Linda Ronstadt was chosen for induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The talented 67-year-old singer will join Cat Stevens, Hall and Oates , Peter Gabriel, KISS , and Nirvana for the 2014 induction. This year marks Ronstadt’s first Hall of Fame nomination.
A native of Tuscon, Arizona, Ronstadt’s musical talents were inspired by her parents. She learned to sing and play guitar at a young age, focusing on the traditional Mexican music her father loved. She and her siblings often sang together with her father playing the guitar and her mother on the ukulele.
In the 1960s, Ronstadt left college and moved to Los Angeles. She eventually teamed up with Bob Kimmel and Kenny Edwards to form the Stone Poneys . Although the trio enjoyed modest success, Ronstadt began her solo career by 1970.
With hits like “When Will I Be Loved,” and “You’re No Good,” Ronstadt eventually became a household name. In addition to her own music, she also saw success with several covers. Her version of Roy Orbison’s “Blue Bayou” made the top ten on seven charts worldwide.
After realizing success on the country and pop charts , Ronstadt went on to work in opera and on Broadway. She became well-known as a talented and diverse performer.
Although her career spanned decades, Linda Ronstadt is modest about her success. As reported by Billboard , the Hall of fame nomination came as a surprise :
“I always thought I couldn’t sing very well… Everything I did always fell short of my expectations… It’s what it was, and I got to make it better later. I wish the records had been better, but they were as good as I could do at the time.”
In August, the talented performer revealed that she can no longer sing. She suffers from Parkinson’s disease, which has made it impossible for her to perform. Biography reports that Ronstadt believes she had the disease for years prior to the diagnosis.
Her latest project, a memoir titled Simple Dreams , chronicles her life before and after becoming a musical legend.
Linda Ronstadt will join the other inductees in Brooklyn on April 12, 2014 for the formal ceremony.
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