Joan Baez

Joan Baez was one of the greatest folk singers of the 1960s. Her debut self-titled album, recorded at the age of 19, showcased her distinctive soprano voice on interpretations of thirteen traditional songs. As her popularity grew, she moved into the political sphere, taking part in marches and singing songs of protest while championing another activist folk singer-songwriter - boyfriend Bob Dylan. Through the 60s she continued to release high-quality material, including an album of poetry and a double-album of Dylan covers, and became more politically involved. She founded the Institute For The Study Of Nonviolence, married a peace activist, and was even imprisoned twice for her behaviour at anti-war rallies.

In 1971, Baez had the biggest commercial hit of her career with "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", which was a Top 10 hit on both sides of the Atlantic. But the 70s saw her concentrate on activism, while releasing strong but uncommercial albums intermittently. In 1979 she founded her own human rights organisation, Humanitas International, and in the 80s she continued to perform and protest in aid of oppressed groups around the world.