In an industry where it’s often rare for a performer to write his own songs, James Taylor stands out among those artists who pour their emotions into the lyrics they pen. And, for Taylor, whose breakout came in the 1970s, he’s left a permanent imprint on the music industry and music fans with his thoughtful lyrics.

Taylor’s creative talents – as were those of his brothers and sister – were nurtured early on, and perhaps that, combined with the rush of the competition that often strikes creative types, is what gave Taylor the confidence he needed to pursue a music career. (Each of the Taylor children went on to release their own solo albums.) Taylor began playing the cello and guitar as a youngster, his talent obvious early on.

Despite a rocky road in his teens and early twenties – which saw Taylor struggle with heroin addiction – Taylor moved to London hoping to get clean and find the big break he needed. His demo landed him a recording contract with Apple Records, made famous by the Beatles. His self-titled debut album was released in the United States in 1969.

Unfortunately, Taylor’s time in London was short lived as he fought his addiction and sustained serious injuries in a motorcycle accident. His next album, “Sweet Baby James,” hit store shelves in 1970 under the Warner Brothers label and included the hit singles “Fire and Rain” and “Country Road.” By year’s end Taylor’s career was on fire; he’d even appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, and James Taylor concert tickets were a much sought after commodity.

Taylor followed the tremendous success of “Sweet Baby James,” with “One Man Dog” in 1972. While “One Man Dog” went gold, it certainly didn’t come close to the level of success “Sweet Baby James” had enjoyed. “Walking Man” followed in 1974, which would quickly turn out to be a flop. The New England born and bred Taylor would go on to release several more albums during the 1970s, including “In the Pocket” (1976) and “Flag” (1979).

With the dawn of a new decade, Taylor would begin touring, something he continued to do consistently in the ensuing years. His next album, “That’s Why I’m Here,” was released in 1985 and would later be certified platinum.

Taylor’s 1997 album, “Hourglass,” garnered him a Grammy for the Best Pop Album, and three years later he would receive the distinct honor of being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and The Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. His latest album, “The Letter,” was released in 2004.