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S17 Ep5

Joni Mitchell: Woman of Heart & Mind

Premiere: 4/2/2003

Although she is clearly a child of the great American popular tradition, there is no more serious artist on the contemporary scene than the composer-poet, Joni Mitchell. Her work, like that of Duke Ellington and Stevie Wonder, transcends the limits imposed by the terms “popular” and “serious.” Furthermore, her music-poetry is a remarkable example of the ever-present potential of ancient unity.

Joni Mitchell’s life and career timeline

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One of folk’s most recognized and accomplished names, Joni Mitchell proved herself to be a master of lyric and melody. A multiple Grammy-award winner and chart topper, Mitchell still remained down to earth even when her career was sky-high. Read more about her life and legacy in the timeline below.

1943

Early life

Roberta Joan Anderson born Nov. 7th, in Fort McLeod, Alberta.

1943
1946

Mitchell's family moves to Maidstone, Alberta and later to North Battleford, Saskatechwan.

1946
1953

Mitchell contracts polio. She is in the hospital for two months.

1953
1955

Mitchell and family move to Saskatoon, Sask. Her English teacher Mr. Kratzman encourages her to write, telling her "If you can paint with a brush, you can paint with words."

1955
1962

Graduates Bowman High School in Saskatoon, Sask. Nineteen-year-old Joni Anderson booked as one-time replacement for a late-night moose-hunting show in Prince Albert.

1962
1963

Art school

Begins classes at the Alberta College of Art in Calgary.

1963
1964

Becomes pregnant by Brad MacMath in Calgary. After settling down in Toronto, Brad soon leaves Mitchell with a drawing of a pregnant woman by a window and a note that reads "The thief left it behind -- the moon at the window."

1964
1965

Difficult sacrifices and budding career

Kelly Dale Anderson is born in Toronto, Ontario. Gives up daughter to foster care. Meets future husband, Chuck Mitchell, while performing at the Penny Farthing. They marry and move to Detroit, becoming the "Golden Couple" of the Detroit folk scene.

1965
1966

Chuck and Joni Mitchell make their first performance in New York City at the Gaslight Cafe. Mitchell opens for Tom Rush at the Town Hall in Boston, MA.

1966
1967

Starts booking own shows, travels by herself. Writes "Both Sides Now." Meets future manager Elliot Roberts in New York. Signs with Reprise Records. Leaves Chuck, drives to New York City and settles in Chelsea. Performing in Coconut Grove, FL, meets David Crosby.

1967
1968

Records first album, "Song to a Seagull" with David Crosby producing. Writes "Ladies Of The Canyon." Moves to Lookout Mt. Avenue in Laurel Canyon. Is introduced to Graham Nash.

1968
1969

Plays Carnegie Hall in New York. Appears on The Johnny Cash Show. "Clouds" is released. Opens for Crosby, Stills, Nash.

1969
1970

Grammy win

Wins 1969 Grammy for Best Folk Performance. "Ladies of the Canyon" becomes her first Gold album. Travels throughout Europe, visiting France, Spain, and Greece. On Crete, takes up the dulcimer and writes series of songs dealing with her adventures, including Carey and California.

1970
1971

"Blue" album

Moves to British Columbia. "Blue" is released. Returns to the stage after the success of Blue and presents many new songs that later appear on "For the Roses," the first album to incorporate orchestral arrangements into her evolving folk-pop sound.

1971
1972

"For the Roses" zooms up the charts, followed by the single "You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio," which peaks at No. 25 in the Billboard charts for two weeks, becoming her first hit single.

1972
1974

Career success

"Court and Spark" embraced by public and critics. The single "Help Me" becomes Mitchell's first and only Top 10 single. The album hits No. 2 on the Billboard album charts. Tours with L.A. Express. Opens for Crosby, Stills, Nash.

1974
1975

Receives four 1974 Grammy nominations, wins for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists, along with Tom Scott. "The Hissing of Summer Lawns" is released; peaks at No. 4. Buys home in Bel Air section of L.A. and moves in with John Guerin, drummer for L.A. Express.

1975
1976

Breaks up with John Guerin. Tours with L.A. Express. Writes and records "Hejira," greeted as a return to form by both fans and critics. Album climbs to No. 13 on the charts. Receives Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, for "Hissing of Summer Lawns."

1976
1977

The double LP "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter" is released. Peaks at No. 25 and goes Gold within three months.

1977
1978

Key collaborations

Meets and visits with New Mexico based painter Georgia O'Keefe. Collaborates with jazz great Charles Mingus on an album.

1978
1979

"Mingus" released to positive response but no airplay from either jazz or pop/rock stations. Tops at No. 17. First album since 1960s not to sell at least a half million copies.

1979
1980

Turns tapes from L.A shows into a two album set and concert film, both called "Shadows and Light." Album makes it to No. 38 on Billboard.

1980
1981

Inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

1981
1982

Marries bass player and sound engineer Larry Klein. "Wild Things Run Fast" released on newly-formed Geffen Records label. Album peaks at No. 25.

1982
1983

International tours

Mitchell takes her band, Refuge on lengthy tour to Japan, Australia, Ireland, U.K., Brussels, Belgium, Paris, France; Frankfurt, Germany, Italy, Stockholm and Denmark before heading to the U.S.

1983
1984

Release of "Refuge of the Roads," a film of the 1983 tour. Two painting exhibits in New York City. Writes "Ethiopia" after the We Are The World album.

1984
1985

Splits with longtime manager Elliot Roberts and signs with Peter Asher Management. "Dog Eat Dog" is released; use of modern technological machines and various drum machines causes album to be Mitchell's most expensive record to date.

1985
1986

Participates in Amnesty International Benefit "Conspiracy of Hope."

1986
1988

Builds studio in Bel-Air house. "Chalk Mark in a Rainstorm" has Mitchell and Larry continue experimenting with synthesizers, drum machines and sequencers. Album peaks at No. 45. Solo art exhibit in Tokyo coincides with release there of Chalk Mark.

1988
1989

Receives Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female.

1989
1991

Exhibition of paintings travels around Europe. "Night Ride Home" released by Geffen Records. Rolling Stone votes "Hejira" one of the 100 Best Album Covers. In the Billboard year-end charts, Mitchell is No. 21, Top Album Artist, Female.

1991
1994

Performs at Edmonton Folk Music Festival. Re-signs with Reprise Records. "Turbulent Indigo" released; receives excellent reviews and peaks at No. 47. More than 30 of Mitchell's paintings on view at record release party.

1994
1995

Performs at AIDS Project L.A. benefit concert. Billboard magazine gives Mitchell their highest honor for creative achievement, the Century Award.

1995
1996

Wins two 1995 Grammys for Best Pop Album and Best Recording Package for "Turbulent Indigo." Receives Polar Music Prize in Sweden. Best-of albums, Hits and Misses, released. Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Songwriters.

1996
1997

Legacy

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Is reunited with her daughter, Kilauren.

1997
1998

Releases "Taming the Tiger" on Reprise.

1998
2000

Releases "Both Sides Now" on Reprise. Wins Grammys for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

2000
2002

Releases "Travelogue" on Nonesuch.

2002

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