Discography Overview
Joan Baez released over 30 albums from 1960 to 2022, with hits like 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down' and 'Turn Turn Turn'. Her crystalline soprano voice defined the 1960s folk revival.
Joan Baez
Joan Baez, born Joan Chandos Baez on January 9, 1941, in Staten Island, New York, is an American folk singer and activist whose pure soprano voice and uncompromising commitment to social justice defined the 1960s folk revival, with breakthrough debut album "Joan Baez" (1960) establishing her crystalline voice as the definitive sound of her era. Throughout her career, Baez has been a relentless advocate for civil rights, anti-war causes, and environmental issues, with activism costing her mainstream popularity at times but remaining committed to using her platform for social change. She has won multiple Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, with her influence on subsequent generations of folk and protest singers being immeasurable. Her performances of Bob Dylan songs helped establish him as a major artist, cementing her role in music history while her legacy as both a musical innovator and a principled activist remains defining. At 83, Baez continues to perform and record, though she has announced plans to retire from touring.
Key Albums
- Joan Baez (1960)
- Joan Baez in Concert, Part 1 (1962)
- Joan Baez in Concert, Part 2 (1963)
- Farewell, Angelina (1965)
- David's Album (1968)
- Blessed Are... (1971)
Key Songs
- The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (1969)
- Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (1963)
- We Shall Overcome (1963)
- Joe Hill (1961)
- Where Have All the Flowers Gone? (1965)
- Turn! Turn! Turn! (1965)
- The Sound of Silence (1965)
- Sweet Sir Galahad (1969)
- Joe's (1970)
- I Shall Be Released (1971)
- Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Us Around (1971)
- Amazing Grace (1970)
Career Timeline
- 1941 Joan Chandos Baez born on January 9 in Staten Island, New York
- 1958 Begins performing in Boston coffeehouses
- 1960 Releases debut album 'Joan Baez'
- 1961 Signs with Vanguard Records
- 1962 Appears at Newport Folk Festival
- 1963 Wins Grammy for 'Best Folk Recording'
- 1964 Records 'Joan Baez in Concert'
- 1965 Records 'Farewell, Angelina'
- 1967 Marries David Harris
- 1968 Appears at Woodstock Festival
- 1969 Achieves #1 with 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down'
- 1970 Records 'David's Album' for David Harris
- 1971 Signs with A&M Records
- 1972 Appears at presidential inauguration protest
- 1973 Records 'From Every Stage'
- 1975 Signs with Columbia Records
- 1978 Divorces David Harris
- 1980 Signs with Sugar Hill Records
- 1985 Returns to Vanguard Records
- 1990 Releases 'Speaking of Dreams'
- 1992 Appears at Bill Clinton's inauguration
- 2003 Releases 'A Look Forward'
- 2008 Appears at Democratic National Convention
- 2015 Announces retirement from touring
- 2017 Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- 2018 Appears at Nobel Peace Prize ceremony
- 2022 Releases 'Now Be Thankful'
- 2023 Announces final tour at age 82
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Influence Graph
How Joan Baez sits in the influence chain
Influenced by
- Pete Seeger
- Joni Mitchell
Influenced
No influence data yet.