Discover the Top 8 Unbelievable Fun Facts About Joan Baez You Never Knew!

1. Activist Upbringing

Before Joan Baez stepped into the limelight of folk music, she was busy strumming the guitar strings of social activism, thanks to some tuneful parenting by her dad: Albert Baez, a Mexican-American physicist and social activist, nurtured little Joan's love for music and justice through attending anti-war demonstrations and immersing her in the Quaker community. This spiritual foundation continues to resonate throughout Joan's life, shaping her unwavering commitment to pacifism and thoughtful activism.
Source => nodepression.com

2. Globetrotter for Peace

Joan Baez: the original globetrotter, traveling with nothing but her passport and a guitar – an influencer, before it was even a thing, but with the noble pursuits of peace and justice in her swag bag: She journeyed through troubled regions like Hanoi, Northern Ireland, and even sweet home Alabama, singing for civil rights icons like MLK – who returned the favor by visiting her in jail after her Vietnam War protest arrest in 1968, just a few months before his own untimely death.
Source => washingtonpost.com

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3. Folk-Singing Superhero

If Joan Baez's life were a movie, she'd be the folk-singing superhero, saving the world one protest at a time and serenading the masses with Bob Dylan by her side – yet strangely, there's no asteroid named after her: Joan's impressive career spans not only her fame as a folk singer but also includes participation in civil-rights marches and anti-war protests, spending over a month in jail for blocking an induction center, advocating for prison and death penalty reform, gay and lesbian rights, and environmental causes, all while writing songs about her relationship with music legend Bob Dylan.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Woodstock Queen Bee

Joan Baez, the original Queen Bee herself, strummed her way into the largely male-dominated hive of the legendary 1969 Woodstock Festival, buzzing with the sweet tunes of change: As the only female solo performer at the event, she not only showcased her incredible musical prowess but also called out organizers for the lack of diversity among the performers, making her the ultimate feminist rockstar icon who harmonized both her tunes and her actions in the name of gender equality.
Source => bethelwoodscenter.org

5. Serenading History

Before the age of Instagram and Twitter, Joan Baez was stirring up buzz with her guitar and compass at the intersection of Folk Street and Activism Avenue: This songbird serenaded history by performing at the pivotal 1963 March on Washington for civil rights and lending her soul-stirring voice to anti-war protests, including the 1967 March on the Pentagon.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Marriage and Activism

When love and peace met resistance, and it was no bed of roses: Joan Baez, the folk music queen who strummed her way into our hearts, married David Harris, a prominent draft resistance activist during the Vietnam War. While Harris served prison time for dodging the draft, Baez didn't offer her California home as a sanctuary for draft-resisters, despite their shared passion for activism.
Source => usfblogs.usfca.edu

7. 'Statue' Protest

Joan Baez, a folksy freedom siren who sang songs of peace and played a game of 'statue' in historic protests: In 1967, Baez was arrested in Oakland, California, alongside 40 other protesters for forming a human barricade during a sit-in at a military induction center, preventing draftees from entering during the heated Vietnam War, ultimately landing her in jail for her anti-war activism.
Source => news.bbc.co.uk

8. Duet with Lana Del Rey

When Lana Del Rey decided to add some extra "Baezazz" to her 2019 Norman Fucking Rockwell tour, she made a sparkling choice: Joan Baez joined her on stage to perform "Diamonds and Rust," while also sharing the spotlight for "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right," earning heartfelt praise from Del Rey for appreciating her work and for the star-studded duet.
Source => rollingstone.com