American singer and songwriter whose introspective and sensitive songs helped a generation through the transition period from the turmoil and dissention of the ’60s to the less politically oriented ’70s. He is probably best known for his second album, “Sweet Baby James,” which went gold after its February 1970 release.
Taylor was the son of Dr. Isaac and Gertrude Taylor. He had three brothers, Alex, Livingston and Hugh, and one sister, Kate. All of his siblings became musicians. In 1951, the family moved from New England to North Carolina. As a child, Taylor studied cello, but in 1960, he began playing guitar. He attended Milton Academy, a prep school in Massachusetts, in 1963, but dropped out of school when he was 16, joining a band, “The Fabulous Corsairs,” with his brother Alex. In 1965, he moved to New York City, but suffering with depression, he soon checked into McLean Psychiatric Hospital in Massachusetts, where he earned his high school diploma. In 1966, he formed a group, “The Flying Machine,” with Danny “Kootch” Kortchmar and Joel O’Brien; they played in Greenwich Village and released one unsuccessful single, “Brighten Your Night with My Day”/”Night Owl.” The band broke up in the spring of 1967.
In 1968, Taylor relocated to London in an attempt to overcome his addiction to heroin. He soon signed with Apple Records and recorded his debut solo album, “James Taylor.” The attempt to kick his addiction, however, was unsuccessful. He returned to the United States, checking into the Austin Riggs Hospital in Massachusetts, and by July 1969, he was on the road to recovery. His single “Fire and Rain” was inspired by his experiences in mental hospitals, and its success propelled the 6’3″ tall, somewhat fragile-looking, Taylor to stardom. In 1971, he was featured on the cover of Time magazine’s March issue, and in July of that year, his compelling rendition of Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend” went gold. He won the Grammy for Best Pop Male Vocal Performance for the same song on 3/14/1972. His duet of “Mockingbird” with then-wife Carly Simon was a million-seller in 1974.
A consistently strong concert draw throughout his career, Taylor toured extensively, but it was not until August 1993 that he released his first live album, “Live.” He received an honorary doctorate of music from Berklee College of Music in Boston on 5/07/1995, and on 2/25/1998, his album “Hourglass” won the 1997 Grammy for Best Pop Album.
In 1972, Taylor married fellow singer Carly Simon. They had two children, Ben and Sarah Maria (Sally), but the marriage ended in divorce in 1982. He was married again on 12/14/1985, to Kathryn Walker, but they divorced in 1996. His daughter Sally followed in her famous parents’ footsteps, releasing her debut album, “Tomboy Bride,” in 1998.
The late’90s were difficult years for Taylor. His brother Alex (1947-1993) died from complications of alcoholism, and in 1996, both his father and his best friend, Don Gromich, lost their battles with cancer. In 1969, Taylor was in a motorcycle accident; he broke both hands, requiring several months to recover. He entered rehab once again, during 1983, battling his old demons of heroin and alcohol abuse.
On 2/18/2001, Taylor and his girlfriend of eight years, Caroline “Kim” Smedvig, 46, married in a Boston church before about 50 friends and family members. They became the parents of twin boys in the first week of April 2001. They are the biological kids of James and Kim, carried by a surrogate mom.
Link to Wikipedia biography