His smooth, enticing tunes have made James Taylor a point of reference for countless singer/songwriters. His heartfelt ballads set the tone for laidback strummers like James Blunt, Jason Mraz, and Kenny Rankin; the subtle twists in his lyrics have sparked storytelling troubadours like Mark Kozelek and Iron & Wine; his golden hooks have informed pop-savvy crooners like Ron Sexsmith and Ed Sheeran.