This is a beautiful story of a talented small-town Canadian girl who was a born painter, poet, singer, and restless soul. A teen mom who gave up her infant for adoption, she carried the pain of that choice for years to come. She married for a brief time to Chuck Mitchell, who she partnered with in early performances, although his controlling ways did not agree with free-spirited Joni. Her creative spirit was unstoppable. She wrote songs that reflected the struggles of a young woman searching for love, but needing independence.
Joni would soon become the golden girl of the blossoming Laurel Canyon folk rock music scene of the late 1960s. She was revered by her male peers, such as David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, James Taylor, Bob Dylan. Not only was she gorgeous, but her talent as a singer/songwriter was admired by all. While Woodstock was happening in 1969, she was back in New York writing the infamous song, Woodstock, that she performed the day after the concert on The Dick Cavett Show. Crosby, Stills, and Nash also turned up on the stage with her for the historical interview.
Joni and Graham Nash were in love, but she turned down his marriage proposal, determined to follow her muse and took off for Greece, where she sent him this note. with a note...
"If you hold sand too tightly in your hand it will run through your fingers."
She speaks of her "chords of inquiry" and describes how she rotates her art process between writing, recording, painting to balance her creative needs. She never set out to make popular music so she is able to brush off any criticism she receives for some of her more experimental projects. During the 1980s her themes have shifted from struggles with love to social commentary. She eventually reconnected with her daughter, Kilauren, and now enjoys knowing her grandchildren.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment