Celebrating The Music Of Linda Ronstadt!
She was one of the most popular singers of the 70’s, with massive hits like “Hurt So Bad”, “When Will I Be Loved” and “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” – and this “Cult Movie Monday” celebrates her career with a terrific documentary about her life and music!
Celebrating The music Of Linda Ronstadt!
Linda Maria Ronstadt was born in Tucson, Arizona, the third of four children, and was raised on her family’s 10-acre ranch.
Linda’s father came from a pioneering Arizona ranching family of German, English, and Mexican ancestry.
The story of how a young woman goes from an Arizona reach to the top of the music charts is what makes this documentary so riveting – and what makes it even more rewarding is to discover that Linda is a really great person.
Linda Ronstadt: “The Sound Of My Voice”
This great 2019 documentary tells her story through her own words, as she narrates the story of her incredible journey through music.
Here is the trailer:
Ronstadt won ten Grammy Awards – and was nominated 26 times – among the many awards she has received throughout her career.
“Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice” is a great love letter of a documentary to the singer. It tells her story from the beginning, when she was a singer with the group Stone Poneys – who they had the hit “Different Drum”, with Linda’s distinctive voice. And you know who wrote this song? Michael Nesmith of The Monkees!
Soon after, Linda Ronstadt went solo, and she released several albums that failed to make an impression. However, that all changed in 1974 when she hit at the top of the charts thanks to “You’re No Good”, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
It led to a string of best-selling albums like these:
The documentary is directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, who make the case that Ronstadt is an underrated singer and star, and not enough credit is given to her role as an empowered woman in the music industry at that time.
Ronstadt herself says this in one of the film’s vintage interview clips:
“The rock and roll culture seems to be dominated by hostility against women.”
Ronstadt was friends with some of the best Musicians of the 70’s music scene in Southern California…more in a moment.
First, here is an incredible, SIX MINUTE live version of “You’re No Good” from 1980 – with a terrific 2+ minute instrumental in the beginning and Linda playing what looks like a Cowbell! Enjoy!
Ronstadt was the Madonna of the 70’s, but she didn’t pander to her audience. In fact, even though all of her albums were massive hits, she chose at the time to do an album of Mexican traditional Mariachi music to honor her heritage. The Record Executives begged her not to do it, but when it was released it was also a massive hit!
The Singer went on to record a collection of “standards” with The Nelson Riddle Orchestra, and guess what? It was also a huge success!
She did an album of duets with other Performers she loved as well:
She also made the album “Trio” with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris, which sold over 4 million copies worldwide.
In her career, Ronstadt released 24 studio albums and 15 “compilation” or “greatest hits” albums. She charted 38 US Billboard Hot 100 singles.
Ronstadt’s duet with Aaron Neville, “Don’t Know Much”, peaked at number 2 in December 1989.
The Singer announced her retirement in 2011 and revealed shortly afterwards that she suffered from the degenerative condition later determined to be progressive “supranuclear palsy.”
Such sad news, as the disease made it impossible to sing…she has been candid about her medical issues as well.
She published her autobiography, “Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir” in 2013.
Ronstadt received a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
Oh, and about those friends of hers:
Linda’s “Peaceful Easy Feeling” With The Eagles!
This photo shows Linda with her then-boyfriend, California’s Governor Jerry Brown. You can also see Jackson Browne here, and The Eagles as well – you see, before they formed, they were Linda’s backup band!
She writes about meeting the boys, and how she encouraged them to go off and make their own music…read the story she tells about the early days of The Eagles by clicking on my story here:
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Categories: 70's Music, Art, Awards, Books / Media, Classic Rock, Cult Movies, documentary films, Great Films, Hollywood, Memoirs, Music, Obscure Music, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities
johnrieber 
My Linda Ronstadt albums are well worn. Her voice was one of the greats. This documentary will be terrific!
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It really is!
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I forgot all about the documentary–we’re watching it tonight! Jim and I love Linda. I grew up with her voice in the background of my radio.
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In researching the story, I remembered just how popular she was…and such a gift….thanks for reading!
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I always thought she had one of the most powerful female voices out there, and was often underrated. I’d love to watch the doc
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t’s a love letter to her and filled with great music too! Thanks for commenting!
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I loved her and had all her albums. A great post!
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Thank you for reading…she was an Iconic talent and the documentary helps remind people of that!
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She was phenomenal!
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One of my all time favorites and a great documentary. I fell for her singing with Different Drum, her and the Stone Poneys. I only got to work her once. I wasn’t disappointed. She was as good live s she is on recordings. And she is s sweet as I thought she would be. She got to the theater very early and spent almost an hour doing exercises on the stage.
Guess I will tell Alexa to play my Linda songs.
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Thanks for sharing that anecdote! Isn’t it great when people you admire are admirable when the cameras aren’t on? I’ve worked with a few of the best, and have been around one or two of the worst as well! Great as always to hear from you and get your insight!
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She was very much of her time, and also popular in Britain. I never did own any of her records though, as I always thought of her as a Country singer. Nice tribute, John.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Ah, yes, I know Your No Good, John. She had a great voice.
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She did, Robbie…here in the US, she was the Madonna of the 70’s!
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