James Taylor tour charts spring dates for U.S.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter James Taylor has started outlining his 2009 tour itinerary with a round of spring dates. The 15-city trek begins April 23 at Bass Concert Hall in Austin, TX, and ends May 16 at Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX.

Taylor’s upcoming tour will feature stops on April 27 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, FL, on May 10 at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis, MO, and on May 13 at Andrew Jackson Hall in Nashville, TN. Tickets for select dates of the month-long tour are already available.

The concert circuit also includes a few special event appearances, including an April 25 performance for the 40 anniversary of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans, LA. Taylor will also perform an April 30 set at the AEG Live-produced musical festival, SunFest, which will take place on the waterfront in West Palm Beach, FL.

Taylor was last on the road for an extensive summer 2008 tour of the U.S. and Canada. But most recently, Sweet Baby James took to the stage for a series of five pre-election benefit concerts for President Barack Obama in North Carolina.

Since his 1968 eponymous debut, Taylor has become an iconic folk singer-songwriter, driven by the ongoing popularity of hits such as “Fire and Rain,” “You’ve Got A Friend,” and “Carolina On My Mind.” His most recent release was his first covers album, appropriately titled “Covers,” which was released in September 2008.

James Taylor itinerary:
(Dates are subject to change.)