Over a 50-year career, James Taylor has won 5 Grammys, been inducted into the rock HOF, and sold over 100 million albums. He has weathered the storms of mental illness, drug addiction, marital strife and profound loss, and has endeared himself to millions of fans by sharing his songs about his life, openly, sensitively and humbly.
America’s favorite troubadour was born March 12, 1948, in Boston, MA. When he was 3, his wealthy family moved to Chapel Hill, NC, where his father eventually became dean of UNC’s medical school. His mother had studied singing, and all of her children (James, Alex, Kate, Livingston and Hugh) were musically inclined. James took up the cello at age 5, and the guitar at 12. His interest in the guitar was ignited by Danny Kortchmar, a friend he met during one of his family’s annual summer vacations on Martha’s Vineyard. By 1963, the two were performing at coffee houses on MV, billed as Jamie & Kootch.
Peter Asher – James Taylor – Danny Kortchmar
James went to high school at Milton Academy, a private boarding school in Massachusetts, where he was a good, if not ambitious student. Homesick, he returned to NC during his junior year, attending public school and playing in brother Alex’s rock band. James went back to Milton for his senior year and began battling depression, sleeping up to 20 hours a day. He committed himself to McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA, for psychiatric care. During his 10 months there, James earned his high school diploma and spent time writing songs.
After his discharge, he moved to NYC to reunite with Kootch and form a band, “The Flying Machine.” Living in Greenwich Village, James began using drugs, and became addicted to heroin. His father fetched him home to NC where he underwent treatment and was briefly sober. In late 1967, he inherited a little money and moved to London to start a solo career. His demo attracted Apple’s A&R man, Peter Asher (of Peter and Gordon), who urged the Beatles to sign its first non-British artist. Apple was attracted by James’ voice and guitar picking, but more so by the deep, mature themes of his songs. Having experienced so much at a young age, James was making “grown up” music as a teenager. Unfortunately, he relapsed into drugs while recording his first solo album, which was critically acclaimed, but sold poorly. The latter was probably due to James being unable to promote the record, as he had returned to the States and committed himself to the Austen Riggs Center in Stockbridge, MA, for drug rehab.
Out of the hospital, in July, 1969, James had his first tastes of success with a week-long stand at the Troubadour in LA, and a closing act appearance at the Newport Folk Festival. Misfortune struck again in short order when he broke both hands and both feet in a motorcycle accident on Martha’s Vineyard. Though unable to play for several months, James continued writing.
With Joni Mitchell – Newport Folk Festival, 1969
When he had recovered from his injuries, James moved to LA and signed on with Warner Bros. Records. There, he recorded his breakthrough album, Sweet Baby James. The folk rock masterpiece and its single “Fire and Rain,” about his experiences in psychiatric hospitals and the suicide of a friend, both peaked at #3, and landed him on the cover of Time. The album sold 1.5 million copies in its first year, and over 3 million in the US to date. His follow-up, Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon produced his first #1 single, Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend.” The album made it to #2, and would remain his highest charting until his 17th studio album, Before This World, hit #1 in 2015. James’ biggest selling record remains his Greatest Hits (1976), 11X Platinum in the US and 20 million units worldwide.
From 1972 to 1983, James was married to Carly Simon, singer, songwriter and heiress to the Simon & Schuster publishing fortune. Their two children, Ben and Sally Simon, are both musical performers. The breakup of his marriage and the desire to be a better father to his kids drove James to finally beat his addiction. He has been sober since 1984.
In 1985, James wrote "That's Why I'm Here," summing up his life in music. "Fortune and fame's such a curious game/Perfect strangers can call you by name/Pay money to hear 'Fire and Rain' again and again and again…I break into a grin from year to year /And suddenly it's perfectly clear/That's why I'm here."
Happy Birthday, James. We’re glad you’re here, still.
