Joan Baez
at Woodstock 1969
The "Queen of Folk" closed Day 1 of Woodstock while pregnant, performing a midnight set that included a speech about her husband's imprisonment for draft resistance.
Joan Baez — Woodstock 1969
Joan Baez, often called the "Queen of Folk," delivered what many described as a peaceful end to a chaotic first day of Woodstock. The Mexican-American folk artist was described as the female equivalent of folk god Bob Dylan and performed while pregnant.
Baez's career spanned five decades with extensive recording work. She recorded songs in as many as eight different languages and was known for interpreting compositions by Dylan, Guthrie, Seeger, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, and The Beatles. Her early commercial success included a single that became a top ten hit in the UK in 1965.
The Woodstock set occurred around 12:55 a.m. on the morning of August 16, closing out Day 1. Baez gave a speech regarding her husband David Harris's arrest for draft resistance against the Vietnam War before launching into her set. Her unaccompanied rendition of spiritual songs in the darkness of the farm was haunting and unforgettable for those present.
Throughout her career, Baez has been deeply involved in political and social causes, including the anti-war movement, human rights, gay and lesbian rights, civil rights, and environmental causes. Her integrity as an artist and activist has never wavered since Woodstock.
Baez remains an iconic figure of the 1960s counterculture and one of the most influential folk singers in American music history.