More about Linda Ronstadt

Born July 1947 in Tucson Arizona, Linda Ronstadt's childhood was obviously filled with music. Leaving home after high school she moved to LA and started playing with a small music combo called The Stone Poneys. Achieving some success on the LA folk music circuit, they managed to deliver one chart hit - Different Drum - a song synonymous with the anti-war movement of the time.

Shortly after this in 1968 the Stone Poneys split and Linda began her solo career, which for the first few years was slow. It was during the 70s that her career spiralled when she joined with Peter Asher who produced several multi platinum selling albums for her - making Linda the first real female rock superstar and earning her the title of top selling artist of the decade. These albums, although pretty formulaic with their country rock/pop sound, contain classic renditions of classic songs and along with The Beach Boys and The Eagles became the sound of California in the 70s.

Bored with her sound and obviously financially stable Linda started the 80s with diversification on her mind! During this period she gave us with Mad Love - an album of new-wave, heavier sounding rock songs before moving onto delivering three albums with Nelson Riddle reproducing the big-band, lushy orchestrated sounds of the 40s and 50s. Next on her list came the highly anticipated, critically acclaimed Trio album with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris, before moving onto Mexican song of her family heritage. The decade ended on Cry Like A Rainstorm, a multi million selling Grammy winning album of classic pop songs. Also, during this period we saw Linda in The Pirates of Penzance on Broadway and on film, together with a few appearances as Mimi in La Boheme, along with countless record appearances with artists such as Philip Glass, Kermit the Frog and Randy Newman.

Its was during this time that Linda started to slow her career down. Diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease in her teens, a condition which affects the thyroid causing weight gain and memory problems, kicked in as she approached her mid-40s. Additionally Linda adopted two children and within five years, after two more Mexican/Latin albums, the fantastic Winter Light and Feels Like Home (a return to her rock/pop/folk roots) she released an album of lullabies, winning another Grammy. The 90s ended with another Trio album, a duet album with Emmylou Harris and a collection of her favourite Christmas songs.

Since the new millennium she's been quieter on the recording side - releasing several greatest hits/compilations, most notably her box set featuring a disc of rareties. However she courted controvesry in 2004 with her support of Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 and dedicating Get Outta Town from her newly released jazz album for Verve to George Bush.

 

Want more than my small effort.....read this new book on her life!