Simple Dreams
A Musical Memoir
Published on 12. February 2015
Book
Paperback/Softback
256 pages
978-1-4516-6873-5 (ISBN)
Description
Linda Ronstadt was born in 1946 to a modest family outside Tucson. From an early age, she, her brother and sister began making their own music, eventually performing their own shows in the folk and Mexican traditions of the area.
By the time Ronstadt was in community college, she realized the music scene in LA was where she wanted to be, just in time for the folk revival that was sweeping the nation. Despite some setbacks with her first band-the Stone Poneys-she quickly found her niche as a soloist with the new record label run by David Geffen. Soon she was touring with Neil Young, and soon after that was a major figure in her own right.
By the time she retired in 2009, Linda Ronstadt had spent four decades as one of the most popular singers in the world. But throughout her career, as she writes, she stuck to one simple dream: to perform good music authentically. In her debut as a writer, she describes her journey with the same subtlety and gracefulness with which she has sung, so beautifully, longingly, and honestly.
By the time Ronstadt was in community college, she realized the music scene in LA was where she wanted to be, just in time for the folk revival that was sweeping the nation. Despite some setbacks with her first band-the Stone Poneys-she quickly found her niche as a soloist with the new record label run by David Geffen. Soon she was touring with Neil Young, and soon after that was a major figure in her own right.
By the time she retired in 2009, Linda Ronstadt had spent four decades as one of the most popular singers in the world. But throughout her career, as she writes, she stuck to one simple dream: to perform good music authentically. In her debut as a writer, she describes her journey with the same subtlety and gracefulness with which she has sung, so beautifully, longingly, and honestly.
Reviews / Votes
"Engaging and interesting. . . . entirely winning." -- Jonathan Yardley * Washington Post * "True to her subtitle, Ms. Ronstadt delivers a life story stitched to the sails of her eclectic musical voyaging. . . . She has found another way to tell a story: through this winning and informative book, in which her intelligence, passion, humor and commitment shine forth from every page." -- Tom Nolan * Wall Street Journal * "For anyone fascinated by the cross-pollination of musical talent in Los Angeles' buzzing pre-corporate rock scene, Ronstadt's front-row seat offers a prime view. . . . While this bird can no longer sing, on the page she can still fly." * USA Today * "Ronstadt revisits, with a mixture of fine-grained insight and personal modesty, one of the most remarkable and wide-ranging singing careers in the last century of American popular music." * San Francisco Chronicle * "Musical memories galore." * Boston Globe * "A personable and engagingly written memoir... consistently interesting." * Kirkus * "A well-written glimpse into musical history as it was being made by Ronstadt and her peers." * Publishers Weekly *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
16-pp b-w photo insert
Dimensions
Height: 211 mm
Width: 139 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
257 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4516-6873-5 (9781451668735)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
09/2013
1st Edition
Simon + Schuster LLC
€13.84
Available for download
Person
Linda Ronstadt has received twelve Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music Awards, and one Emmy Award, as well as several Tony and Golden Globe nominations. She lives in San Francisco with her family.