The 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class was announced last week, so this week we’re taking a closer look at each inductee. The 2017 class is Joan Baez, Electric Light Orchestra, Journey, Pearl Jam, Tupac Shakur and Yes. Let’s learn more about Joan Baez…
Joan was born in Staten Island in 1941, growing up to be a 60s folk singer songwriter in an era where being an activist proved to be more than music. She’s been on stage for more than 55 years, longer than the age of many Hall members. Joan sang about civil rights, the Vietnam War, the environment and more.
Joan was an accomplished songwriter, but her real talent was taking another song and making it her own. She’s interrupted songs from the Allman Brothers Band, The Rolling Stones, Pete Seeger, the Beatles, Jackson Browne, Leonard Cohen, Woody Guthrie, Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder.
Joan and Bob Dylan were close friends in the 60s, often times writing and performing together. In the 80s Joan briefly dated Steve Jobs, endorsed Senator Barack Obama in 2008, and recently has protested and worked for the Occupy Wall Street and Green Peace causes.
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