BORN:
July 15, 1946, Tucson, AZ |
|
While
Linda was a student at Arizona State University, she met
guitarist Bob Kimmel. The duo moved to Los Angeles, where
guitarist/songwriter Kenny Edwards joined the pair. Calling
themselves the Stone Poneys, the group became a leading
attraction on California's folk circuit, recording their
first album in 1967. The band's second album, Evergreen,
Vol. 2, featured the Top 20 hit "Different Drum,"
which was written by Michael Nesmith.
After
recording one more album with the group, Linda left for
a solo career at the end of 1968.
Linda's
first two solo albums — Hand Sown Home Grown (1969)
and Silk Purse (1970) — accentuated her country
roots, featuring several honky tonk numbers. Her third
album, 'Linda Ronstadt', released in 1971, was
a landmark in her career. Featuring a group of session
musicians that would later form the Eagles, the album
was a softer, more laid back variation of the country-rock
she had been recording. With the inclusion of songs from
singer/songwriters like Jackson Browne, Neil Young, and
Eric Anderson, Linda Ronstadt had folk-rock connections
as well.
'Don't
Cry Now', released in 1973, followed the same formula
to greater success, but it was 1974's Heart Like a
Wheel that perfected the sound, and made Linda a star.
Featuring the hit covers "You're No Good", "When
Will I Be Loved", and "It Doesn't Matter Anymore",
Heart Like a Wheel reached number one and sold over two
million copies.
Released
in the fall of 1975, Prisoner in Disguise followed
the same pattern as Heart Like a Wheel and was nearly
as successful. Hasten Down the Wind, released in
1976, was also successful and charted even higher than
Prisoner in Disguise. Simple Dreams released in
1977, added a more rock-oriented supporting band, which
brought life to "Tumbling Dice" (originally by
the Rolling Stones), and Warren Zevon's "Poor Poor
Pitiful Me". The record became the singer's biggest
hit, staying on the top of the charts for five weeks and
selling over three million copies.
'
Living in the U.S.A.', produced in 1978, marked
the beginning of a new style for Linda who began experimenting
with new wave, she recorded Elvis Costello's "Alison"
and produced another number one album hit. In 1980's Mad
Love, she made a full-fledged new wave record, recording
three Costello songs and adopting a synth-laden sound.
Although the album was a commercial success, it did not
have the same appeal as her earlier albums and 1982's
Get Closer, was her first album since Heart Like
a Wheel to fail to go platinum. Sensing it was time to
change direction, Linda starred in the Broadway production
of Gilbert & Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance, as well as
the accompanying movie.
Pirates
of Penzance led the singer to a collaboration with Nelson
Riddle, who arranged and conducted her 1983 collection
of pop standards, What's New. Though not as popular
with the music critics, it was a considerable hit, reaching
number three on the charts and selling over two million
copies. Linda's next two albums - Lush Life (1984)
and For Sentimental Reasons (1986) were also albums
of pre-rock standards recorded with Riddle.
At
the end of 1986, Linda returned to contemporary pop, recording
"Somewhere Out There," the theme to the animated
'An American Tail', with James Ingram; the single became
a number two hit. She also returned to her country roots
in 1987, recording the Trio album with Dolly Parton and
Emmylou Harris. That same year, Linda recorded Canciones
de mi Padre, a set of traditional Mexican songs that
became a surprise hit. Two years later, she recorded Cry
Like a Rainstorm and Howl Like the Wind - her
first contemporary pop album since 1982's Get Closer.
Featuring four duets with Aaron Neville, including the
number two hit "Don't Know Much," the album again
sold over two million copies.
Linda
returned to traditional Mexican and Spanish material with
Mas Canciones (1991) and Frenesi (1992).
She returned to pop with 1994's Winter Light, but
this time failed to generate a hit single. Neither did
1995's Feels Like Home. In 1996, she released the
children's album Dedicated to the One I Love; We
Ran followed in 1998 .
Having purchased several books and Cd's from Amazon.com,
we've always found their service fast and efficient. We
have no hesitation in recommending them as being both
more economic and more convenient than purchasing products
in a shop. We are delighted to bring you this treasured
opportunity to own some of our favourite songs.