Santa Monica, Calif. ? James Taylor will be honored as the 2006 MusiCares Person of the Year for a career that spans nearly four decades and for his efforts to promote children’s health and the environment.

Taylor will be honored Feb. 6 at the group’s annual dinner, held by The Recording Academy in the week leading up to the Grammys, it was announced Thursday.

“MusiCares and The Recording Academy take great pride in honoring James Taylor as an extraordinary human being, musician and humanitarian who has made a global impact on music and culture,” Neil Portnow, president of the MusiCares Foundation and the academy, said in a statement.

Taylor, 57, has earned 40 gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards for songs ranging from 1970s’ “Sweet Baby James” to the 2002 Grammy-nominated “October Road.”

He has served as a board member of the Natural Resources Defense Council and supported research on issues such as juvenile diabetes.