Joni Mitchell Biography | Artist, Folk Music and Pop Singer

Roberta Joan Anderson
(Joni Mitchell)

Born: November 7, 1943
Place of Birth: Fort Macleod, Alberta

Major Notes:

Joni Mitchell is considered by many as one of the most influential musician of the 20th century.
She showed talent for both painting and piano when she was only a youngster.
Mitchell developed polio prior to the days of the Salk vaccine but was able to overcome the disease.
As a teenager she learned to play the ukelele and began singing at local parties.
Joni Mitchell taught herself to play the guitar through using a "how to" book.
After high school, Mitchell decided to enter an art college in Calgary to further her painting skills.
At the same time, she was entertaining as a folk song singer in local coffee houses around Alberta.
After studying art for one year, she moved to Toronto to pursue a singing career.
In 1965, she married Chuck Mitchell and the couple moved shortly thereafter to Detroit.
She continued working the folk music scene but her marriage fell apart by 1967.
Now on her own, Mitchell played in several states and was "discovered" by David Crosby in a Florida club.
Mitchell moved to Los Angeles with Crosby who was able to introduce her to the local music world.
She became noted for her four octave range of voice and her distinguishing guitar sounds.
In addition, Joni Mitchell was now doing her own songs and writing songs for other music entertainers.
Over the next decade, she was to influence such stars as Prince, Elvis Costello, George Michael, and Madonna.
Mitchell's songs have been covered by such singers as Frank Sinatra, Neil Diamond, and Linda Ronstadt.
Her career has led her to several Grammy awards including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award.
Joni Mitchell has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Canada's Walk of Fame, and the Canadian Songwriters' Hall of Fame.

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Major Notes:

Joni Mitchell is considered by many as one of the most influential musician of the 20th century.

She showed talent for both painting and piano when she was only a youngster.

Mitchell developed polio prior to the days of the Salk vaccine but was able to overcome the disease.

As a teenager she learned to play the ukelele and began singing at local parties.

Joni Mitchell taught herself to play the guitar through using a "how to" book.

After high school, Mitchell decided to enter an art college in Calgary to further her painting skills.

At the same time, she was entertaining as a folk song singer in local coffee houses around Alberta.

After studying art for one year, she moved to Toronto to pursue a singing career.

In 1965, she married Chuck Mitchell and the couple moved shortly thereafter to Detroit.

She continued working the folk music scene but her marriage fell apart by 1967.

Now on her own, Mitchell played in several states and was "discovered" by David Crosby in a Florida club.

Mitchell moved to Los Angeles with Crosby who was able to introduce her to the local music world.

She became noted for her four octave range of voice and her distinguishing guitar sounds.

In addition, Joni Mitchell was now doing her own songs and writing songs for other music entertainers.

Over the next decade, she was to influence such stars as Prince, Elvis Costello, George Michael, and Madonna.

Mitchell's songs have been covered by such singers as Frank Sinatra, Neil Diamond, and Linda Ronstadt.

Her career has led her to several Grammy awards including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award.

Joni Mitchell has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Canada's Walk of Fame, and the Canadian Songwriters' Hall of Fame.