History of James Taylor in Timeline
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: "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.
