James Taylor has seen fire and rain. But he hasn’t seen a day like November 24th ever. The great singer songwriter is receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom that day, along with the likes of Stephen Sondheim, Itzhak Perlman, Steven Spielberg, and Barbra Streisand. That will be one hot ticket at the White House!
But it’s a mixed day. Because November 24th is also coincidentally publication date for Carly Simon’s extraordinary autobiography, “Boys in the Trees,” from Flatiron Press. Simon and Taylor, married from 1972 to 1983, were the most glamorous couple of the Classic Rock era, movie stars among peers like Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Paul Simon and Jackson Browne.
“Boys in the Trees” is hardly salacious, but it is very frank about Simon’s marriage to Taylor. Included are recollections of the infidelity and drugs that led to the break up after eleven years and two children. Simon is very loving toward Taylor but she is also quite candid about what went on behind closed doors. It’s a big part of “Boys in the Trees,” and not one that Taylor will be chatting about on November 24th with President Obama or the other awards recipients.
So brace yourselves– and get ready for a number of Carly Simon TV performances that week as well, on shows like “Stephen Colbert” and “Live with Kelly and Michael.”
