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Date Posted: 11:52:42 12/03/03 Wed
Author: Thiago
Subject: Week IX

Hi, Vera and mates!

I’m writing about James Taylor, who is certainly one of my favorite singers. I hope you enjoy the text and send me suggestions to make it even more interesting.

The North American singer and songwriter James Taylor is considered one of the most important representatives from the Folk Rock scene in the USA. Born on March 12, in 1948, in Boston, Massachusetts, Taylor was raised into a wealthy family. His mother, who was a classically trained soprano, encouraged him, his brothers Alex, Livingston and Hugh, and his sister Kate to become musicals. When James was 15, he won a local music contest, and, at the age of 16 he joined his older brother Alex in a band called The Fabulous Corsairs. At 17, his personal history started to change a lot, when he committed himself to a mental institution in Massachusetts to undergo a treatment for depression. Nine months later, he joined his childhood friend Danny “Kootch” Kortchmar in an unsuccessful band called Flying Machine.

At the age of 18, James Taylor was supported by his parents although him living in his own apartment. Later on, he moved to a flat in Notting Hill, London, where his addiction became even stronger. He was luckily rescued by his old friend “Kootch”, who advised him to record a demo tape that should be given to Peter Asher (Apple Records). Asher approved Taylor’s work, and his first album, “James Taylor”, was soon released. The album included some of James’ greatest hits “Carolina In My Mind” and “Something In The Way She Moves”; however, the album was not so successful as both James and “Kootch” intended it to be.

Still depressed dependent on drugs, James moved back to the USA, where he again committed to a mental institution to be treated. Meanwhile, “Kootch” contacted the Warner Bros Records and gathered a group of supportive musician friends, including Carole King to help James in his career. Soon, the songs he wrote while he was in the institution were released in an album called “Sweet Baby James”, which remained for a couple of years in the US charts. Hits such as the homonymous song “Sweet Baby James” and “Fire and Rain” were included in this album. The second one, being a true report and self-reflection on James’ life during his tough years in a constant struggle against drugs and depression, is considered one of the greatest hits from the early 70’s. Its stanzas include James’ surprise with his friend suicide, his problems with heroine and even the moment he decided to undergo to a new treatment against his dependence.

James’ following album, “Mud Slide Slim And The Blue” also represented an important point in his career. The album contained hits such as “You’ve Got A Friend”, written by James’ friend Carole King.

Free of drugs, James married Carly Simon, who became also a famous North American singer. Together, they had two children, Ben and Sally Taylor (also singers), but the marriage ended ten years later.

Nowadays, James devoted his life to performances at benefits, especially in Brazil, which is a country he’s loved since the middle 80’s. He has performed in two of the three editions of Rock in Rio Festival (the first and the third), and one of the most memorable events in James’ career happened in 1985, when the Rock in Rio audience sang along with him the chorus of “You’ve Got A Friend”.

Some links to information about James’ Taylor are http://www.empirezine.com/spotlight/taylor/taylor1.htm
http://www.tickets-concert.net/james_taylor/biography.htm
http://www.james-taylor.com/

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