Livingston Taylor Launches Library Concert Series

Livingston Taylor picked up his first guitar at the age of thirteen, beginning a 40-year career that has encompassed performance, songwriting and teaching. 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 18 and has continued to create well-crafted, introspective and original songs that have earned him listeners worldwide.

From top-forty hits “I Will Be in Love with You” and “I’ll Come Running,” to “I Can Dream of You” and “Boatman” both 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 to touching ballads.

Taylor has been performing since those early coffeehouse days, touring with major artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Jimmy Buffett and Jethro Tull, and he maintains a busy concert schedule of over 80 shows a year. 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.

As a full professor at Berklee College of Music since 1989, Taylor shares his experiences and knowledge of professional touring with young artists, just beginning to hone their skills. His course, Stage Performance (I and II) is one of the most popular at the College, and it gives him the ideal forum in which to impart the lessons learned through his own career to a new generation of musicians. His book, Stage Performance, is drawn from those classes will be available this fall.

Opening for Taylor will be Elizabeth Straton, who sung her way through her Warwick upbringing. She and her sisters, Anne and Amy, have delighted Warwick Valley audiences with their festive and heart-felt songs for over 25 years. Straton has performed her music all over Europe and has been a featured festival and radio program artist in New York, Boston, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, London and Paris. She has been the recipient of New York City’s “singer-songwriter” award and was chosen to represent America at the World’s fair In Seville, Spain, in 1992. Elizabeth has composed and performed the sound tracks for several documentary films including Sterling Forest with the late Richard Kiley, directed by then Warwick resident Anne Macksoud. Straton and her children live on Martha’s Vineyard.

The Tuesdays at Twilight concert series benefits the town library’s much-needed expansion and renovation. Upcoming performers include Jemima James with Dan Waters and Al Schackman; the Flying Elbows; Danna Banana (children’s performer Dan Cohen); Nina Violet; Lilah Larson with Sons of an Illustrious Father; and many other members of the local music community.

Livingston Taylor and Elizabeth Straton perform on Tuesday, July 10, 7:30 p.m. at the West Tisbury Grange, State Road, West Tisbury. Doors open at 7. Admission is $25, with advance tickets available at the library. If tickets remain available, they will be for sale at the door.  For more information, visit wtlibraryfoundation.org.