Livingston Taylor is a professional musician and professor at the Berklee College of Music. Raised in North Carolina, he attended high school in Boston and has made a living off of music since his teenage years. He plays the guitar and piano.

Q: How did you get interested in music?

A: I had a bit of a troubled youth and I used music to organize my life. I have been playing clubs since I was about 18. I had a similar sound then as I do now -- a pop music sound.

Q Has your music evolved?

A I have been doing this for 40 years. It's better since I am more skillful.

Q: Since you write gospel, do you consider yourself religious?

A I write gospel and plenty of other genres. I like writing gospel and I like people's spirituality, but I don't view myself as a born-again. I'm not very religious. I have no church affiliation.

Q Hobbies?

A I fly airplanes. I enjoy that. I was so interested to watch Avatar and How to Train your Dragon since they have some flying-type scenes. But actual flying has more freedom than anything else you can imagine.

Q Do you have a family?

A No, no family. I have prized being free, but freedom is expensive. You trade a family and commitment for freedom.