History of James Taylor in Timeline

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James Taylor

James Vernon Taylor is a highly acclaimed American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He has garnered significant recognition throughout his career, including six Grammy Awards. His contributions to music have been acknowledged with his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, solidifying his status as a major figure in the music industry.

1921: Birth of Gertrude Woodard

In 1921, James Taylor's mother, Gertrude Woodard, was born.

1946: Marriage of Isaac and Gertrude Taylor

In 1946, James Taylor's parents, Isaac M. Taylor and Gertrude Woodard, married.

1947: Birth of Alex Taylor

In 1947, Alex Taylor, James Taylor's older brother, was born.

March 12, 1948: James Taylor's Birth in Boston

On March 12, 1948, James Vernon Taylor was born at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston to Isaac M. Taylor and Gertrude (Woodard) Taylor.

1949: Birth of Kate Taylor

In 1949, Kate Taylor, James Taylor's younger sister, was born.

1950: Birth of Livingston Taylor

In 1950, Livingston Taylor, James Taylor's younger brother, was born.

1951: Family Moved to Chapel Hill

In 1951, James Taylor and his family moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where his father took a job at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.

1952: Birth of Hugh Taylor

In 1952, Hugh Taylor, James Taylor's youngest brother, was born.

1953: Summers on Martha's Vineyard

Beginning in 1953, the Taylors spent summers on Martha's Vineyard.

1955: Isaac Taylor's Military Service

In 1955, James Taylor's father, Isaac Taylor, served in the military at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland.

1956: Isaac Taylor's Operation Deep Freeze

In 1956, Isaac Taylor participated in Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica.

1960: Started Learning Guitar

In 1960, James Taylor began learning to play the guitar, initially taking cello lessons.

1961: Attended Milton Academy

In 1961, James Taylor attended Milton Academy, a preparatory boarding school in Massachusetts.

1963: Playing Coffeehouses with Danny Kortchmar

By the summer of 1963, James Taylor and Danny Kortchmar were performing in coffeehouses around Martha's Vineyard, billed as "Jamie & Kootch".

1964: Isaac Taylor Becomes Dean

From 1964 to 1971, Isaac Taylor served as the dean of the UNC School of Medicine.

1964: Recorded Single with The Corsayers

In 1964, James Taylor's band, The Corsayers, cut a single featuring James's song "Cha Cha Blues" on the B-side.

1965: Committed to McLean Psychiatric Hospital

In late 1965, James Taylor committed himself to McLean, a psychiatric hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, for treatment.

1966: Graduated from Arlington School

In 1966, James Taylor earned a high school diploma from Arlington School, associated with McLean Hospital.

1966: Formation of The Flying Machine

In 1966, James Taylor moved to New York City to form the band The Flying Machine with Danny Kortchmar, Joel O'Brien, and Zachary Wiesner.

1966: Flying Machine Single Release

In late 1966, The Flying Machine released a single, "Night Owl," which received some radio airplay but charted at No. 102 nationally.

1967: Moved to London

In late 1967, James Taylor moved to London to pursue a solo career and was introduced to Peter Asher.

October 1968: Recording First Album

From July to October 1968, James Taylor recorded his first album at Trident Studios while The Beatles recorded The White Album.

December 1968: Release of Debut Album in the UK

In December 1968, James Taylor's debut album, "James Taylor", was released in the UK.

February 1969: Release of Debut Album in the US

In February 1969, James Taylor's debut album, "James Taylor", was released in the US, receiving positive reviews but facing challenges due to his hospitalization.

July 1969: Troubadour Headlining and Newport Folk Festival

In July 1969, James Taylor headlined at the Troubadour in Los Angeles and performed at the Newport Folk Festival.

October 1969: Signed with Warner Bros. Records

In October 1969, after recovering from a motorcycle accident, James Taylor signed a new deal with Warner Bros. Records.

December 1969: Recording "Sweet Baby James"

In December 1969, James Taylor held recording sessions in California for his second album, "Sweet Baby James".

1969: UK Flying Machine Emerges

In 1969, a UK band with the same name, Flying Machine, emerged with the hit song "Smile a Little Smile for Me."

February 1970: Release of "Sweet Baby James"

In February 1970, James Taylor released "Sweet Baby James", which became his critical and popular breakthrough, featuring the single "Fire and Rain".

March 14, 1970: Sweet Baby James Arrived on Billboard List

On March 14, 1970, James Taylor arrived on the Billboard list with Sweet Baby James.

October 1970: Performed at Greenpeace benefit concert

In October 1970, James Taylor performed with Joni Mitchell, Phil Ochs, and Chilliwack at a Vancouver benefit concert supporting Greenpeace's protests against US nuclear weapons tests in Amchitka, Alaska.

1970: Compilation of Best Work

Compilation of James Taylor's best work between 1970 and 1976 was released

1970: Breakthrough with "Fire and Rain"

In 1970, James Taylor achieved his breakthrough with the single "Fire and Rain," which reached No. 3 on the charts.

1970: Leon Russell released A Song for You

In 1970, Leon Russell released A Song for You which James Taylor performed a duet of sorts on in 2011

January 1971: Began Sessions for Next Album

In January 1971, James Taylor began recording sessions for his next album.

February 17, 1971: Appearance on The Johnny Cash Show

On February 17, 1971, James Taylor appeared on The Johnny Cash Show, where he performed "Sweet Baby James", "Fire and Rain", and "Country Road".

March 1, 1971: Time Magazine Cover Story

On March 1, 1971, James Taylor was featured on the cover of Time magazine, hailed as "the face of new rock," marking a significant moment in his burgeoning career.

April 1971: Release of "Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon"

In April 1971, James Taylor released "Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon", which received critical acclaim and featured his hit single "You've Got a Friend".

1971: Isaac Taylor's Deanship Ends

In 1971, Isaac Taylor's tenure as dean of the UNC School of Medicine concluded.

1971: First No. 1 Hit

In 1971, James Taylor had his first No. 1 hit with his recording of "You've Got a Friend", written by Carole King.

1971: Leading Role in "Two-Lane Blacktop"

In 1971, James Taylor played the leading role in Monte Hellman's film "Two-Lane Blacktop."

1971: Release of "James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine"

In 1971, following James Taylor's success as a solo artist, the recordings by The Flying Machine were released as "James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine".

November 1972: Released "One Man Dog" album and Married Carly Simon

In November 1972, James Taylor released his fourth album, "One Man Dog", and married Carly Simon on November 3 in Manhattan.

November 1972: Marriage to Carly Simon

In November 1972, James Taylor, at age 24, married singer Carly Simon, age 29, in a private ceremony at Simon's home in New York.

1972: Won Grammy Award

In early 1972, James Taylor won his first Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, for "You've Got a Friend".

1973: Enjoyed Life as a Married Man

In 1973, James Taylor spent most of the year enjoying his new life as a married man and did not return to the recording studio.

January 7, 1974: Birth of Daughter Sally Taylor

On January 7, 1974, James Taylor and Carly Simon's daughter, Sarah Maria "Sally" Taylor, was born.

January 1974: Started sessions for fifth album

In January 1974, James Taylor began sessions for his fifth album after spending most of 1973 enjoying married life.

1975: Release and Success of "Gorilla" Album

In 1975, James Taylor's album "Gorilla" was released, achieving Gold status and featuring the hit single "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)".

1976: Release of 'In the Pocket' Album

In 1976, James Taylor released 'In the Pocket,' his last studio album under Warner Bros. Records, featuring collaborations with various artists and the hit single "Shower the People".

1976: "Greatest Hits" Album Certified Diamond

In 1976, James Taylor's "Greatest Hits" album was certified Diamond and has sold 11 million copies in the US alone.

January 22, 1977: Birth of Son Ben Taylor

On January 22, 1977, James Taylor and Carly Simon's son, Benjamin Simon "Ben" Taylor, was born.

August 11, 1977: Rolling Stone Review of JT

On August 11, 1977, Peter Herbst of Rolling Stone published a favorable review of James Taylor's album JT, praising its variety and Taylor's healthy sound.

1977: Release of JT album

Following the release of his album JT in 1977, James Taylor retained a large audience, with every album from 1977 to 2007 selling over 1 million copies.

1978: Nomination for Album of the Year

In 1978, James Taylor's album "JT" received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.

1978: Guested with Paul Simon

In early 1978, James Taylor guested with Paul Simon on Art Garfunkel's recording of Sam Cooke's "Wonderful World".

1979: Released Cover-Studded Platinum Album Flag

In the summer of 1979, James Taylor released the cover-studded Platinum album titled Flag, featuring a Top 30 version of Gerry Goffin's and Carole King's "Up on the Roof".

December 7, 1980: Encounter with Mark David Chapman

On December 7, 1980, James Taylor had an unsettling encounter with Mark David Chapman, the man who would murder John Lennon the next day.

March 1981: Released Dad Loves His Work album

In March 1981, James Taylor released the album Dad Loves His Work, with themes concerning his relationship with his father and the effects he and Simon had on each other.

September 1981: Separation from Carly Simon

In September 1981, Carly Simon announced her separation from James Taylor, citing differing needs, and their divorce was finalized in 1983.

September 1983: Overcame Heroin Habit

Starting in September 1983, James Taylor discontinued methadone and overcame his heroin habit over four months, spurred by the deaths of friends and the desire to be a better father.

January 1985: Played at Rock in Rio Festival

In January 1985, James Taylor played the Rock in Rio festival in Rio de Janeiro, which helped him to feel musically energized and encouraged by the nascent democracy in Brazil.

October 1985: Released That's Why I'm Here Album

In October 1985, James Taylor released the album That's Why I'm Here, featuring the song "Only a Dream in Rio", which was written in tribute to his experience at the Rock in Rio festival.

December 14, 1985: Marriage to Kathryn Walker

On December 14, 1985, James Taylor married actress Kathryn Walker at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. She assisted him in his fight against heroin addiction.

1988: Released Never Die Young

In 1988, James Taylor released the album Never Die Young, featuring the charting title track.

1989: Hugh Taylor Opens The Outermost Inn

In 1989, Hugh Taylor and his wife opened The Outermost Inn, a bed-and-breakfast in Aquinnah, Massachusetts.

1991: Released New Moon Shine

In 1991, James Taylor released the platinum album New Moon Shine, featuring the popular songs "Copperline" and "(I've Got to) Stop Thinkin' About That".

1993: Death of Alex Taylor

In 1993, Alex Taylor, James Taylor's older brother, passed away.

1993: Release of Live Album

In 1993, James Taylor released a two-disc Live album, capturing the musicianship of his band and backup singers during his concerts.

1995: Began Dating Caroline "Kim" Smedvig

In 1995, James Taylor began dating Caroline "Kim" Smedvig, the director of public relations and marketing for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, after meeting her at a performance with John Williams and the Boston Pops orchestra.

1995: Performed in Randy Newman's Faust

In 1995, James Taylor performed the role of the Lord in Randy Newman's Faust.

1995: Recollection of Personal Struggles

In 1995, James Taylor recalled that by the time he played Rock in Rio in January 1985, he had "sort of bottomed-out in a drug habit" and was depressed and lost.

1996: Divorce from Walker

In 1996, James Taylor and Walker's divorce took place, inspiring some of the themes on the "Hourglass" album.

1997: Release of "Hourglass" album

In 1997, James Taylor released "Hourglass", an introspective album that received the best critical reviews in almost twenty years, focusing on his troubled past and family.

1998: Grammy Award for Best Pop Album

In 1998, James Taylor won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Album for "Hourglass", his first Grammy since JT.

2000: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction

In 2000, James Taylor was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, recognizing his significant contributions to music.

February 18, 2001: Marriage to Caroline "Kim" Smedvig

On February 18, 2001, James Taylor married Caroline "Kim" Smedvig at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Boston, after meeting when he performed with the Boston Pops orchestra.

April 2001: Birth of Twin Sons

In April 2001, James Taylor and Caroline Smedvig welcomed their twin sons, Rufus and Henry.

2002: Release of "October Road" album

In 2002, James Taylor released "October Road", which was Platinum-certified. Also in 2002, Taylor teamed with Alison Krauss in singing "The Boxer" at the Kennedy Center Honors Tribute to Paul Simon.

2003: "Sweet Baby James" on Rolling Stone's List

In 2003, James Taylor's album "Sweet Baby James" was listed at No. 103 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

October 2004: Joined Vote for Change tour

In October 2004, James Taylor joined the Vote for Change tour, performing concerts in American swing states to mobilize voters for John Kerry.

October 24, 2004: Performed at the World Series

On October 24, 2004, James Taylor performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Game 2 of the World Series in Boston.

December 2004: Appeared on "The West Wing"

In December 2004, James Taylor appeared as himself in an episode of "The West Wing" and sang "A Change Is Gonna Come".

2004: Release of "James Taylor: A Christmas Album"

In 2004, James Taylor released "James Taylor: A Christmas Album" through Hallmark Cards, after choosing not to renew his record contract with Columbia/Sony.

2004: "Fire and Rain" on Rolling Stone's List

In 2004, James Taylor's song "Fire and Rain" was listed as No. 227 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

2006: MusiCares Person of the Year

In 2006, James Taylor was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year by the Grammy Awards, with musicians like Carole King, Bruce Springsteen, and Paul Simon paying tribute to him at a Los Angeles ceremony.

2006: Honored by MusiCares

In early 2006, MusiCares honored James Taylor with performances of his songs by notable musicians.

2006: Release of "James Taylor at Christmas"

In the fall of 2006, James Taylor released a repackaged version of his Hallmark Christmas album, entitled "James Taylor at Christmas". Also in 2006, Taylor performed Randy Newman's song "Our Town" for the Disney animated film Cars.

January 1, 2007: Headlined inaugural concert in Albany

On January 1, 2007, James Taylor headlined the inaugural concert at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York.

October 25, 2007: Performed at the World Series

On October 25, 2007, James Taylor performed both the anthem and "America" for the game.

November 2007: Release of "One Man Band" album

In November 2007, James Taylor's album, "One Man Band" was released on CD and DVD.

December 2007: "James Taylor at Christmas" nominated for Grammy

In December 2007, the album "James Taylor at Christmas" was nominated for a Grammy Award.

December 23, 2007: Appearance on CBS Sunday Morning

On December 23, 2007, parts of James Taylor's performance at the Troubadour were shown on CBS Sunday Morning. Taylor alluded to his early drug problems.

2007: Continued Album Success

Every album released by James Taylor from 1977 to 2007 sold over 1 million copies, showcasing his sustained popularity.

January 2008: Recorded songs for "Covers" album

In January 2008, James Taylor recorded approximately 20 songs by others for a new album.

June 5, 2008: Performed at the NBA Finals

On June 5, 2008, James Taylor performed at Game 1 of the NBA Finals in Boston.

September 2008: Release of "Covers" album

In September 2008, James Taylor's live-in-studio album, named "Covers", was released.

2008: "James Taylor at Christmas" Nominated for Grammy

At the 63rd Grammy Awards, James Taylor won the award for "American Standard", the first for James Taylor after being nominated in the same category in the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008 for "James Taylor at Christmas".

2008: Free concerts in support of Barack Obama

During October 19–21, 2008, James Taylor performed a series of free concerts in five North Carolina cities in support of Barack Obama's presidential bid.

2008: "One Man Band" wins TEC Award

In 2008, the digital discrete 5.1 surround sound mix of James Taylor's "One Man Band" won a TEC Award for best surround sound recording.

January 18, 2009: Performed at Obama Inaugural Celebration

On January 18, 2009, James Taylor performed at the We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial, singing "Shower the People".

April 2009: Release of "Other Covers" album

In April 2009, James Taylor released an additional album, called "Other Covers", containing songs recorded during the same sessions as the original Covers.

May 29, 2009: Performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

On May 29, 2009, James Taylor performed on the final episode of the original 17-year run of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

September 8, 2009: Appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show

On September 8, 2009, James Taylor made an appearance at the 24th-season premiere block party of The Oprah Winfrey Show.

2009: Appeared in "Funny People"

In 2009, James Taylor appeared briefly in the movie Funny People, playing "Carolina in My Mind".

January 1, 2010: Sang National Anthem at NHL Winter Classic

On January 1, 2010, James Taylor sang the American national anthem at the NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park.

March 7, 2010: Sang at the Academy Awards

On March 7, 2010, James Taylor sang the Beatles' "In My Life" in tribute to deceased artists at the 82nd Academy Awards.

March 2010: Troubadour Reunion Tour

In March 2010, James Taylor commenced the Troubadour Reunion Tour with Carole King and members of his original band.

2010: Taylor Discusses Encounter with Chapman

In 2010, James Taylor recounted his December 7, 1980 encounter with Mark David Chapman to the BBC, detailing Chapman's disturbing behavior just hours before he murdered John Lennon.

September 11, 2011: Performed at 9/11 Memorial

On September 11, 2011, James Taylor performed "You Can Close Your Eyes" at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum for the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

November 22, 2011: Performed with Taylor Swift

On November 22, 2011, James Taylor performed "Fire and Rain" with Taylor Swift at her Speak Now World Tour concert in Madison Square Garden.

2011: Appeared in "Mr. Sunshine"

In 2011, James Taylor appeared in the ABC comedy "Mr. Sunshine".

July 2, 2012: Taylor Swift appeared as special guest

On July 2, 2012, Taylor Swift appeared as James Taylor's special guest in a concert at Tanglewood.

2012: Supported Obama reelection campaign

In 2012, James Taylor was active in support of Barack Obama's reelection campaign and opened the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

April 24, 2013: Performed at memorial service for Sean Collier

On April 24, 2013, James Taylor performed at the memorial service for slain MIT police officer Sean Collier, performing "The Water is Wide" and "Shower the People".

October 24, 2013: Performed at the World Series

On October 24, 2013, James Taylor performed both the anthem and "America" for the game.

2013: Performed with Utah Symphony and Mormon Tabernacle Choir

On September 6 and 7, 2013, James Taylor performed with the Utah Symphony and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City.

June 21, 2015: Before This World Launched atop Billboard 200

On June 21, 2015, James Taylor launched atop the Billboard 200 with 97,000 equivalent album units earned.

July 4, 2015: Before This World Reaches No. 1 on Billboard 200

On July 4, 2015, James Taylor earned his first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart with Before This World.

2015: First Number-One Album in the US

In 2015, James Taylor achieved his first number-one album in the US with "Before This World."

2015: Before This World Reached No. 1

In 2015, James Taylor's album "Before This World" reached No. 1, superseding Taylor Swift in album chart position.

2015: Death of Gertrude Taylor

In 2015, James Taylor's mother, Gertrude (née Woodard), passed away.

2017: Cancelled Manila Concert

In 2017, James Taylor cancelled his concert in Manila as a protest to the extrajudicial killings of suspects in the Philippine Drug War.

October 23, 2018: Performed at the World Series

On October 23, 2018, James Taylor performed at Game 1.

January 2020: Released Audio Memoir

In January 2020, James Taylor released his audio memoir Break Shot: My First 21 Years on Audible.

February 28, 2020: Released "American Standard" album

On February 28, 2020, James Taylor's album "American Standard" was released.

May 2020: Rescheduled Tour Dates

In May 2020, James Taylor and Jackson Browne rescheduled their 2020 tour dates to 2021 due to the COVID-19 crisis.

November 24, 2020: "American Standard" Grammy Nomination

On November 24, 2020, the album "American Standard" was nominated for a Grammy in the category of "Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album".

2021: Son Tours as Backing Vocalist

As of 2021, Henry Taylor, James Taylor's son, began touring as a backing vocalist with his father.

2021: Rescheduled Tour Dates

In May 2020, James Taylor and Jackson Browne rescheduled their 2020 tour dates to 2021 due to the COVID-19 crisis.

August 20, 2022: Performed at John Williams' 90th Birthday Celebration

On August 20, 2022, James Taylor performed at Tanglewood in celebration of John Williams' 90th birthday, singing "Getting to Know You", "Sweet Baby John" and "Your Smiling Face".

October 24, 2024: Performance at Kamala Harris Campaign Rally

On October 24, 2024, James Taylor performed "America the Beautiful", "Sweet Baby James", and "You've Got a Friend" at a rally for Tim Walz in Wilmington, North Carolina, supporting Kamala Harris's 2024 presidential campaign.

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