Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice (2019)

With one of the most memorably stunning voices that has ever hit the airwaves, Linda Ronstadt burst onto the 1960s folk rock music scene in her early twenties.

Directors:

Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman

Stars:

Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Dolly Parton

5 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Linda Ronstadt	...	Herself
Bonnie Raitt	...	Herself
Dolly Parton	...	Herself
Emmylou Harris	...	Herself
Jackson Browne	...	Himself
Maria Muldaur	...	Herself
Don Henley	...	Himself
David Geffen	...	Himself
Cameron Crowe	...	Himself
Aaron Neville	...	Himself
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Peter Asher	...	Himself
Rubén Blades	...	Himself (as Ruben Blades)
Karla Bonoff	...	Herself
John Boylan	...	Himself
Johnny Carson	...	Himself (archive footage)

Storyline

Focusing largely on her career including being the first bona fide female rock star, the life of Linda Ronstadt is presented. That path from her upbringing outside of Tucson, Arizona with European and Mexican heritage to that stardom having moved to Los Angeles to pursue that singing career is shown, with commentary not only from her own lips, but that of many of her contemporaries who were also emerging at the same time. Her own sensibilities as a woman in a profession dominated by men affected not only the way she acted within that environment, but also impacted the face of rock music especially as it related to women. Her move out of rock music to other genres in getting back to other types of music with which she grew up is also presented, she being told told time and time again that such moves would ruin her career, but the contrary eventually happening with she and the music with each move being met with critical acclaim and popular appeal. These genres included light operetta ...

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Taglines:

She broke all the rules.

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language and drug material

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

6 September 2019 (USA)

Also Known As:

Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice

Filming Locations:

Banamichi, Mexico

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$113,235, 8 September 2019

Gross USA:

$4,252,657

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,252,657

Company Credits

Production Co:

CNN Films, PCH Films, Telling Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

While this documentary delves into Linda Ronstadt's more prominent romantic relationships, it makes no mention of her two grown children (both adopted). This is likely due to her wish to shelter them from the spotlight.

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Quotes

Linda Ronstadt: Someone once asked me why people sing. I answered that they sing for many of the same reasons birds sing. They sing for a mate. To claim their territory. Or simply to give vice to the delight of being alive in the midst of a beautiful day. They sing so the subsequent generations won't forget what the current generations endured or dreamed or delighted in.

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Connections

Features The Pirates of Penzance (1983)

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Soundtracks

Only The Lonely
Performed by Frank Sinatra
Music by Jimmy Van Heusen
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn

User Reviews

Perfect doc for a perfect singer.

"I had a galvanised voice: I could sing through a 105 fever or a flu or a root canal or anything that you could throw at me." Linda Ronstadt

Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice is a perfect documentary about a rock star: It's not the confessional like David Crosby: Remember My Name, not fanciful about Bruce Springsteen in Blinded by the Light, nor romantic like the Beatles' almost-tribute Yesterday.

It is authentic about the titular gifted lady, who could step into any genre easily, and who could win the audience's heart without falsification.

To hear her sing Different Drum is to be hurtled back to the '60's and '70's when a good folk-rock song could make you believe that women were empowered: "All I'm saying is I'm not ready/For any person, place, or thing to try and pull the reins in on me-e-e-e-e." When you see her, Dolly, and Emmy sing together, you want more, and you forget how tough it was to break through the male-dominated rock scene.

Directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman deftly guide the audience through the small lives of friends as well as the big musical moments that define Linda's life. As she guides herself through light opera and Mexican music, we can't help but be further curious while respecting her we'll-earned privacy. That the Mexican album sold the most for Spanish-speaking albums in history is testament to her ability to do well whatever she wanted to do.

This doc is exemplary for giving some lengthy time watching Linda sing as well as just right for the biographical information and talking-head commentary. Her acceptance of Parkinson's disease later in life is another testament to a woman of courage. In fact, there are more achieving women in this doc than in Wonder Woman.

"I miss singing every day. I can't sing anymore. My voice doesn't work. I have Parkinson's disease, and it sometimes takes my words away from me." Linda Ronstadt

Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice is all you need to know about her and her music. Enjoy.