James Taylor’s songs to inspire new musical, ‘Fire and Rain’
James Taylor is set to adapt his most famous songs to create a new musical, Fire and Rain, the title of which is taken from the singer’s 1970 hit.
The story of the musical will be written by Tracy Letts and then directed by David Cromer, but little else is known about the production at this stage.
A timeline for bringing the new show to life has also not yet been revealed, but presumably, Taylor will be heavily involved in committing some of his biggest hits, such as ‘You’ve Got a Friend,’ ‘How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You),’ and ‘Carolina in My Mind’ to the jukebox musical.
The guitarist himself has not commented on the news publicly.
The show’s writer, Letts, has helmed various other high-profile theatrical projects and has also won a Tony Award while previously starring in big-screen films, including Greta Gerwig’s seminal coming-of-age 2017 movie Lady Bird.
For the part of director Cromer, his credits include the current Broadway run of the play Good Night and Good Luck, in which Hollywood heavyweight George Clooney is starring.
As a renowned folk-rock star, Taylor has been a staple of the genre for the past half a century, ever since the breakthrough success of the song to which his new musical lends its name. Having been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, he has continued to garner critical acclaim, scoring his first number one album with the release of Before This World in 2015.
This upcoming musical marks Taylor’s first project since his most recent album, American Standard, came out five years ago in February 2020.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.