Happy Birthday Linda Ronstadt
Linda Marie Ronstadt was born July 15, 1946 in Tucson, Arizona. Linda was the fifth of four children born to Gilbert and Lupe Ronstadt. The family lived on a 10 acre ranch. They were the picture of the postwar American family, and were even featured in Family Circle magazine in 1953.
Little Linda began singing at an early age. In the 1960’s, she formed The ‘Stone Poneys’, who had a hit with “Different Drum”. Did you know Mike Nesmith of the Monkees wrote that song? Did you also know Mike Nesmith’s mother invented ‘White Out’!? And thirdly – did you know Mike Nesmith now lives off of the ‘White Out’ fortune!? Do they still make white out!? And if so – who still uses this? Anyway – back to Linda.
Did you know Linda recruited Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Randy Meisner, and Bernie Leadon to be part of her touring band. She picked them randomly out of the crowd in a bar. Those four went on to form their own rock band – the Eagles. There would be no Eagles without Linda. You can’t spell Eagles without Linda.
Voice of an Angel
In the late 1960’s, Linda was the darling of the Laurel Canyon crowd. Beautiful and with the voice of an angel, all the boys loved her. David Crosby tells a story that he often sent Linda over to Charles Manson’s (and others) house, because she was so cute and they would give her weed, which she shared with Crosby.
Ronstadt was the biggest selling female star of the 1970’s. Hit after hit, her album covers, posters, magazine covers – her entire rock ‘n’ roll image – were as famous as her music. She dated rock stars, Jim Carrey, Donald Trump, Dick Cheney and Governors. Who could forget that image of her in the hot pants and roller skates. David Crosby recreated this for his album, but it did not go over as well. Happy Birthday Linda.
