O’Brien.

The move to New York ended in a record deal, but no real success. Taylor discovered heroin while striving for success, beginning a habit that would haunt him throughout the ‘70s and early ‘80s. After rehab he returned as a solo artist signing to Apple Records. Again his signing did not result in commercial success, despite the support of classic producers and George Harrison and Paul McCartney on tracks on his first self-titled album. Again his music career was halted, but this time a motor cycle accident that broke both his hands.

After recovering, James Taylor returned no Warner Bros Records with his breakout second album, Sweet Baby James. “Fire and Rain” became his first of many hit singles. His second album, Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon, was released to critical and commercial success and featured his only number one single, “You’ve Got a Friend”. The third album released by Taylor failed to perform very well, but his first greatest hits album went platinum eleven times and returned him to top act status.

Drug problems and heavy touring created a rift with his first wife, Carly Simon, which ended their marriage and almost drove James Taylor to retirement. After receiving an overwhelming ovation while closing the Rock in Rio festival, he changed his mind. He followed up his legendary performance with six hit studio albums in 12 years, including the Grammy Award winning Hourglass in 1997.

James Taylor 2008 Tickets

James Taylor has reemerged in 2008 after five years of laying low. He is starting the “James Taylor and His Bands of Legends” tour in May and is finishing up in August. The tour has been a long time coming, with the recently completed European tour for his latest studio release, “One Man Band”. Tickets will be extremely difficult to find as the folk legend returns to the stage, so find your place from The Seats, the number one ticket broker online.