Linda Maria Ronstadt (born July 15, 1946) is a retired American popular music singer….who was known for singing in a wide range of genres including rock, country, light opera and Latin. She has earned 11 Grammy Awards, three American Music Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, and an ALMA Award….along with many of her albums have been certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum in the United States and internationally. She has also earned nominations for a Tony Award and a Golden Globe award. She was awarded the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award by The Latin Recording Academy in 2011….and also awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award by The Recording Academy in 2016. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2014. On July 28, 2014, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts and Humanities. In 2019, she will receive a joint star with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for their work as the group Trio.
In total, she has released over 30 studio albums and 15 compilation or greatest hits albums….while charting 38 Billboard Hot 100 singles….with 21 reaching the top 40…..10 in the top 10….three at # 2 and “You’re No Good” at # 1. Her duet with Aaron Neville, “Don’t Know Much“, peaked at # 2 in December 1989. In addition, she has charted 36 albums….with 10 top-10 albums….and three # 1 albums on the Billboard Pop Album Chart.
Ronstadt has collaborated with artists in diverse genres, including Bette Midler, Billy Eckstine, Frank Zappa, Rosemary Clooney, Flaco Jiménez, Philip Glass, Warren Zevon, Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons, Dolly Parton, Neil Young, Paul Simon, Johnny Cash, and Nelson Riddle. She has lent her voice to over 120 albums…..and has sold more than 100 million records…..making her one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time. Christopher Loudon, of Jazz Times, wrote in 2004 that Ronstadt is “blessed with arguably the most sterling set of pipes of her generation.”
After completing her last live concert in late 2009, Ronstadt retired in 2011. She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in December 2012….which left her unable to sing.
Smokey Robinson (born February 19, 1940) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and former record executive…..who was the founder and front man of the Motown vocal group The Miracles…. for which he was also chief songwriter and producer. Robinson led the group from its 1955 origins as “the Five Chimes” until 1972….when he announced a retirement from the group to focus on his role as Motown’s vice president.
However, Robinson returned to the music industry as a solo artist the following year…..and following the sale of Motown Records in 1988….Smokey Robinson left the company in 1990. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987….and was awarded the 2016 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for his lifetime contributions to popular music.
Any way you cut the pie….this duet of songs Oh Baby Baby and Tracks of My Tears sung by Smokey Robinson and Linda Ronstadt featured here….combine two of the sweetest sounding voices to ever grace a stage….for this is priceless and rare harmony.
