Joan Chandos Baez is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist. Her contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest or social justice.
From the early-to-mid-1960s, Baez emerged at the forefront of the American roots revival, where she introduced her audiences to the then-unknown Bob Dylan, and was emulated by artists such as Judy Collins, Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell, and Bonnie Raitt. On November 23, 1962, Baez appeared on the cover of Time Magazine — a rare honor then for a musician.
Baez performed fourteen songs at the 1969 Woodstock Festival and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 7, 2017. Of her fourteen albums with Vanguard, thirteen made the top 100 of Billboard's mainstream pop chart, eleven made the top forty, eight made the top twenty, and four made the top ten.
Baez's distinctive vocal style and profound commitment to political activism had a significant impact on American popular music. She stood among the pioneers in utilizing her widespread appeal as a platform for social protest, championing causes encompassing civil rights, human rights, environmental issues, LGBT rights, and various other movements. Her instrumental role in establishing the USA section of Amnesty International during the 1970s underscores her enduring dedication as an ardent supporter of the organization.
Joan Baez came out as bi in 1973, admitting that she had had a relationship with a woman when she was younger.[1]