James Taylor turned 75 years young last Sunday, March 12th. We’re taking a closer look at the life and career of one of the most prolific singer-songwriters of all time.
JT once commented on what comes first in his songwriting process. He said, "I would say that it's the music first, you know, the music and the melody. Sometimes, you get a little early on a lyrical idea that sort of goes with it, but you have to come back and work, at least in my case, on the lyric. It's always the hard part. The part that takes some focus."
James was born in Boston, before he moved south with his family after his father took a job teaching at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.
He was signed by Peter Asher to The Beatles' Apple Records back in 1968. James started making it big in1970 when he moved to Warner Brothers Records and released his second album, Sweet Baby James.
Committed to a psychiatric facility in the mid-'60s, the onetime heroin addict was married to his first wife Carly Simon from 1972 to 1983, and they had two children -- Ben and Sally. He has two sons -- Henry and Rufus -- with his second wife, Kathryn. James is now married to his third wife, Kim, who he married in 2001.
James is a longtime activist and has constantly toured over the decades. James is known for his iconic hits " "Fire and Rain," "Sweet Baby James," "Country Road," "You've Got a Friend," "Mexico," and "Handy Man” among others.
He’s picked up six Grammy Awards and was inducted into both the Songwriters and Rock & Roll Halls of Fame back in 2000.
Get more James Taylor on iHeartRadio, keyword James Taylor.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]