JT's website has a radio button to "Buy Tickets" but the tickets are free. I too wonder if he is being paid.
My perception of JT is that he is a very principled man, even more so as he has aged. I doubt he knows too much of the troubled doctrines and history of the church. If he did, maybe he would not perform.
The MoTab is a famous entity and perhaps he even has a few LDS friends that have asked him to do it for years and years. It would be interesting to hear the background.
In fact, when he performs he usually holds a conversation with the audience throughout the evening. I bet he describes how the show came to be in detail.
Damn right they're paying him nicely. No doubt. Poor guy has to suffer through singing with the mormon choir, but I'm thinking he'll like the symphony. The question is did they pay him extra NOT to sing certain songs or say certain words.
Sleeping through one of his concerts? Ya, he's a musician, not an entertainer. If you want costumes and jumping around, try Wayne Newton or Mick Jagger, etc. If you like a musician who sings with with insane pitch, you're in luck. But the poor bastard has to sing with a flock of hobbyists. Why should he give a rat's ass who is putting on the show. He's a musician.
I think this one is actually worse. Sutton is a Broadway icon and literally depends on her gay fans to support her in her endeavors. I wonder if she knows how anti-gay BYU is?
I've seen him twice. He was more entertaining the second time. But I will say that I found his brother, Livingston, a lot more fun to watch live. It was in a small venue-- The Birchmere-- in Alexandria, Virginia. Liv was very personable and approachable. He took requests, played piano and guitar, and was just really cool.
I love James Taylor and have enjoyed his concerts-- even though the last one featured drunk middle aged women standing in front of us who practically had orgasms every time he opened his mouth. But I think his brother's show is more bang for the buck...
The most boring concert I've ever been to was Eric Clapton's, though Clapton did have the good sense to have Robert Randolph and the Family Band open for him. They blew Clapton's doors off, though. He was a pretty pale follow up to their show.
James Taylor is great! I play guitar weekly with my small band and several songs in our repertoire include JT. My brother liked his stuff as a kid and he's now with the MoTab. I bet he's ecstatic.
I might go, if the MoTab weren't singing. I hate the sound of them--too muddy--too many voices--older voices--everything drags--depressing--they dress ugly. My estimation of JT as a musician just hit rock-bottom.
The MORmON tabernacle choir sounds pretty good ......until a person listens to a REAL choir with real talent and ability, then suddenly Mo Tab does not sound so good.
The MoTab is just a PR tool for the church, and really, also for any of the artists they invite to sing with them. Audra McDonald has also performed with the MoTab, and she is a vocal and passionate supporter of marriage equality for LGBT people. I wouldn't draw any conclusions about any connections in ideology between invited artists and the MoTab, just that they are both seeking a wider audience.