Ravinia 2024 Issue 1

live with a newfound contentment and satisfying redemption. He’s also been a consistent and ardent social activist, lending his prominent voice and talents to many worldwide en- vironmental and humanitarian causes. These date back to the ’70s as a found- ing member of the “No Nukes” cause and concerts, and includes regularly co-hosting the annual “Rainforest Fund Benefit” at Carnegie Hall with Sting and Elton John since 1992. The shows—raising money to prevent the destruction of the world’s precious rainforests—gave the featured artists the opportunity to not only support a dire issue, but also break out from their creative comfort zones to excitedly perform music by legendary artists spanning from George Gershwin and Elvis Presley to The Beatles. It was a special treat to hear James Taylor, for example, give stirring, beautiful ren- ditions of the vintage “Paper Moon” and Presley’s “Love Me Tender” among others at these annual benefits. His selfless sharing of all his strug- gles and triumphs through music and actions struck cohesive chords with individual listeners and made universal connections with a mass audience. Though Taylor’s musical output from the ’70s and ’80s is his best-selling, best- known, and most celebrated, during the last 25 years he’s continued to create, entertain, and accomplish. In 2000, he was inducted into both the Rock and Roll and the Songwrit- ers Halls of Fame. In 2015, President Barack Obama awarded him the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom, then in 2016 he was fêted by his peers and admirers at the Kennedy Center Honors. Additionally, Taylor scored his first number-one album on the Billboard chart with 2015’s Before This World , his first album of original songs since 2002’s Oc- tober Road . And his American Standard , a collection of Taylor’s takes on the Great American Songbook, won him a Gram- my—the sixth of his career—for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album in 2021. He recently told USA Today it soon could be time for an album of new compositions: “I keep … little scraps of music and ideas, and when I get into a pre-writing phase, I’ll start pushing those around. I’d like to think there’s another batch of songs in there.” And let’s not forget—a certain sing- ing “tortured poet” and current global sensation named “Taylor” was named by her parents with him in mind! Many of James’s gems are his origi- nal, timeless songs, but he’s also one of pop music’s best interpreters. Some of his greatest hits are those performed or written by others, and bestowed with Taylor’s unique guitar picking, expressive vocals, and unquestioned charisma and charm. Marvin Gaye’s “How Sweet It Is” (written by the famed Holland-Dozier-Holland team), Jimmy Jones’s “Handy Man” (co-written by Otis Blackwell), Buddy Holly’s “Everyday,” Sam Cooke’s “(What A) Wonderful World” (as a contributor to Art Gar- funkel’s remake, which also included Paul Simon), Inez and Charlie Foxx’s “Mockingbird” (with former wife Carly Simon), The Drifters’ “Up On the Roof ” (written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King), and his ultimate cover, King’s assuring “You’ve Got A Friend,” are all among his best recorded efforts. One of his most underappreciated contributions is on Randy Newman’s ambitious 1995 concept album Faust , which showcases Taylor singing as the voice of God. Taylor’s personal friendship and artistic collaboration with Carole King dates back almost 60 years, when they first met in the late ’60s. In 2010, the two mounted a sentimental, co-head- lining “Troubadour Reunion Tour,” commemorating when they first per- formed together in 1970 at the famed Los Angeles music club. King originally wrote her fragile missive “You’ve Got a Friend” as a subtle response to Taylor’s “Fire and Rain,” about the death of his close friend. She was writing and recording her 1971 milestone album Tapestry when Taylor heard the new song and was in- stantly impressed. “As soon as I heard it, I was just like, man, that’s just it. That’s a great, great song,” Taylor told CNN. King graciously let Taylor record and release it as a single before she did, and many now consider it the one song that best exemplifies the essence of James Taylor and his gift. “Hearing his rendi- tion of it for the first time, it was like oh my God . It’s perfect,” King added. At age 76, Taylor feels appreciative of those who have followed him for six decades, and he explained to the Associated Press why he continues to regularly perform when he easily could take a deserved respite: “The audience, always. It’s very compelling to go a great distance and to find a crowd of people that have bought tickets to come see me and the band play again.” From one “J.T.” to another—James, it’s always good to have you back. James Turano is a freelance writer and a former entertainment editor, feature writer, and columnist for national and local magazines and newspapers. He has written official programs for eight Elton John tours since 2003 and is also a Chicago radio personality and host on WGN 720AM. James Taylor in his 2008 Ravinia debut RAVINIAMAGAZINE • JUNE 7 – JUNE 30, 2024 10