Sweet Baby James & Queen Mary 2

Most Baby Boomers recognize him as “Sweet Baby James,” the legendary singer/songwriter James Taylor. Who knew that a transatlantic crossing aboard Queen Mary 2 would fulfill his lifelong dream and that his favorite place to be is in the middle of the North Atlantic? While aboard Queen Mary 2’s June 19 eastbound Transatlantic Crossing, he performed two Cunard Command Performances to standing-room-only audiences in the ship’s 1150-seat Royal Court Theatre. Taylor said,“It is such a civilized way to go, and Queen Mary 2 is the last word in first class travel.”

Before the evening concerts, where he received standing ovations, guests got an intimate glimpse inside the life of the American music icon during a live Q&A interview with Entertainment Director Ray Rouse. Taylor graciously greeted, signed autographs for and took photographs with hundreds of fans, some wearing special t-shirts in his honor. On the day of his last performance, James Taylor also posed for photographs and signed autographs for more than two hours with hundreds of Queen Mary 2 crew members.

With Taylor on this special voyage were his wife Kim, twin sons Rufus and Henry, his mother Trudy Taylor, and of course his band. After rehearsing during the 6-day voyage from New York, Taylor began a 10-week, 22-concert tour visiting nine European countries.

I've always been a fan and if I had to pick only one, my favorite James Taylor song is Carolina in the Morning. How cool was it to have Taylor as a cruise mate? The following videos courtesy of We Are Cunard tell the story. And one of the best parts? As he says in Part 2, disembarkation with “no jet lag” and ready to hit the road.