Joan Baez

How Sweet the Sound: Then & Now
Angela Carbone

Born: Joan Chandos Baez
January 9, 1941
Birthplace: Staten Island, New York

The Yonge-Dundas square, Toronto’s equivalent to New York City’s Time Square hosted various free movies and performances throughout the summer. Even more impressively so, hosted in September the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival (T.I.F.F.).

Toronto International Film Festival 2009

On the last Friday evening of the 2009 T.I.F.F. was a very special event, which drew many people; a majority of whom were of a certain age. They were anxiously awaiting the premier showing of a new American Masters film documentary of Joan Baez, How Sweet The Sound followed by a free outdoor concert with the legendary lady, herself.
Next to me were some fans in their late 60s through their early 70s sitting near me at T.I.F.F. They made me feel like quite the youngster when they were exchanging memories from the beat generation and talked of Baez’s beginnings in the coffee houses of the 1950s.

My first awareness of Baez came through news items in the 1970s, pertaining to her participation in the civil rights movement and later because of her association with the ever elusive Bob Dylan.

How Sweet the Sound

How Sweet the Sound proved to be a wholly absorbing, informative, as well as an entertaining time line review of not only the amazing life of Baez, but also a personal peek into certain pertinent historical events. The film flowed smoothly, leading the viewer to lose themselves in the images and the narrative. It left one feeling as if they were involved in an intimate conversation.

Baez sees herself first as a human being, second as a pacifist/activist, and third a singer/performer/writer.

Baez won awards for her music, which was very rare for folk artists.
The documentary treats you to pleasant, nostalgic family photos and home videos; among which, the film captures lovely memories of Baez and her sister, Mimi, playing guitars and singing together in beautiful harmony.

Sister Mimi

Mimi married Richard Farina, author of Been Down So Long Looks Like Up to Me. Unfortunately, Baez suffered devastating heartbreak when her sister succumbed to sickness and an early death.

In 1959 Baez played at the Newport Folk Festival. She was already beginning to be renowned by many as the ‘Queen of Folk’ having already acquired a gold album, which was an exceptional feat for a folk artist.

Political Activism

Joan Baez was arrested many times for her political activism.
For Baez, being a celebrity and being committed to singing meaningful, freedom songs wasn’t enough. She wanted to non-violently walk the walk as Gandhi did. So, she used her celebrity status by attracting media and got involved in dangerous tasks such as escorting young black students to schools which were previously reserved for only white children. She was even part of Dr. Martin Luther King’s entourage, including his march on Washington where he gave his famous I Had a Dream speech.

The Dylan Years

When Baez first met Bob Dylan, who came from the same folk tradition, he was a very young, relatively unknown street urchin playing in coffee houses. They immediately had a crush on each other and together proved quite the force. With his lyrics, Dylan provided Baez the link between music and politics.

Baez casually invited Dylan to perform at her concerts and Dylan very nonchalantly agreed to do so. Later, when the two were in England, Dylan was becoming the iconic rising voice of a generation; he could have returned the favor, but neglectfully, didn’t invite Joan to join him on stage. This hurt her.

She had no interest in experimenting with the drugs her peers were engaging in. And, she realized Dylan didn’t want hands-on involvement in the front lines with the civil rights movement. At least, not the way she was driven to do so. With all of these disparities, their relationship came to an end.

The David Harris Years

Her romantic attentions next turned to David Harris, who was leading the draft resistance movement. She married him and together had a son. With their involvement in the demonstrations to keep American boys out of the Vietnam War, Baez found herself in and out of jail, sometimes for days at a time.  Harris was singled out to go to prison and sentenced with over a three year term. Three months after being released from prison, the two separated.

Diamonds, Rust, and Dylan

One day, Dylan surprised Baez with a phone call,which resulted in inspiring his old friend and lover to write the moving song, Diamonds and Rust.

Dylan’s reason for reaching out to Baez was to finally invite her to join him in concert; notably for the Rolling Thunder Tour. Baez felt she was finally in the right place in her life to let loose and ecstatically have fun on stage with her old love by her side.

Baez Secrets Shared

From the documentary we learn of Baez panic attacks and stage fright she had battled for years. It has only been in her sixth decade of life she finally feels at ease and comfortable on stage. She is now surrounded with the perfect band members; including her adult son, Gabriel Harris, who plays percussion.

Baez acknowledges how much music has been her therapy, helping her deal with loss and loneliness throughout the years.

She’s Still Got IT

After watching the documentary, the privileged T.I.F.F audience was treated to a wonderful mini-concert with Baez, who was accompanied by musician John Boyle.

She is slim with short gray hair and wore a stylish gray suit with a red bow scarf. Baez very amiably commented on how long it had been since she participated in a free outdoor concert venue, such as this.
Baez was in excellent form with her distinct high soprano voice. She performed a great line-up of songs, including: God is God, Love Song to a Stranger, Diamonds and Rust, Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright…

At times we were delighted when Baez showed her comedic side when she would amusingly do a spot-on impersonation of Dylan’s nasally voice.

She also shared with us about the day she was asked to wake Dr. King from a nap by singing Swing Low, Sweet Chariot and King remarked how it was like the sound of an angel. Dr. King’s observation still reigns, Baez still has the voice of an angel.

Tagged activist, Bob Dylan, civil rights, David Harris, How Sweet the Sound, Joan Baez, Martin Luther King Jr., Mimi Baez, music, Toronto International Film Festival