Taylor's first association with music came when he learned to play the cello as a young boy; at the age of twelve he decided to switch to the guitar. He attended Milton Academy, which is a prep school in Massachusetts, where he met Danny Kortchmar. The two young musicians decided to start a folk music group together.

James then went through a troubled time in his life when he dropped out of school to become a musician full-time. He tried to start a band with his brother, Alex, but was later committed to McLean Hospital in Belmont to treat his depression. While staying at the hospital James earned his high school diploma. He attributes his stay at the asylum for saving his life.

After leaving McLean hospital he started up his band with Danny Kortchmar and Joel O’Brien; they named their group the Flying Machine. Their first single "Brighten Your Night with My Day" was a commercial flop. The band then moved to New York City where they felt there would be more opportunities for them. It was while staying in New York City that James became addicted to heroin.

Taylor’s father, Isaac, became worried about his son after speaking with him on the phone and decided to drive up to New York to take his son all the way back to their home in Chapel Hill to help him overcome his addiction. Those actions inspired Taylor to write the song, "Jump Up Behind Me."

Taylor then moved to London in 1968 and recorded his first solo album. The album did not do well commercially and Taylor fell even further into his drug addiction. He then moved back to the States and checked himself into Austin Riggs Hospital to try to beat his drug addiction once more.

In 1970 James moved to California and signed on with Warner Bros. Records. This time around, his album Sweet Baby James was a huge success. He then worked on the film Two-Lane Blacktop, with Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys. Although the film was not a success, his follow-up album to Sweet Baby James won him a Grammy Award for his rendition of Carole King’s song "You’ve Got a Friend."

In 1972, Taylor married folk singer, Carly Simon. The couple has two children together, Ben and Sally, both of whom are trying to pursue their own careers in music. Simon then became unhappy with Taylor for his excessive touring schedule which was taking away from the time that he could spend with his family. They divorced in 1983.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Taylor continued to battle with drug addiction. Through all his trials Taylor continued to produce award winning music. In the 1990s, James once again decided to clean up his act and take control of his life.

In 2001, Taylor married his third wife, Caroline Smedvig, who is the director of Public Relations and Marketing for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Taylor and Smedvig decided to give parenthood a shot in 2001. They used a surrogate mother who is also a close family friend to give birth to their twin boys, Logan and Henry.

Today, Taylor is still actively recording music. He is also active with environmental and progressive causes. James joined the Vote for Change tour in 2004. The goal of the concert series was to get people to vote for John Kerry. Other performers on the tour included the Dixie Chicks, John Mellancamp, and Dave Matthews.

YUDDY