Born:
Genres:
Instruments:
Contributions to music:
- Essentially created and defined the sensitive singer-songwriter
- Brought a more personal and introspective form of songwriting to American pop radio
- Has one of the warmest and most pleasing voices in all of pop music history
- Provided a soothing balm for radio listeners with his gentle tales of love and devotion during the post-Sixties comedown
- His 1976 collection Greatest Hits is one of the biggest-selling albums of all time
- Helped the rock nostalgia trend by re-recording several soul and R&B classics in his own style
- With girlfriend Carly Simon, epitomized the soft-rock couple of the Seventies
Early years:
Success:
Later years:
Other facts:
- Was the first act signed to Apple who was not from Britain
- Taylor's early song "Something In The Way She Moves" inspired George Harrison to write the Beatles' "Something"
- Wrote "Rainy Day Man" about his battles with heroin
- Starred in the 1971 movie Two-Lane Blacktop, where his co-star was the Beach Boys' Dennis Wilson
- Is one of the possible subjects of ex-wife Carly Simon's scathing 1974 smash "You're So Vain," though many believe actor Warren Beatty is more likely
- Has three brothers and a sister, all of whom went on to become folk-pop musicians
- A very vocal advocate of liberal causes and politicians
Awards/Honors:
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2000)
- Songwriters Hall of Fame (2000)
- GRAMMY awards (1971, 1977, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2006)
- GRAMMY Hall of Fame (2001)
- Honorary doctorate, Berklee College of Music (1995)
Recorded work:
Pop:
"You've Got A Friend" (1971)
Adult Contemporary:
"You've Got A Friend" (1971)
"Shower the People" (1976)
"Handy Man" (1977)
Top 10 hits:
Pop:
"Fire and Rain" (1971)
"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" (1975)
"Handy Man" (1977)
Adult Contemporary:
"Fire And Rain" (1971)
"Long Ago And Far Away" (1972)
"Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" (1973)
"Mexico" (1975}
"Your Smiling Face" (1977}
"Up On The Roof" (1979)
"Her Town Too" (1981) with J.D. Souther
"Everyday" (1985)
"Only One" (1986)
"That's Why I'm Here" (1986)
"Little More Time With You" (1997)
Top 10 albums:
Pop:
Sweet Baby James (1970)
Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon (1971)
One Man Dog (1973)
Gorilla (1975)
JT (1977)
Flag (1979)
Dad Loves His Work (1981)
Hourglass (1997)
October Road (2002)
Covers (2008)
Other important songs: "Something In The Way She Moves," "Sweet Baby James," "Country Road," "You Can Close Your Eyes," "Walking Man," "Steamroller Blues," "Carolina In My Mind," "Only A Dream In Rio," "Hey Mister, That's Me Up On The Jukebox," "Hello Old Friend," "Never Die Young," "Traffic Jam," "Secret O' Life," "Shed A Little Light," "Everybody Has The Blues," "Millworker," "New Hymn," "Riding On A Railroad," "Copperline," "That Lonesome Road"
Covered by: George Jones, Melanie, The Isley Brothers, Wet Wet Wet, Linda Thompson, Billie Jo Spears, John Denver, Johnny Rivers, Willie Nelson, Richie Havens, Marcia Hines, Blood Sweat and Tears, Andy Williams, Edwin McCain, Jimmy Buffett, Bette Midler, Carly Simon, Cassandra Wilson, Bonnie Raitt, Elvis Presley, Tom Rush, Tuck and Patti, Linda Ronstadt, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Appears in the movies: "Two-Lane Blacktop" (1971), "No Nukes" (1980), "In Our Hands" (1984)
