In a career that spans over 45 years, Joan Baez has eight gold albums to her credit along with a gold single, six Grammy Award Nominations, and she was presented with the 2003 Recording Academy San Francisco Chapter Governors Award.

During the Grammy Awards , which will be presented on February 11, 2007, Joan Baez will be honored with the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award. Also be honored with the award are Booker T. & The MG’s, Maria Callas, Ornette Coleman, the Doors, the Grateful Dead and Bob Wills . Fine company, and each is well deserving of the award.

Those of us who have followed the life and career of Joan Baez already understand the scope of her work. From the very start, Joan used the “celebrity” status that she earned as a way creating social change. Those whose politics and ideals differed from Joan’s would often mock her activism (Remember Al Capp creating the character Joanie Phoanie in his “Lil’ Abner” comic strip?), but Joan stood above the hecklers and fought for issues she believed in.

While she might have lost fans because of her stance (and possibly record deals), I think that she gained many more admirers then she lost – and she continues to inspire. The fusion of art and social conscious is a great treasure, and it is a good sign to see Joan Baez given this honor. It is especially nice to see Joan being honored for her music. I don’t think any of us can count how many young women were inspired to pickup the guitar during those early days of the folk revival. In recent years, she has shared the stage with contemporary songwriters – introducing them to her fans who have stayed with her throughout her career. Artists like Dar Williams, Richard Shindell and Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer have benefited from Joan’s “mentoring”, just as she benefited from Bob Gibson introducing her to the audience at the 1959 Newport Folk Festival.

Congratulations to Joan Baez on an honor that is long overdue.