10 Recent Facts For Linda Ronstadt Fans

If one were to make a list of the most influential female rockers in history, leaving out Linda Ronstadt would be an unforgivable sin. Ronstadt’s pure vocal power was a thing of beauty, from soaring belts to mellow croons that captivated the audience without discrimination. Her massive talent singlehandedly launched her career, but Ronstadt was also responsible for kickstarting the Eagles. Here are some fast facts from the Queen of Rock.

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Starting Off

Ronstadt moves to Los Angeles to start her journey, forming the Stone Poneys with Bob Kimmel and Kenny Edwards in 1964 and signed up to Capitol Records. They proceeded to make three albums under the label before going solo in 1969.

Grabbing Grammys

In 1976, Ronstadt won a Grammy for the Best Country Vocal Performance by a Female for “I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still In Love With You).” In the following year, she won the Grammy award for the Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Female for the song “Hasten Down the Wind.”

Who needs English?

In 1987, Ronstadt shows her versatility with the release of her mariachi album, Canciones de Mi Padre, the bestselling non-English album in US history at the time.

String of Successes

Ronstadt is the first female artist in history to have four consecutive albums to go platinum in the RIAA. She also has been nominated for 26 Grammys, won ten of these, and was awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Apart from that, she has been nominated for one Tony Award and one Emmy award, where she won the said Emmy.

Lineage of Greatness

Ronstadt’s grandfather, Lloyd Groff Copeman, was an American inventor that had a hundred patents under his name – this included the first electric stove.

Versatile Artist

Linda Ronstadt didn’t settle for a single genre. She did rock, folk, country, opera, jazz, and even mariachi, making her one of the most flexible artists of her generation, and in history, for that matter.

Kickstarted the Eagles

Ronstadt recruited local musicians Glenn Frey and Don Henley to become part of her backing band. Frey later came forward to Ronstadt and shared his intention to start a band, suggesting Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner to join their lineup.

Tripartite Country Legends

Ronstadt won a Grammy award along with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris for the Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for the song, “After The Gold Rush”.

Graceful Exit

In 2011, Ronstadt announced her retirement. She later revealed that she had Parkinson’s disease and that her ability to sing has been affected by the disease.

Unlikely Admiration

By 2014, Ronstadt was awarded by President Barack Obama with the National Medal of Arts and Humanities. During the awarding ceremony, President Obama told Ronstadt that he had a schoolboy crush on her.