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Linda Ronstadt

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Linda Ronstadt was born in 1946 in Tucson, Arizona, into a family of Mexican and German descent in which a great deal of music was made. She grew up with Mexican songs, rock 'n' roll, rhythm and blues, gospel and country, all styles that she would later record. In 1964 she moved to Los Angeles, where she formed the folk-rock group The Stone Poneys with Bobby Kimmel and Kenny Edwards. As a solo artist she released Hand Sown… Home Grown in 1969, which has been described as the first alternative country record by a female artist. Her backing band on Linda Ronstadt from 1971 consisted of musicians who would later form the Eagles.

Music and breakthrough

The breakthrough came with Heart Like a Wheel in 1974, followed by Simple Dreams in 1977 and Living in the USA in 1978. With these she became the first female rock star to fill arenas and the most popular female singer of the 1970s. Her only number one on the Billboard Hot 100 was You're No Good. In the 1980s she appeared on Broadway in The Pirates of Penzance, receiving a Tony nomination for it, recorded traditional pop standards with the conductor Nelson Riddle and made an album of Mexican songs, Canciones de Mi Padre. She also sang duets with James Ingram and Aaron Neville.

Influence

Ronstadt gave songs by other writers a new life and managed to perform them with a powerful, clear voice, in many genres. She won eleven Grammys. After 2000 she noticed her voice deteriorating, and in 2011 she stopped singing.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to You're No Good and notice how her powerful voice rises above the band without straining. Can you hear how she brings a country song and a rock song together?

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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See also

Categories: Artists