Livingston Taylor, James Taylor’s brother, plays in Beaver Creek Thursday

As the brother of James Taylor, Livingston Taylor has written some of James’ hit songs. Thursday, he performs at the Vilar Performing Arts Center.

Being from a very musical family, Livingston Taylor began playing guitar at age 13 and recorded his first album at age 19. He credits his oldest brother, Alex Taylor, for inspiring him at first, when Alex earned $20 by performing at a fraternity party. Livingston started playing publicly in 1963 as part of a folk trio that covered The Kingston Trio and Peter, Paul and Mary hits in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In 1970, he became one of the first artists to sign with Capricorn Records.

Within his 50-plus-year music career, he has toured with well-known artists, including Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Fleetwood Mac, Jimmy Buffet and Jethro Tull.

His introspective original songs and rousing interpretations of classics have garnered a strong reputation for him both nationally and internationally. In live shows, he further connects with audiences through his personal stories and the warmth he exudes on stage.

“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 a favorite from a Broadway musical,” according to his bio.

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He taught stage performance at Berklee College of Music for over 30 years, helping the likes of John Mayer, Susan Tedesci, Grace Kelly and many more hone their skills. He now teaches the course, which he created, at various colleges and institutions — not just in music schools, but also places like NASA’s Goddard Space Center and Tulane Law School. His book, “Stage Performance,” has become the go-to resource to elevate presentation and performance.

His sense of humor, wit and musical mastery comes through in the award-winning documentary “Livingston Taylor — Life Is Good,” released in 2018 at international film festivals.

“Liv represents a unique type of modern guide as to how one’s life could be a very good life by being inquisitive, smart and grabbing life by its collar and never letting go,” the film states. “Indeed, there is no one like Liv. Livingston Taylor is not just ‘James’ brother’ or not just a ‘singer/songwriter,’ but a completely unique American icon.”

The Vilar’s artistic director Owen Hutchinson described Taylor as a “master songwriter and storyteller who is known for making a true connection with his audiences.”

“Beyond his abilities as a vocalist, showcased in his recent recordings with the BBC Concert Orchestra, Taylor’s performances weave together beautiful vocal melodies, humorous storytelling, impressive fingerstyle guitar arrangements, and he’ll even sit down at VPAC’s Steinway grand piano for a few selections,” Hutchinson said. “In many ways, his sound is cut from the same cloth as his brother James, but his message and signature performance style are all his own.”