Linda Ronstadt.

On June 5, families, friends and musician Linda Ronstadt will honor the National Hispanic University (NHU) graduating class of 2010. Commencement speaker Ronstadt will receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters. Ronstadt, a Texas native whose heritage is Mexican and German, frequently emphasizes her Hispanic roots in recordings and appearances. She also is a national arts advocate and political activist.

LINDA RONSTADT has established one of the most impressive careers in the history of contemporary music. Arguably the most versatile vocalist of the modern era, she has broadened the latitudes of the pop singer, expanding the vocalist's canvas to include country, rock and roll, big band, jazz, opera, Broadway standards, Mexican and Afro-Cuban influences, leaving no stone unturned in the pursuit of the ultimate song. With worldwide album sales of over 50 million, at least 31 gold and platinum records, and 11 Grammy Awards to her credit, Linda is the consummate American artist.

While Linda was a student at the University of Arizona, she met guitarist Bob Kimmel. The duo moved to Los Angeles, where they were joined by guitarist/songwriter Kenny Edwards. Calling themselves the Stone Poneys, the group became a leading attraction on California's folk circuit, recording their self-titled first album The Stone Poneys in 1967. The band's second album, Evergreen, Vol. 2, featured the Top 20 hit "Different Drum," which was written by Michael Nesmith. After recording one more album with the group, Linda left for a solo career at the end of 1968.

Linda's first two solo albums - Hand Sow, Home Grown (1969) and Silk Purse (1970) - accentuated her country roots, and helped to create the burgeoning California country-rock movement.

Released in 1971, her self-titled third album Linda Ronstadt was a pivotal record in her career. Featuring a group of session musicians that would later become the Eagles, the album was a softer, more laidback variation of the country-rock she had been recording. With the inclusion of material from singer/songwriters like Jackson Browne, Neil Young and Eric Andersen, Linda became one of the premier interpreters of the new folk-rock idiom.

Don't Cry Now, released in 1973, followed the same formula to greater success, yet it was 1974's Heart Like a Wheel that perfected the sound, making Linda Ronstadt a star. Featuring the hit covers "You're No Good," "When Will I Be Loved" and "It Doesn't Matter Anymore," Heart Like a Wheel reached number one and sold over two million copies. Released in the fall of 1975, Prisoner in Disguise followed the same pattern as Heart Like a Wheel and was nearly as successful. Hasten Down the Wind, released in 1976, charted higher than Prisoner in Disguise.

Simple Dreams (1977) expanded the formula by adding a more rock-oriented supporting band, which breathed life into the Rolling Stones' "Tumbling Dice" and Warren Zevon's "Poor Pitiful Me." The record became the singer's biggest hit, staying on the top of the charts for five weeks and selling over three million copies.

With Living in the U.S.A. (1978) Linda began experimenting with new wave, recording Elvis Costello's "Alison"; the album was another number one hit. She made a full-fledged new wave record with 1980's Mad Love, recording three Costello songs and adopting a synth-laden sound. While the album was a commercial success, Linda was growing restless with rock music. After the release of 1982's Get Closer, she sensed it was time to try something new.

After meeting New York theatre legend Joe Papp, she was cast in his new Broadway staging of the classic Gilbert & Sullivan operetta, Pirates of Penzance, with Kevin Kline and Rex Smith. Following the show's long theatrical run, Linda starred in the movie version as well. She then embarked on her most ambitious project - a collaboration with Nelson Riddle, who arranged and conducted her 1983 collection of pop standards, What's New. Against all expectations, it was a considerable hit, reaching number three on the charts and selling over two million copies. Linda's next two standards albums, Lush Life (1984) and For Sentimental Reasons (1986), were also very successful.

At the end of 1986, Linda returned to contemporary pop, recording "Somewhere Out There," the theme to the animated An American Tail, with James Ingram; the single became a number two hit. She also returned to her country roots in 1987, recording the first Trio album with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris. That same year, Ronstadt recorded Canciones de mi Padre, a set of traditional Mexican songs that became a surprise hit.

Two years later, she recorded Cry Like a Rainstorm - Howl Like the Wind -- her first contemporary pop album since 1982's Get Closer. Featuring four duets with Aaron Neville, including the number two hit "Don't Know Much," the album sold over two million copies.

Linda returned to traditional Mexican material with Mas Canciones (1991) and later recorded a Cuban influenced album, Frenesi (1992). In 1994's Winter Light, and 1996's Feels Like Home, she returned to singing the work of her favorite contemporary songwriters. Fulfilling a long-standing wish, she also recorded a children's lullaby album, Dedicated to the One I Love.

The long-awaited reunion record, Trio II with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris, arrived in 1998 as well as We Ran. Emmylou Harris and Linda teamed up again in 1999 and released the fabulous Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions. Two years later in 2002, Linda delivered the holiday collection A Merry Little Christmas. Her 2004 release, Hummin' to Myself on Verve Records marked her first foray into jazz and received universally high acclaim.

Discography

1969 Hand Sown Home Grown

1970 Silk Purse

1971 Linda Ronstadt

1973 Don't Cry Now

1974 Heart Like a Wheel

1975 Prisoner in Disguise

1976 Hasten Down the Wind

1978 Living in the U.S.A.

1980 Mad Love

1982 Get Closer

1983 What's New

1984 Lush Life

1986 For Sentimental Reasons

1987 Canciones de Mi Padre

1989 Cry Like a Rainstorm - Howl Like the Wind

1990 Mas Canciones

1992 Frenesi

1994 Winter Light

1995 Feels Like Home

1996 Dedicated to the One I Love

1998 We Ran

2000 A Merry Little Christmas

2002 What's New

2002 Cristal - Glass Music Through the Ages

2004 Hummin' to Myself

2006 Adieu False Heart (w/ Anne Savoy)

Compilations / Box Sets

1974 Different Drum

1975 The Stone Poneys Featuring Linda Ronstadt

1976 Greatest Hits, Vol. 1

1977 Simple Dreams/Prisoner in Disguise

1977 A Retrospective 1980 Greatest Hits, Vol. 2

1984 For Country Lovers

1986 Round Midnight with Nelson Riddle and his...

1999 Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions

1999 The Linda Ronstadt Box Set

2000 Three For One

2003 The Very Best of Linda Ronstadt

2006 The Best of Linda Ronstadt - The Capitol Years