Joni Mitchell: Timeline

Thirteen/WNET
March 2003

Joni Mitchell: Timeline

The last 60 years have witnessed Joni Mitchell's journey from a small town in Canada to a very secure place in the hearts of millions of fans. That journey is thoroughly explored in AMERICAN MASTERS JONI MITCHELL: WOMAN OF HEART AND MIND, airing nationally April 2, 2003 at 9 p.m. (E.T.) on PBS (check local listings). Below are some highlights from Mitchell's personal and professional life:

Personal

• Nov. 7, 1943: Roberta Joan Anderson born in Fort MacLeod, Alberta, Canada.
• 1953: Contracts polio.
• 1955: English teacher Arthur Kratzman tells Joan "If you can paint with a brush you can paint with words." Inspires her to write.
• 1957: Inspired by spelling of the name of her art teacher, Henry Bonli, changes her name to Joni.
• 1962: Graduates Bowman High School.
• 1963: Begins classes at the Alberta College of Art in Calgary.
• 1964: Becomes pregnant by Brad MacMath in Calgary. Brad leaves Joni with a drawing of a pregnant woman by a window and a note that reads "The thief left it behind -- the moon at the window."
• Feb. 19, 1965: Kelly Dale Anderson is born in Toronto, Ontario. Given up to foster care.
• 1965: Meets future husband and fellow folksinger, Chuck Mitchell, while performing at the Penny Farthing. Marries Mitchell in Rochester, Michigan. Moves to Detroit.
• 1966: Joni leaves Mitchell and drives to New York City.
• 1967: Moves to 41 W. 16th Street in Chelsea. Meets David Crosby for the first time at the Gaslight South in Coconut Grove, Florida. They share a brief romance.
• 1968: Breaks up with David Crosby. Moves to rented house on Kirkwood Avenue in Hollywood. Is introduced to Graham Nash, on tour with the Hollies. Moves with Nash to Lookout Mountain Road in Laurel Canyon.
• 1971: Sells her house in Laurel Canyon and buys a piece of property by the water in British Columbia.
• 1974: Buys home in Bel Air section of L.A. and moves in with John Guerin, drummer for L.A. Express.
• 1976: Breaks up with John Guerin, hangs out at Neil Young's house on the coast.
• 1978: Meets and visits with New Mexico-based painter Georgia O'Keefe.
• 1982: Meets bass player and sound engineer Larry Klein. Marries Klein at the Malibu home of her manager, Elliot Roberts.
• 1997: Is reunited with her daughter.

Professional 1960s

• 1962: Nineteen-year-old Joni Anderson booked as one-time replacement for a late-night moose-hunting show in Prince Albert. Performs several songs accompanying herself on baritone ukulele.
• 1964: Writes "Day After Day" on train ride to Toronto.
• 1965: Meets Neil Young for the first time. Chuck and Joni Mitchell become the "Golden Couple" of the Detroit folk scene.
• 1966: Joni performs at the Gaslight Café -- her first New York City appearance. Joni opens for Tom Rush at the Town Hall in Boston, MA. Joni writes "Night in the City."
• 1967: Starts booking own shows, travels by herself. Writes "Both Sides Now." Buffy Sainte-Marie's Fire, Fleet & Candlelight is released, including Joni's songs "Song To A Seagull" and "The Circle Game." Al Kooper, bandleader of The Blues Project, invites his roommate, Judy Collins, to hear "Both Sides Now." Participates in an afternoon songwriters' workshop at Newport Folk Festival along with Leonard Cohen, Judy Collins, Janis Ian, David Blue, Mike Settle, Tom Paxton, and Eric Andersen. Does small tour of England opening for The Incredible String Band. Meets manager Elliot Roberts at Café Au Go-Go in New York. Signs with Reprise Records.
• 1968: Records SONG TO A SEAGULL, first album with David Crosby producing. Writes "Ladies Of The Canyon." Judy Collins' recording of "Both Sides Now" enters the Top 10.
• 1969: Plays Carnegie Hall in New York. Appears on THE JOHNNY CASH SHOW. Clouds released. Opens for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Misses going to Woodstock. Writes "Woodstock" in David Geffen's apartment. Announces retirement from performing. Writes "Big Yellow Taxi" and "River."

1970s

• 1970: Wins 1969 Grammy for Best Folk Performance or Recording for Clouds. LADIES OF THE CANYON released and becomes her first gold album. Travels throughout Europe, visiting France, Spain, and Greece. On Crete, takes up the dulcimer and writes series of songs dealing with her adventures, including "Carey" and "California. "
• 1971: Blue released. Returns to the stage after the success of Blue and presents many new songs that later appear on FOR THE ROSES, the first album to incorporate orchestral arrangements into her evolving folk-pop sound.
• 1972: FOR THE ROSES, her first album for David Geffen's new Asylum label, zooms up the charts, followed by the single "You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio," which peaks at No. 25 on the Billboard charts for two weeks, becoming her first bona fide hit single.
• 1973: Hooks up with Tom Scott and his band, The L.A. Express, for her summer recording sessions for what becomes COURT AND SPARK. The single "Raised on Robbery" shocks and excites fans with its radically different sound.
• 1974: COURT AND SPARK embraced by public and critics. The single "Help Me" becomes Joni's first and only Top 10 single. The album hits No. 2 on the Billboard album charts. Tour with L.A. Express receives rave notices across the U.S. and Canada. Opens for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young on their summer stadium tour. Series of shows at L.A.'s Universal Amphitheater recorded for a live album release, Miles of Aisles, which reaches No. 2. Makes TIME magazine cover.
• 1975: Receives four 1974 Grammy nominations for COURT AND SPARK: Record of the Year; Album of the Year; Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female; Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists, which she wins along with Tom Scott. The HISSING OF SUMMER LAWNS released; peaks at No. 4. Some critics question Joni's new musical direction. Joins Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Review as it travels through North America.
• 1976: Tours with L.A. Express to promote HISSING OF SUMMER LAWNS. Drives to Maine with two friends, then drives back to California alone, writing songs for what would become "Hejira," greeted as a return to form by both fans and critics. Album climbs to No. 13 on the charts and goes Gold three weeks after release. Receives Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, for HISSING OF SUMMER LAWNS.
• 1977: The double LP and cassette, DON JUAN'S RECKLESS DAUGHTER, released. Peaks at No. 25 and goes Gold within three months.
• 1978: Contacted by jazz great Charlie Mingus.
• 1979: Performs at No Nukes benefit concert in Washington, D.C. Mingus released to positive response but no airplay from either jazz or pop/rock stations. Tops at No. 17. First album since 1960s not to sell at least half a million copies.

1980s

• 1980: Turns live recordings from L.A. shows into double album and concert film, both called SHADOWS AND LIGHT. Final release on Asylum Records. Makes it to No. 38 on Billboard. FILM premieres on cable and is released on video and laserdisc the following year.
• 1981: Inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
• 1982: WILD THINGS RUN FAST released on newly formed Geffen Records label. Album peaks at No. 25, and the single, Joni's remake of the Elvis hit "(You're So Square) Baby, I Don't Care," climbs to No. 47.
• 1983: Joni takes her band, Refuge, which includes future husband Larry Klein, on lengthy tour to Japan, Australia, Ireland, U.K., Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Denmark before heading to the U.S.
• 1984: Release of laserdisc REFUGE OF THE ROADS, a film of the 1983 tour. Two painting exhibits in New York City. Writes "Ethiopia" after the WE ARE THE WORLD album.
• 1985: Splits with longtime manager Elliot Roberts and signs with Peter Asher management. DOG EAT DOG released; use of modern technological machines and various drum machines causes album to be Joni's most expensive record to date. Participates in The Farm Aid concert in Champaign, Illinois. DOG EAT DOG release party at the James Corcoran Gallery features gallery full of large collage paintings done in her new abstract expressionism style. Video for the first single "Good Friends" premieres on MTV. Album hits No. 63.
• 1986: Participates in Amnesty International Benefit "Conspiracy of Hope." "Shiny Toys," the video for Joni's second single from DOG EAT DOG, premieres on VH-1.
• 1988: Builds studio in Bel Air house. CHALK MARK IN A RAINSTORM has Joni and Larry continuing to experiment with synthesizers, drum machines, and sequencers. Album contains eight new songs and two remakes: "Cool Water," featuring Willie Nelson, and a recording from 1981 featuring Joni, Larry, and saxophonist Wayne Shorter called "A Bird That Whistles." Album peaks at No. 45. Solo art exhibit in Tokyo coincides with release there of Chalk Mark.

1990s

• 1991: Exhibition of Joni's paintings travels around Europe. NIGHT RIDE HOME released by Geffen Records. Album peaks at No. 41 and receives almost universally glowing reviews. ROLLING STONE votes "Hejira" one of the 100 Best Album Covers. In the Billboard year-end charts for 1991, Joni is No. 21, Top Album Artist, Female.
• 1994: Performs at Edmonton Folk Music Festival. Re-signs with Reprise Records. TURBULENT INDIGO released; receives excellent reviews and peaks at No. 47. More than 30 of Joni's paintings on view at record release party.
• 1995: Performs at AIDS Project L.A. benefit concert. Appears on THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO. BILLBOARD magazine gives Joni its highest honor for creative achievement, the Century Award. Join gives 80-minute concert at The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
• 1996: Reprise Records releases the soundtrack to the TV series FRIENDS with Joni's original vocal for "Big Yellow Taxi," set over a hip-hop backing track, included. She wins two 1995 Grammys for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Album Package for TURBULENT INDIGO. Receives Polar Music Prize in Sweden. Best-of albums, HITS AND MISSES, released. Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Songwriters.
• 1997: Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
• 1998: Releases TAMING THE TIGER on Reprise.

2000s

• 2000: Releases BOTH SIDES NOW on Reprise.
• 2001: Wins Grammys for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist.
• 2002: Releases TRAVELOGUE on Nonesuch. Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award from The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences for creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording.