9.18.23
In 2009, Linda Ronstadt performed for the last time, due to the deterioration of her singing voice. Truly heartbreaking for me and everyone she touched. Her voice could bring up so many emotions. She could bring tears and laughter with a single note. If I had to describe what Linda Ronstadt’s voice r, it would be SOUL, POWER, PASSION and TRUTH.
I first heard that voice when I was 2 years old and instantly, I fell in love. My Aunt Judy had one of her albums. I believe it was “Don’t Cry Now”. We would sing songs like “Silver Threads and Golden Needles”, “Love Has No Pride”, and “Desperado”. The sound of her voice and these songs were ingrained in me, and I truly believe, have influenced my songwriting and the way I hear melodies.
In fact, Linda Ronstadt is the catalyst for a song that “The Close” wrote called “No one Sings Like You Anymore “. The inspiration for this song came after watching the documentary film by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, “The Sound of My Voice”. I watched it in January of 2020, and it truly brought back those wonderful childhood memories. Once again, bringing tears and laughter.
If I ever have the opportunity to speak with Linda Ronstadt, I would simply say, "Thank you. Thank You for that beautiful voice that helped to shape my musical journey."
Though it is true that her voice lives on in recordings, radio, TV and the internet, her voice will always live in me. It was tattooed on my two year old little heart.
by Shannon Walker
Reference: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/linda-ronstadt-has-found-another-voice
Photograph by Janet Delaney for The New Yorker .
A new documentary, “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice,” looks back on the musician’s risk-taking career.
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