I've never met him,” says James W. Taylor '66 of that other James Taylor, the “Sweet Baby James” troubadour. “But I have a guitar signed by him. And at the New Orleans Heritage & Jazz Festival this spring, I stayed in the same hotel and got a love letter from one of his fans,” he relates with a laugh.
Union music students may soon be sending love letters to James W. (Jim) Taylor and his brother, John Taylor '74, for the $1.5 million they have given the College as the lead gift to renovate North Colonnade into a premier music facility. The total renovation is a $4 million project.
“Our father (the late Willard H. Taylor '42) played sousaphone and tuba in the school band,” Jim recalls. “His experience and his music made this gift appropriate.”
“We're both interested in supporting music and the arts at Union and feel that's a fitting place for our gift,” says John, who majored in computer science and also studied psychology. His son Bryan is a member of the Class of 2008.
Jim Taylor, who is Union's newest Trustee (please see story, page 8), majored in psychology and followed an unusual “encore” path to graduation. “I went to Union twice,” he says, explaining that he left in his senior year, joined the U.S. Army for three years and then returned to finish.
The brothers own the Taylor Made Group in Gloversville, N.Y. Jim is the company's chairman and CEO, and John is vice president of administration, involved in corporate management and personnel administration. With factories in the United States, Ireland, Britain, New Zealand and Australia, the firm is a leader in the boating industry, manufacturing windshields and supplying after-market products.
The Taylor brothers are leaders in philanthropy as well, donating time and financial support through the Taylor Family Foundation.
Jim was one of the founders of the Saratoga Automobile Museum, and he is involved in a wide range of community arts, youth and health-related groups. John is vice president of the board of directors of the Glove Theater in Gloversville and a member of the board of directors of the Fulton Montgomery College Foundation. He also has been active with the local chamber of commerce, the YMCA and Cooperative Extension.
The two men say the importance of community involvement is a family signature, something handed down from their parents and grandparents.
“We learned it early on,” says Jim. “We just give back.” Giving to Union is a natural for the Taylors, who praise the College for creating and maintaining a living and learning environment that fosters creative, scientific and intellectual stimulation.
As for Jim's music education, he is more likely to play calliope than the acoustic guitar that other James Taylor favors.
“The calliope was our dad's,” he says of the huge vintage instrument often seen and heard on campus during the elder Taylor's time. “They would play it in alumni parades. My ReUnion is next year; maybe I'll bring it with me.”
MAKING MUSIC
The new North Colonnade music facility, located in the campus' historic Ramée section, will include a lecture/rehearsal/recital hall (added behind the Colonnade), classrooms, a music technology studio, an electronic piano room, faculty offices, an advanced music students' work station, practice rooms, a music library and instrument storage lockers.