Ben Taylor

Born to James Taylor and Carly Simon, Ben Taylor entered a musical environment filled with potential from the start. Although his sister Sally Taylor established her place in music quite soon, he showed no interest in emulating his renowned parents. Despite growing up amid studio recordings and global performances, becoming a vocalist was not part of his initial plans.

He grew up in Manhattan, attending multiple private institutions until departing after completing ninth grade. Self-taught on guitar by that point, his true enthusiasm lay in exploring the planet and immersing himself in natural settings. Journeys through Asia and Europe revealed the planet's wonders, inspiring thoughts of pursuing gardening or farming. Yet music still played a minor role; prior to reaching age twenty, his rendition of the Beatles' "I Will" appeared on the soundtrack for the family film Bye Bye, Love starring Paul Reiser. He later cut a record for the Work Group, an Epic imprint, only for the company to cease operations soon after he signed. This left him disillusioned and uncertain regarding his path, as he remained unconvinced that music suited him. Eventually, he understood that music represented the sole vocation he could truly grasp.

A journey to the Caribbean supplied the impetus long sought. With an acoustic guitar and numerous compositions in mind, he developed into the instinctive singer-songwriter his parents had anticipated. During a visit to Los Angeles toward the end of 2001, he connected with drummer Larry Ciancia, known for work with Fiona Apple and Everlast, forging a musical partnership. Shortly thereafter, Adam MacDougall, Rick Musallam, and Joe Dunne came aboard, creating the Ben Taylor Band. The once reserved adolescent had transformed into an assured and bold performer. Following the limited notice given to Green Dragon, Name a Fox upon its 2002 Epic release, the group secured a contract with WEA's Iris Records. The Ben Taylor Band put out Famous Among the Barns in February 2003 and joined Dar Williams on the road. For his next project, Another Run Around the Sun, he enlisted actor and musician Kevin Bacon as producer; the album proved steady and captivating, succeeded by multiple EPs. He issued the full-length The Legend of Kung Folk, Pt. 1 in 2008, with Listening arriving in 2012.