Contents
Joni Mitchell
Writing Blue, Both Sides, Now and Big Yellow Taxi while expanding the possibilities of the singer-songwriter album.
Blue · Court and Spark
- Born
- 7 November 1943
- Birthplace
- Fort Macleod, Canada
More people
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell moved from Canadian folk clubs into an individual blend of personal songwriting, unusual guitar tunings and jazz. She also paints and designs her own record artwork.
Early life
Prairie childhood
Raised in Saskatchewan after being born in Alberta; painting and poetry were early interests.
Polio recovery
Contracted polio at nine and later developed alternative guitar tunings that suited her playing.
Career
- 1960s
Folk circuit
Performed in Canada before moving to the United States.
- 1968
Recording debut
Released Song to a Seagull after other singers had recorded her compositions.
- 1970s
Musical expansion
Moved from intimate folk songs towards jazz-influenced arrangements and collaborations.
- 2022
Stage return
Returned to the Newport Folk Festival following recovery from a 2015 brain aneurysm.
Selected work
Blue
An intimate album about attachment, freedom and emotional uncertainty.
Court and Spark
Combined personal songwriting with a polished jazz-pop ensemble.
Hejira
Travel and restlessness unfold over open guitar harmonies.
Beyond music
Visual artist
Her paintings appear on numerous album covers, including Clouds and Both Sides Now.
National honour
Received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2021.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Official biography and archive ↗Photo: Library of Congress Life. CC0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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