Whalen pays tribute to iconic musician

June 2012 By Carley Dangona PRIME Editor Peter Whalen plays in his James Taylor Tribute Band, Fire & Rain, out of sheer love for Taylor's music; and after doing so for the past 40 years he will finally perform in Taylor's backyard in the Berkshires. "I have never met James Taylor," Whalen said. "I would love to meet him. Hopefully I will get the chance this summer." "I'm actually unavailable to attend his [Taylor's] concert. My schedule of performances and promotion is very busy so I won't have time," he explained. "I'm excited about the upcoming shows," Whalen added. "For me it's like an Elvis impersonator going to Graceland or a Sinatra fan going to Hoboken." Most would not even consider forming a tribute band to honor their favorite musician, but for Whalen creating one was a natural transition. "I started playing guitar around the age of 7," Whalen recalled. "From an early age I was performing his songs. During my early teens, I spent a five-year period just learning his music. I focused on his music because I like the combination of the simple melodic beauty coupled with the complicated technical arrangement. "The arrangement of his music has made me a better guitarist because there is lots of finger picking and chord changes," he continued. Surprisingly, Whalen does have a day job away from the music world. "I don't do this for the money," Whalen said. "I have a day job in sales. I play two, three or sometimes four times a month." Taylor has long been a staple at Tanglewood. Since 1974, Taylor has been part of the venue's summer lineup. Taylor returns to Tanglewood again this year making a guest appearance in the 75th anniversary gala and performing three evening concerts, July 2 to 4. This summer, Whalen looks forward to sharing his performance with fellow Taylor fans. He hopes to return to the Berkshires for years to come. For more information on Whalen and his tribute band, visit www.jamestaylortributeband.com.