Biography of Joan Baez

Madonna folk

January 9, 1941 who was born on January 9, 1941 in Staten Island, New York, Joan Baez is the second of three daughters of Albert Baez, a doctor of physics, and Joan Bridge, a Scottish woman daughter of Episcopal Church Minister and Professor of dramaturgy immigrated to the United States. The professional activity of his father as a scientist, researcher and Unesco consultant took the family there are many trips throughout the American continent Baez, insomuch that the Joan and his brothers spent the first part of their time in the small town of Clarence Center, near New York, and then, after various vicissitudes, in Redlands, California. From an early age his social conscience based on pacifism and non-violence and his love for music are quite strong. Baptism occurs at a musical event for high school students, where Joan was able to make his debut playing ukuleles "Honey Love". After this experience he made one in the school choir where he learned to be accompanied with guitar. Around the middle of the ' 50 he settled with his family to California, where he meets, in 1957, Ira Sandpearl, who first speaks precisely of pacifism and non-violence. The following year, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Baez also starts here to sing in small coffee house. In ' 58, to follow a work undertaken by his father, Joan and her family trasfericono in Boston, where she studied Theater at Boston University for a short time. The clubs who at the University began playing and singing in cafes in Boston, in college and then in concert halls along the East Coast in front, winning increasingly large crowds thanks to its unique mix of traditional American folk music and lyrics by strongly social-oriented content and engaged. In 1959 took part in the first edition of the Newport Folk Festival and its exciting performance won a contract with relatively small folk label Vanguard. After a short stint in the recording studio so his first album "Joan Baez", came out in ' 60. This disc as well as the following, is a collection of traditional songs of various States, stating in Baez the national flag for excellence. Attendance at Gerde's Folk City gives you the opportunity to meet Bob Dylan, with which it is United by a deep faith in music. The two will also have a chat and discuss love story. In the years immediately following Joan holds concerts, participates in anti-bomb against the war in Viet Nam and, in 1965, he founded the "Institute for the study of Non-violence". The polemical attitude of the singer against the the door even to avoid paying taxes, openly declaring to not contribute to the costs of war, a "social causes" that will cost you more than a few grains, including imprisonment. Joan quickly becomes a symbol of the protest against all the injustices continue to reap success not only in America but also in Europe. Strong of its unshakeable convictions, towards the end of ' 66 is stopped for a few days while picketing at the recruiting center in Oakland, but that doesn't stop his protest, so much so that they begin to circulate accusations of anti-Americanism against him. After all these experiences, could not miss the most awaited by the whole culture of America, paramount concert-River of Woodstock, that this is a regular in 1969, without forgetting the year after the tribute to one of its artists, the minstrel Woody Guthrie. Afterwards, there was also a small Italian episode when, on 24 July ' 70, Baez performs at the Arena di Milano getting widespread acclaim of the young audience. Meanwhile had split from Dylan (who incidentally was also dismissed by the ideals of protest that United them until then), and had married David Harris. The latter, who was also reluctant activist recruitment, he was forced to spend much time in prison of three years of marriage, so that their relationship soon went into crisis (although it will give them a child). And her husband David is dedicated the album "David's Album", while "Any Day Now" is an explicit homage to the now "former" Bob Dylan. In December 1972 he heads in Viet Nam, Hanoi, while the city is subject to continuous shelling by American forces (better known as the "Christmas bombing"); After two weeks he manages to leave the country and returned to America, she released an album entirely inspired by his experiences in Viet Nam entitled "Where are you now my son?", which also includes the song "Saigon Bride". In 1979 he founded the "International Civil Rights Committee" which will head for thirteen years; the first protest action was the "open letter to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam", in which it was accused of civil rights violations by the authorities of the country. A little neglected by media and newspapers, the icon Joan Baez seems increasingly forgotten by the public, although its activity is maintained at levels not contemptible, also in terms of its essential commitment. In 1987 he published his book "my life and a voice to sing", autobiographical work which marks the debut of the singer-songwriter as a writer, while in 1991, in a concert for the Civil Rights Committee, sings along with the Indigo Girls and Mary Chapin Carpenter in Berkeley, California. Recent news it is important to highlight that in 1995 she received the San Francisco Bay Area Music Award (BAMMY) for best female vocalist of the year.
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