Ep 1. Troubadours: James Taylor, Carole King and the California Scene

In season 24, episode 1 of American Masters, Troubadours: James Taylor, Carole King and the California Scene, viewers are taken back to the musical scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s in Southern California. Focusing on the rise of James Taylor and Carole King, the episode showcases how they and their contemporaries shaped the California sound and helped pave the way for the singer-songwriter genre.

Through interviews with Taylor and King themselves, as well as other notable musicians from the time period such as Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt, viewers gain insight into the creative process behind some of the most well-known and iconic songs of the era. We hear stories of how Taylor's struggles with addiction and depression inspired songs like "Fire and Rain," and how King's experiences as a young woman in the music industry led to her writing hits like "Natural Woman" for Aretha Franklin and "You've Got A Friend" for Taylor.

The episode also delves into the social and political climate of the time, highlighting the anti-war and countercultural movements that were brewing in California. King touches on how the music scene provided a platform for people to come together and express their feelings about the world around them, and how creating deeply personal and honest music was a way for her and others to connect with their audience on a meaningful level.

The Troubadour, a small nightclub in Los Angeles, plays a central role in the episode as a venue where many of the rising stars of the California scene honed their craft and performed together. The Troubadour's owner, Doug Weston, provides insight into the environment of the club and how it fostered a community of musicians who supported and inspired each other.

Overall, Troubadours: James Taylor, Carole King and the California Scene paints a rich and vivid portrait of a musical era and the artists who helped shape it. It highlights the power of music to bring people together, challenge the status quo, and inspire change, themes that still resonate today.