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”, “Heat Wave” and “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” – and I’ve got her story as told in an incredible documentary about her life!
My wife bought me a turntable for my old vinyl albums, which includes a number of Linda’s great 70’s albums – always worth a listen – here’s just one song to warm you up – a live performance of “Blue Bayou” from 1977:
Celebrating The Music Of Linda Ronstadt!
I you want a real treat, ask your music device to play Linda, and you will be wildly entertained for hours!
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 an incredible documentary about her so riveting – and what makes it even more rewarding is to discover that Linda is a really great person as well.
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 had the hit song “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” – 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, Classic Rock, documentary films, Great Films, Hollywood, Music, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities
johnrieber 
HI John, You’re no good is a great song. She was a very pretty and talented woman, it’s a shame she had to stop singing. Life can be cruel.
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A lovely lady, with a wonderful voice. Such a shame her medical condition put a stop to her singing.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yes, Pete…hope you are having a great weekend!
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Thank you for this post, John. I had to go through my stack of albums to find my beloved Linda Ronstadt album, ‘Heart Like a Wheel’. I have played that a million times. What a voice! And what a career. It’s very sad that she has Parkinson’s. A life and beautiful voice cut short. I will be watching the documentary.
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I always thought she had an incredible voice and I’d love to see this doc
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She is indeed a treasure. And the documentary is very good.
And congratulations are in order to your wife because of the Daytime Emmy nominated talk show. that she produces.
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Thank you so much! They work so hard and it’s so nice they got the attention they did!
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She has the voice of an angel….in the 70s at the New Orleans Jazz fest she was performing and I ran into her at one of the eateries and since I was intoxicated I asked her to marry me….she declined….and I have had a crush every since. chuq
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HA! What if she had said “yes?” Thanks for sharing that!
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I would have died a happy person…LOL Be well chuq
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Linda Ronstadt is one of my all-time favourites. Thanks for sharing these great videos.
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Darlene, my wife bought me a record player and I am listening to one of the many albums of hers I have, including the trip of Nelson Riddle albums she did – full orchestra and amazing! Thanks for commenting, I bought ALL of your Amanda books for a birthday present coming up for a 7 year old girl, who needs to see empowered young women in literature!
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I wish I had saved my records as I had a number of her albums. A record player was a great gift. Thanks for buying the set of Amanda books. I do hope the recipient enjoys them. She is a lucky girl to get books as a gift!
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