Joan Baez
Joan Baez is an American folk singer, guitarist, and activist who became one of the central figures of the 1960s American folk revival. Known for her crystalline soprano and her interpretations of traditional ballads, she used her early fame to champion the then-unknown Bob Dylan and to advance the civil-rights and antiwar movements.
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- Born January 9, 1941, in Staten Island, New York.
- Broke through at the inaugural 1959 Newport Folk Festival, leading directly to her contract with Vanguard Records.
- Released her self-titled debut Joan Baez (1960, Vanguard), built largely on traditional ballads.
- Was among the first major artists to record and popularize Bob Dylan's early songs.
- Sang at the 1963 March on Washington and took an active role in the civil-rights movement.
- Released David's Album (1969, Vanguard), a country-leaning record made in Nashville.
- Received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
- Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.
