In my Blue Rodeo blog I mentioned that my dad was a big influence on the music that I listened to growing up. Another musician that my dad introduced me to that has become one of my favorites is James Taylor. His genre can be described loosely as folk/slow rock and he is widely known for his amazing baritone voice. James Taylor has lived a very interesting and successful life, although it did not begin successful. Taylor was born in Boston in 1948 to a wealthy family who gave him and his siblings everything they could have wanted. At age 16 he dropped out of boarding school to join his brother’s rock band and about a year later he checked himself into a mental institution for his severe depression. After being released he wound up with the wrong crowd and became addicted to heroin. Taylor moved to London and got the opportunity to record some of his music with Peter Asher which was released in 1968 as an album called James Taylor. His music was not an immediate success even though a few of his most successful and classic songs appeared on the album. (Something In The Way She Moves and Carolina In My Mind)
James Taylor moved back to the US and since he was still depressed and addicted to heroin, he checked into another mental institution. Shortly after, Taylor came out with another CD called Sweet Baby James, which was released in February of 1970. It was a “triple platinum album that spawned his first Top 10 hit, the intensely personal Fire and Rain" (Reference). This song was written by Taylor about his own life and his struggles. Taylor quit his drug habits and skyrocketed to the top of the charts.
Since then, James Taylor has released 23 more albums including greatest hits compilations and Christmas albums. Some of Taylor’s accomplishments on his list of achievements include; that he has won numerous Grammy Awards, put out wildly successful gold albums, invaded the top of music charts with countless songs, had the honor of being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, he has been named person of the year by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, and his album One Man Band was nominated for an Emmy. On his website, Taylor has recently begun uploading videos of guitar lessons given by himself for people wishing to learn from him. He has always played guitar with a very unique style that has inspired people all over the world.
When I was 18 I managed to go see James Taylor in concert. The show felt like it went on forever and I did not want it to stop. I did not know all of the songs he played but they were all wonderful. His stage presence, his voice, the music, and the performance in general were amazing. I am sure I could have not known a single song and still loved it all. The songs remind me so deeply of my childhood that being in the same building as Taylor and listening to him play was unreal. One of my favourite songs by James Taylor is called Steamroller Blues and on stage he made up his own version which made the audience go crazy, it was just amazing. Below is a video of the song as I knew it on Taylor's Greatest Hits Album from 1976.
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