Joan Baez

Joan Chandos Baez (b. January 9, 1941) is an internationally acclaimed American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist. Her music often includes songs of protest and social justice. Baez's career in public performance spans over 60 years, during which she released more than 30 albums. Though largely regarded as a folk singer, her music diversified in the counterculture era of the 1960s to encompass genres such as folk rock, pop, country, and gospel. Her first three albums achieved gold record status, and she has recorded many songs written by other luminaries including the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Woody Guthrie. She is also known for popularizing the early work of Bob Dylan. Her well-known songs include "Diamonds & Rust" and covers of "There but for Fortune" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down". Baez was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. Her activism extends to areas such as nonviolence, civil rights, human rights, and the environment. On her political activism, she has said, "Social justice is the true core of her life, looming larger than music".