MIDDLEBURY — Livingston Taylor’s career as a professional musician has spanned 52 years. He maintains a performance schedule of more than 100 shows a year, delighting audiences with his unique brand of popular music which includes mostly original repertory from his 13 albums. He’s bringing his show to Middlebury’s Town Hall Theater on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m.
Taylor picked up his first guitar at the age of 13. Born in Boston and raised in North Carolina, Taylor is the fourth child in a very musical family that includes Alex, James, Kate and Hugh. Taylor recorded his first record at the age of 18 and has continued to create well crafted, introspective and original songs that have earned him listeners worldwide.
From top-40 hits “I Will Be in Love with You” and “I’ll Come Running,” to “I Can Dream of You” and “Boatman,” the last two recorded by his brother James, Taylor’s creative output has continued unabated. His musical knowledge has inspired a varied repertoire, and he is equally at home with a range of musical genres — folk, pop, gospel, jazz — and from upbeat storytelling and touching ballads to full orchestra performances.
Taylor, who has never stopped performing since those early coffeehouse days, shared the stage with major artists such as Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Fleetwood Mac, Jimmy Buffett, and Jethro Tull. He is a natural performer, peppering his shows with personal stories, anecdotes and ineffable warmth that connect him to his fans. His relaxed on-stage presence belies the depth of his musical knowledge, and fans might just as often be treated to a classic Gershwin or something from the best of Broadway.
In addition to his performance schedule, Livingston is a full professor at Berklee College of Music, passing on the extensive knowledge gained from his long career on the road to the next generation of musicians. His book, “Stage Performance,” released in 2011, offers those lessons to anyone who is interested in elevating their presentation standards to professional standards.
Taylor’s 50th year of making music was celebrated by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, both declaring Jan. 18, 2017, “Livingston Taylor Day.” A documentary film entitled “Livingston Taylor: Life is Good” was released in 2018 at national and international film festivals. It has garnered many awards, nominations, and accolades, including The Van Gogh Award for the Feature Documentary category at the Amsterdam International Film Festival. The film premiered to the public on Amazon in November 2018.
Come see Taylor live on Saturday night. Tickets are $44 and are available with more info at townhalltherater.org.