Still a highly visible figure, Joan Baez has long been known for social activism and her support of people victimized by poverty and political misfortune. To trace her career is comparable to tracing the social history of her time, and it is often difficult to separate the political activist from the musician. This volume is a comprehensive reference guide to her life and career. A biography concisely summarizes her achievements, while annotated entries detail her work in music and film. Entries provide critical commentary, and a bibliography cites and annotates additional works.

In 1960, when Joan Baez was just 19 years old, she had already signed a contract with Vanguard Records and released her first, and perhaps most influential, album of folk songs, Joan Baez. Her rapid rise in music seemed effortless, and she quickly became a symbol of the blossoming youth culture. She easily filled a niche within the music industry and became the first female artist to achieve massive international success as a folk singer. Still a highly visible figure, she has long been known for social activism and her support of people victimized by poverty and political misfortune.

Through a concise biography and extensive annotated entries, this volume is a comprehensive guide to Joan Baez's tremendous contribution to music and to American social history. The opening biography explores the formative years of her career, her early successes, and her continuing achievements as an artist who has grown with the times and who continues to record compelling new music. Because it is so difficult to separate the activist from the musician, it also discusses her political contributions and her lasting influence. The chapters that follow are devoted to her recordings and to her films, with entries in each chapter providing full information for individual performances. Entries include release dates, songs, songwriters, musicians, production credits, review excerpts, and critical commentary.