This is heartbreaking:
Spectacular songbird Linda Ronstadt disclosed Friday that she has Parkinson’s disease and the illness has already robbed her of her ability to sing. The 67-year-old “Hurt So Bad” songstress, whose vocal range spanned the octaves from contralto to soprano, discussed her disease with AARP magazine in an interview. The 11-time Grammy Award winner’s memoir, “Simple Dreams,” is slated to be published next month. “No one can sing with Parkinson’s disease,” Ronstadt said. “No matter how hard you try.” Ronstadt, who churned out hits during the 1970s and ‘80s, including “Poor Poor Pitiful Me,” “You’re No Good” and “Just One Look,” now uses poles to assist her when walking on uneven ground and travels with a wheelchair.I've long been a huge fan -- dating back to the Stone Poneys records -- and finally got to see her live on Long Island doing a Nelson Riddle set. It was an incredible night, one I appreciate even more given this sad turn of events.
5 comments:
It's sad. I've always liked her - and she was an INCREDIBLE guest on 'Wait Wait Don't Tell Me'.
Parkinson's is a shitty disease and I worked in a clinical dept for years that treated patients with movement disorders. g-d speed Ms. Ronstadt.
This news broke my heart. Have loved Linda's music since hearing her when I was in High School and checked out "Heart Like A Wheel" from the Library. Her original Greatest Hits LP is still one of my all time favorites.
I wish her only The Best!!!
I want to add that I had the great pleasure of see Linda in Concert twice. Once in the late 1970's in LA and again in the early 1990's when she was touring to support "Cry Like A Rainstorm, Howl Like The Wind" with The Neville Brothers. Linda started late because of a bad back which she explained, but added her voice was okay. One of the best concerts I've ever attended. Earlier this week, before the news broke, I was thinking about her as I was creating a playlist for my ipod of her music. What wonderful music she has created. I'm so sorry to hear this news and will always love and enjoy her music. Looking forward to her book which comes out next month.
Along with Barbra Streisand my favorite contemporary singer. The loss of her extraordinary gift is so sad but how wonderful for all of us that she has accumulated such an extensive catalogue of varied work for the world to enjoy. What is truly upsetting is the physical debilitation she is having to endure, hopefully modern medicine can ease her infirmity. Wish her only the best.
Incredibly sad news, my most favourite singer and a huge loss. However I read very recently that she is very happy in her life at the moment so I guess she has come to terms with it as hard as that may seem for someone who once said that singing is part of her daily life not something she just does in the studio .....
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