The 45

His introspective, heartfelt songs, backed by intricate folk sand blues stylings on the acoustic guitar, made James Taylor one of the most beloved musicians of the 1970s and the archetype of a singer/songwriter. His music mired the sense of emotional weariness that followed the tumultuous end of the sixties.

Taylor began playing the cello before moving on to guitar, finding an interest in blues and folk music. He began to play local gigs with his brother and various acts before moving to New York in 1966, after receiving treatment for depression. From here, Taylor began to meet other musicians such as Joni Mitchell, Danny Kortchmar and Carole King. He drew the attention of Paul McCartney and George Harrison, becoming the first non-British act to be signed to their label, Apple. His eponymous debut, released through Apple, failed to do well commercially, partly due to Taylor's drug addiction preventing him from being able to promote the album successfully.

However, his second album, "Sweet Baby James" (1970) was released to great success, reaching number three in the Billboard Charts, earning several Grammy Award nominations. The album brought Taylor widespread popularity and from here, he became one of the most successful and beloved artists of the 20th century.

WIth the single, cover of Carole King's "You've Got a Friend in Me" from his 1971 album, "Mud Slide Slim," Taylor earned a number one single, with this hit cementing Taylor's talents in the public eye. Yet, struggling with personal issues, Taylor withdrew from the limelight, producing few albums with little success until he returned with 1974's "Gorilla" which reached number six in the charts. In 1975, he signed to Columbia Records, releasing a greatest hits album, which went on to sell 11 million copies and his 1977 album "JT" which was certified double-platinum.

Following this period, James Taylor continued to release several albums, although did not reach the same level of success as these previous releases. Throughout his career he has been involved politically and with humanitarian causes, performing at several benefit concerts, most recently supporting Barack Obama's election campaign. In total, Taylor has received six Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.