Joni Mitchell: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, a tribute to the singer-songwriter will premiere on PBS stations like THIRTEEN on Friday, March 31 at 9 p.m. ET (see all dates). Check out some details on the event and more about Joni’s career and the Gershwin Prize, and other videos centered on Joni.
Like many singer-songwriters, Canadian-born Mitchell’s career began in coffee shops and nightclubs, but her first songs in the 1960s were the definition of exceptional, setting a new standard marrying music and lyrics. Winner of multiple Grammy Awards, Mitchell never pursued fame, but with such songs as “Both Sides, Now,” “Chelsea Morning,” “Big Yellow Taxi,” “Woodstock” and “The Circle Game,” she became a household name and her musical genius is an inspiration to her peers. Mitchell redefined the role of women musicians. She oversaw all aspects of her albums, including songwriting, arrangements, performance, production and artwork.
Joni Mitchell is an artist of unparalleled gifts as a poet, a songwriter, a musician, a producer, and a painter. She is an icon of modern music and one of the most influential creators of our age. Nearly 60 years after her first performances in Canadian coffee shops and nightclubs, the legend of Mitchell’s genius continues to grow.
Mitchell signed to Reprise Records in 1968, the same year she released her debut, “Song To A Seagull.” The albums that followed set a new standard for the marriage of music and lyrics and made her the premier female singer-songwriter of a revolutionary new generation of artists. With songs like “Both Sides, Now,” “Chelsea Morning,” “Big Yellow Taxi,” “Woodstock,” and “The Circle Game,” Mitchell became a household name.
