Mitchell, Joni (1943–)

Canadian singer and songwriter. Born Roberta Joan Anderson, Nov 1, 1943, in Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada; m. Chuck Mitchell (musician), 1965 (div. 1967); m. Larry Klein (musician), 1982 (div. 1992); children: (with Brad MacMath) daughter, Kilauren Gibb (b. 1965).

One of the most distinctive and influential figures in 20th-century popular music, suffered from polio at age 9; began performing at Depression Club in Calgary (1963); moved to Toronto, then to Detroit to perform as a folksinger; moved to NY and played at Café Au Go-Go (1967); toured England as the opening act for Incredible String Band (1967); wrote songs recorded by Tom Rush, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and Judy Collins ("Both Sides Now," 1968); recorded 1st album Joni Mitchell also known as Song for a Seagull (1968); released 2nd album, Clouds, featuring her version of "Both Sides Now" and "Chelsea Morning" (1968), which won the Grammy Award for Best Folk Performance; toured almost continually, playing at festivals and opening for Crosby, Stills and Nash; wrote generational anthem "Woodstock," recorded by Crosby, Stills and Nash (1970); released album Ladies of the Canyon (1970), enjoying 1st gold album and international success; released most acclaimed album, Blue (1971), followed by For the Roses (1972) which featured her 1st hit single ("You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio"); released Court and Spark (1974), an even bigger commercial success which included her 1st and, to date, only Top-10 single ("Help Me"); joined up with Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Review and appeared at the Band's farewell concert in San Francisco (1976) and in the documentary about the concert, The Last Waltz; released album Hejira (1976), her 7th consecutive gold album; released Night Ride Home (1991), followed by Turbulent Indigo (1994), which won Grammy Awards; over course of more than 30 years, recorded more than 20 albums; pushed boundaries of folk-rock genre; credited with creating confessional singer-songwriter genre; experimented with jazz, working with artists including Charles Mingus and Wayne Shorter; also painted and exhibited, creating art for all her albums (1980s–90s). Won Grammys (1974 and 1994); received Billboard's Century Award (1995); inducted into Canada's Juno Hall of Fame (1981); inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters' Hall of Fame (both 1997).

See also Women in World History.