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Linda Ronstadt (born Linda Marie Ronstadt on July 15, 1946 in Tucson, Arizona) is an American popular vocalist and entertainer who has earned multiple Grammy Awards, numerous multi-platinum albums, an Emmy Award, and Tony Award and Golden Globe nominations. A singer-songwriter and record producer, she is better known as a definitive interpreter of songs.[1] She has recorded over 30 studio albums, and has made guest appearances on over 100 other albums.[2] Career Overview Establishing her professional career in the mid sixties at the forefront of California's emerging folk rock and country rock movements, genres which later defined post-sixties rock music, Ronstadt became the lead singer of the successful folk rock group, The Stone Poneys. Later as a solo artist, she released Hand Sown ... Home Grown in 1969, considered the first alternative country record by a female recording artist.[3] After some years struggling as a solo artist, Ronstadt achieved unprecedented hit-making success in the 1970s with chart-topping albums such as: Heart Like A Wheel, Simple Dreams, and Living In The USA. Ronstadt became the first female "arena class" rock star, setting records as one of the top-grossing concert artist for the decade,[4][5] and the most successful female rock singer of her era.[6][7][8]Labeled the First Lady of Rock,[9] and The Queen of Rock, Ronstadt was the Top-Selling Female Artist of the 1970's.[10] Her rock n roll image was equally as famous as her music, landing six times on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, Newsweek, and on the coveted cover of Time magazine. In the early 1980's Ronstadt went to Broadway, teamed with composer Phillip Glass, recorded Traditional music, and collaborated with famed conductor Nelson Riddle, which at the time and era, was viewed as an original and unorthodox turn by a rock n roll artist. This gamble paid-off,[11] and Ronstadt remained one of the best-selling vocalists throughout the 1980s with multi-platinum selling albums such as: What's New, Canciones de Mi Padre and Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind. Ronstadt, has continued to successfully tour, collaborate, and record albums such as: Winter Light, Hummin' to Myself and Adieu False Heart. Linda Ronstadt's thirty-plus album catalog continue to be best sellers, with a majority of them certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum.[12] Ronstadt has record sales in excess of 80 million worldwide, including over 45 million albums sold in the US alone.[13] [14][15] Now labeled a Consummate American Artist, Ronstadt opened many doors for women in rock n roll and in music by achieving unprecedented success and being at the vanguard of many musical movements.[16] Ronstadt is one of the top female vocalists in U.S. history and part of the list of best-selling music artists.