Simple Dreams

A Musical Memoir

By: Linda Ronstadt

Narrated by: Kathe Mazur

In this memoir, iconic singer Linda Ronstadt weaves together a captivating story of her origins in Tucson, Arizona, and her rise to stardom in the Southern California music scene of the 1960s and ‘70s.

Tracing the timeline of her remarkable life, Linda Ronstadt, whose forty-five year career has encompassed a wide array of musical styles, weaves together a captivating story of her origins in Tucson, Arizona, and her rise to stardom in the Southern California music scene of the 1960s and ‘70s.

Linda Ronstadt was born into a musical family, and her childhood was filled with everything from Gilbert and Sullivan to Mexican folk music to jazz and opera. Her artistic curiosity blossomed early, and she and her siblings began performing their own music for anyone who would listen. Now, in this beautifully crafted memoir, Ronstadt tells the story of her wide-ranging and utterly unique musical journey.

Ronstadt arrived in Los Angeles just as the folkrock movement was beginning to bloom, setting the stage for the development of country-rock. As part of the coterie of like-minded artists who played at the famed Troubadour club in West Hollywood, she helped define the musical style that dominated American music in the 1970s. One of her early backup bands went on to become the Eagles, and Linda went on to become the most successful female artist of the decade.

In Simple Dreams, Ronstadt reveals the eclectic and fascinating journey that led to her long-lasting success, including stories behind many of her beloved songs. And she describes it all in a voice as beautiful as the one that sang “Heart Like a Wheel”—longing, graceful, and authentic.

Excellent

For anyone who likes any of Linda’s songs, this is a must read/listen! You won’t be disappointed.

Amazing Book by an Amazing Woman

Linda has had an amazing and inspirational life and career. I’ve listened to her since her first album and have always been blown away by her voice. This book shows her to also be an intelligent, articulate, thoughtful, generous, self-aware person. I’m sad that she won’t be singing any more, but all her past work is there for me, and all of us, to enjoy now and into the future.

All about the music

I should have paid attention to the “musical memoir” part. Nothing much personal here. All about the music. I wanted more than that.

How she differed from most of her peers.

I liked best that she had her own ideas and didn’t give up! She managed to find good people who let her learn more and then let her practice until she got it right.

Just beautiful!

The narration is perfect in the telling of Linda’s musical history and breadth work. You’ll get pulled in and not want to leave!