Joan Baez The Last Leaf
Joan Baez The Last Leaf by Elizabeth Thomson, published by Palazzo Editions, Limited in October 2020, is a comprehensive biography that explores the life and impact of the iconic folk singer. This 224-page edition delves into Baez’s remarkable journey, beginning with her unexpected debut at the 1959 Newport Folk Festival and her subsequent rise to prominence in the music world. The book highlights her contributions not only as a musician but also as an activist, showcasing her commitment to social justice and her influence on generations of artists.
Readers will find a detailed account of Baez’s career, including her best-selling albums and her pivotal role in significant historical events, such as the March on Washington. The narrative emphasizes her dual legacy as both a performer and a passionate advocate for various causes. Additionally, the book features a discography compiled by Grammy-nominated music historian Arthur Levy, providing further context to Baez’s extensive body of work. This biography serves as a testament to Baez’s enduring influence in music and activism, ensuring her legacy continues to resonate.
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“Evocative… the definitive biography” – Michael Simmons, MOJO.
A celebration of a timeless figure whose music and influence will endure long after her voice is silenced.
Since she stepped onstage unannounced at the 1959 Newport Folk Festival, Joan Baez has occupied a singular place in popular music.
Within three years, she had recorded three best-selling albums and had embarked on a tour of southern US campuses, playing to integrated audiences in an era of segregation. When Time magazine chronicled the folk revival in November 1962, her portrait was on the cover. Her voice was “as lustrous and rich as old gold.” She has mentored generations of singer-songwriters, most famously Bob Dylan.
But Joan Baez has always been much more than simply a singer. Even before she stood on the podium beside Dr Martin Luther King at the March on Washington, her voice was raised in sorrow and anger as well as in song. The causes for which she has campaigned are legion and it’s no surprise that she was chosen to open Live Aid in Philadelphia in 1985. In 1993, amid the siege of Bosnia, she donned a flak jacket to sing for the citizens of Sarajevo offering, as so many times before and since, “an act of love, sharing, witness and music”.
Now approaching 80, Baez has stepped down from the stage following a worldwide farewell tour and a final Grammy-nominated album. The Last Leaf is a celebration of a timeless figure whose music and influence will endure long after her voice is silenced. The Discography is by Grammy-nominated music historian Arthur Levy.
Joan Baez was the recipient of the 2020 Woody Guthrie Prize.
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