Joni Mitchell’s rise to fame in the music industry was nothing short of extraordinary. As soon as she released her debut album, she became an instant cult classic. With hit songs such as “Both Sides Now” and “Big Yellow Taxi,” the legendary singer-songwriter quickly established herself as one of the most influential artists of the 1960s and 1970s. Throughout her career, Mitchell has continued to inspire others with her unique style and powerful lyrics.
However, despite her immense success, Mitchell has also faced her fair share of challenges. In recent years, she was diagnosed with a mysterious disease that she described as something “from outer space.” Despite this setback, Mitchell remains resilient and recently made her first public appearance in a long time. At the age of 78, she still looks terrific and continues to be an inspiration to many.
While her place in music history is undeniable, there are many aspects of Mitchell’s life that remain shrouded in mystery. For example, many may be wondering how she rose to fame and why she decided to give her daughter up for adoption. To understand the full story of the legendary singer-songwriter, it’s important to delve into her background.
Joni Mitchell was born Roberta Joan Anderson on November 7, 1943, in Fort McCloud, Alberta. She was the only child of parents Myrtle and Bill Anderson. From a young age, it was clear that Mitchell had a passion for music and was destined for a career in the industry. Despite the challenges she faced, she never let them stop her from pursuing her dreams and becoming one of the most iconic and influential artists of her time
Joni Mitchell – early life
Joni Mitchell’s early life was marked by challenges and adversity. At the young age of nine, she contracted polio and was confined to a wheelchair. Despite this setback, she found solace in singing to other children at the hospital. However, her first “performances” were not well received by the other patients. “My spine was twisted up like a train wreck. I couldn’t walk. I was paralyzed. Forty years later, it comes back with a vengeance,” Mitchell said in 1995.
But Mitchell’s struggles with polio didn’t end there. She described it as something similar to multiple sclerosis, “It means your electrical system burns out and your muscles begin to atrophy. It means impending paraplegia.” This disease forced her to be cautious with her energy, “I have to guard my energy. Just like the bunnies in those battery commercials. I’m the one that’s about to keel over. I’m not the one that’s going and going.”
Despite her struggles, music was always a constant presence in Mitchell’s life. Her family moved around a lot when she was young, from a small town in Saskatchewan called Maidstone, to Battleford and later to Saskatoon. Her mother, Myrtle, always encouraged her to get involved in music, as her father also worked in the business. He was involved with marching bands and played the trumpet, and Joni had piano lessons as a youngster, but her interests were more inclined towards painting, and later went to art college.
However, music was never far away, even when her parents weren’t around. Mitchell’s passion for music was always present and it was this passion that would eventually propel her to become one of the most influential artists of her time.
Art school and first performances
Joni Mitchell’s journey to becoming a renowned singer-songwriter was far from straightforward. Despite not enjoying jazz music, she found herself regularly going to a coffeehouse to listen to it. She described herself as a “rock and roller, teeny-bop go-to-dances-on-Saturday-night-type” but still returned to the same place several times. Little did she know, this decision would prove to be one of the most important ones she would make in her career.
One night, a particular band caught her attention, and Joni asked the group’s singer to teach her how to play the guitar. He refused, but this didn’t deter her. Instead, she insisted on learning to play by herself. However, there was one major obstacle – her mother associated guitar music with country and western, which was considered “hillbillyish” in their area. To bypass this, she bought herself a ukulele and “plunked her way through most of the summer.”
As mentioned, Joni attended art college, but music soon became a large part of her life. Alongside Peter Abling, she landed gigs in several Canadian cities and moved on to play at folk festivals. It was during this time that she met Chuck Mitchell. The two fell in love and moved to Detroit, Michigan, where they worked as a duo. They married in 1965 and Joni took on his last name, despite the couple divorcing just two years later.
Joni Mitchell – husband, marriage, daughter, adoption
One of the most difficult experiences in Joni Mitchell’s life was her decision to give up her daughter for adoption. This event had a profound impact on her and became the inspiration behind one of her most beloved songs, “Both Sides, Now.” In an interview with NPR, Mitchell reflected on the song, “I’ve gone through some bad stuff already. You know, the loss of my daughter. I was in a bad marriage. You know, it’s love’s illusion.”
Mitchell made the decision to give her daughter up for adoption to provide her with a brighter future. She explained, “I had to give her up for adoption. You know, like, cause I couldn’t get enough money together. I married this guy, you know, in order to kind of keep her, and then I thought, ‘No, no, no. This is not a good home. I don’t want to bring — she’s better off elsewhere, you know, then to come in on this. I’ve got to get out of this marriage. It’s not working,’ you know. We married each other for the wrong reasons, you know.”
However, decades later, in 1997, Mitchell was reunited with her daughter, Kilauren Gibb. The reunion was an emotional and profound experience for Mitchell, she said, “I’ve had pain and joy in my life but nothing like this. It’s an unparalleled emotional feeling.” The reunion with her daughter was a significant moment in Mitchell’s life and brought her much-needed closure.
The reunion with her daughter was a significant moment in Joni Mitchell’s life, bringing her much-needed closure. For Kilauren, it was also a deeply emotional experience. She said, “It was wonderful, it was a great relief to me in every way, it made me feel whole. It made me feel complete. I don’t have any expectations. I didn’t come into this thing with expectations, I just wanted to find my mom.”
1965 was a major year in Mitchell’s life, not only did she get married for the first time, but she was also working on her first solo album and had several songs written. Mitchell’s reunion with her daughter brought a new level of understanding and completeness to her life, allowing her to focus on her music and career. Her journey as a singer-songwriter was far from easy, but through it all, she persevered and became one of the most influential artists of her time.
As you can see, Joni Mitchell’s life was filled with both triumphs and struggles, but through it all, she never gave up on her passion for music. If you’re a fan of Joni Mitchell or just love learning about the stories behind your favorite artists, be sure to follow DailyWize for more updates and insights. We’ll bring you all the latest news, interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the world of music. Don’t miss out!
