Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Multi genre music royalty Linda Ronstadt turned 80 years young last week. The incomprable singer was born July 15, 1946 in Arizona and raised on a 10 acre farm. Her father’s ancestry would later inspire her Mexican recordings. She started her career as part of the folk trio, The Stone Poneys, who had a Top 20 hit in 1967 with a song written by Mike Nesmith of The Monkees. Ronstadt released her first solo album in 1969.

This is from my post on Day 486 of my Lockdown Countdown:

“Ronstadt has sung nearly every genre of music in her career from pop to country to big band to Mexican to jazz and more. On her 34th birthday in 1980, she expanded her repertoire when she appeared in Joseph Papp’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance in Central Park in NYC. But I still love the song that started her career and introduced us all to her unbelievably fabulous voice. Here’s to 100 more birthdays for this legendary artist“.

Linda Ronstadt in the 1970’s. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Ronstadt in the 1970’s. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Ronstadt circa 1999. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

This year also marks the golden anniversary of Ronstadt’s seventh studio album, Hasten Down the Wind. It was released 50 years ago by Capitol on August 9, 1976. A month later, it peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200, giving her the third platinum album of her career.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The man who wrote the title track to Ronstadt’s 1976 album-Warren Zevon-released his own self titled album 50 years ago in May 1976. His original take on the song strikes me as even more heartbreaking than hers, probably because it is amplified by the gorgeous harmony vocals by Phil Everly, who Zevon worked with in the 1970’s as band leader, musical coordinator and keyboard player for The Everly Brothers and later with Phil & Don Everly on their solo tours. Another of Zevon’s friends-fellow singer/songwriter, Jackson Browne-produced Zevon’s 1976 album and contributed guitar & harmony vocals to four of the eleven tracks. JD Souther, Lindsey Buckingham, Bonnie Raitt and many other artists also contributed to Zevon’s record.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Warren Zevon (L) and Phil Everly (R) circa 1971. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Zevon (L) and Jackson Browne (R) circa 1976. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Blues, rock & country singer-songwriter & musician Delbert McClinton had a Top Ten hit in February 1981 with a song that peaked at #8. That technically makes the singer-who turned 85 last November-a one-hit wonder. However, he had a hit duet with country superstar Tanya Tucker-“Tell Me About It”-which reached #4 on the country chart in July 1993.

McClinton is also a four-time Grammy winner with awards in 1992 for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for the song, ” Good Man, Good Woman” with Bonnie Raitt; in 2002 & 2006 for Best Contemporary Blues Album – or Contemporary Blues Recording for Nothing Personal (2002) and Cost Of Living (2006) and for Best Traditional Blues Album for Tall, Dark, & Handsome in 2020. Not bad for a one-hit wonder.

Delbert McClinton circa 1981. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Bonnie Bramlett (L) of Delaney & Bonnie provided the backing vocals for McClinton’s 1981 hit. They are pictured here together circa 1978. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The pilot episode of “Six Feet Under” premiered 25 years ago on Sunday, June 3, 2001. The Fishers-Nathaniel, Ruth, Nate, David & Clare-helped us explore death in their family-owned funeral home along with their life challenges, romances, neurosis and their own struggles living in the same place where the reality of death is ever present. The IMDb tagline for the show-“When death is your business, what is your life?”-tells you all you need to know.

To closeout the Christmas episode in S2 (E8 which oddly enough aired in April 2002) one of the main characters, Nate-the oldest son who reluctantly inherits half of the family business he wanted nothing to do with after his father’s sudden death-takes a moment of freedom from his new reality by escaping it by taking a motorcycle ride. But perhaps as a reminder to Nate’s profession and how near the end may be for any one of us, the song underscoring Nate’s temporary escape is none other than the Blue Oyster Cult classic released 50 years ago in May 1976 from the album, Agents Of Fortune. Or perhaps it was a direct message to all of us to literally not fear the moment we are all headed by not l letting it stop us from living. Ten years ago in 2016, that song was covered as a beautiful slow mournful ballad giving it new life & a new audience.

The cast of “Six Feet Under” L-R: Rachel Griffiths, Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Mathew St. Patrick, Freddy Rodriguez, Lauren Ambrose (seated) and Frances Conroy. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Stone Poneys: “Different Drum” (1967, written by Mike Nesmith).

Linda Ronstadt: “Love Has No Pride” (1973, written by Eric Kaz and Libby Titus).

Linda Ronstadt: “You’re No Good” (1974, written by Clint Ballard Jr.).

Linda Ronstadt: “Lose Again” (1976, written by Karla Bonoff).

Linda Ronstadt: “That’ll Be The Day” (1976, written by Jerry Allison, Buddy Holly and Norman Petty).

Linda Ronstadt: “Hasten Down The Wind” (1976, written by Warren Zevon).

Linda Ronstadt featuring Aaron Neville: “Don’t Know Much” (1989, written by Barry Mann, Tom Snow and Cynthis Weil).

Rosemary Clooney & Linda Ronstadt: “Time Flies” ( Evening At Pops with John Williams live performance May 24, 1993. Written by Jimmy Webb).

Warren Zevon: “Hasten Down the Wind” (1976, written by Warren Zevon. Harmony vocals by Phil Everly).

Warren Zevon: “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” (1976, written by Warren Zevon).

Warren Zevon: “Carmelita” (1976, written by Warren Zevon).

Delbert McClinton: “Giving It Up For Your Love” (1980, written by Jerry Lynn Williams).

Blue Oyster Cult: “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” (1976, written by Buck Dharma a/k/a Donald Brian Roeser).

Denmark & Winter: “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” (2016, written by Buck Dharma a/k/a Donald Brian Roeser).

Stay safe & well.