CBC fundraiser features Livingston Taylor

Popular singer/songwriter Livingston Taylor will appear at a Sunday, July 9 fundraising event for Narragansett’s Congregation Beth David at Aqua Blue in Narragansett.  The event begins at 6 p.m., with Taylor’s performance at about 7:30 p.m., and is open to the public.

Taylor first picked up a guitar when he was 13, going on to enjoy a career as a performer, songwriter and teacher that has spanned more than five decades.

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,” 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.

He is a natural performer, peppering his shows with personal stories, anecdotes and 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.

Taylor is a professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he has taught a stage performance course since 1989. The course is consistently voted the most popular at the college. His book, “Stage Performance,” published in 2011, offers those lessons to anyone who is interested in elevating their presentation standards.

Jan. 18 of this year was declared “Livingston Taylor Day” by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker in celebration of Taylor’s 50th year of making music.

The fundraiser includes Taylor’s performance, dinner and live and silent auctions. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased by sending a check, with contact information, to Congregation Beth David, P.O. Box 3299, Narragansett, RI 02882. Sponsorship opportunities are also available, and include an invitation to a private, pre-concert reception with Taylor. For information call 401-789-3437. If you get a voicemail, leave a message and a Temple officer will get back to you shortly.

FRANK PROSNITZ is a member of Congregation Beth David in Narragansett.