“I have always thought of myself as a painter derailed by circumstance.”
– Joni Mitchel in an interview with Deirdre Kelly, June 2000
Well, that would be some derailing. I mean, I wonder what her painting career would have looked like, if that was her first and best love, and the music was secondary.
“When the dust settles, Joni Mitchell may stand as the most important
and influential female recording artist of the late 20th century.”
– All Music Biography
Birth name – Roberta Joan Anderson
Birthplace – Fort Macleod, Alberta
Grammy Awards – 16 nominations and 9, you know, awards
Genres – folk, pop, rock and roll, jazz, non-western beat, classical, R&B
Hits – just a selection
I had never heard of Joni Mitchell until a young minister named Ron Atkinson tried to introduce a group of us who worked at the national United Church HQ to the idea that there was religious music outside the bounds of hymnody. He played Both Sides Now. I was moved to tears. So were several others. It was an eye-opening, ear-opening, mind-opening moment.
Jim T
Jim – Lovely story. Thanks.