Biography

In 1996 Wally Breese, the creator of JoniMitchell.com, began writing a biography series that he published on the website in 1998. Planned to be an ongoing and complete project, his untimely death in 2000 put an end to his goal. In 2012, JoniMitchell.com commissioned a continuation of the project from long-time Joni fan Mark Scott. It was decided that, due to all the new information that had come to light in the past decade and a half, Mark would start again at the beginning with a new biography series. We present both works here in their (so far) entirety.

• 1943-1963 Childhood Days (Wally Breese)
• 1964-1968 Early Years (WB)
• 1968-1970 Emerging Popular Artist (WB)
• 1971-1973 Confessional Poet (WB)
• 1974-1975 Fame Time (WB)
• 1976-1977 Refuge of the Roads (WB)
• 1978-1980 Jazz Singer (WB)
• 1981-1984 A Solid Love (WB)
• 1985-1989 Experimental 80's (WB)
• 1990-1995 Return to Roots (WB)
• 1995-1997 Just Rewards (WB)
• I come from open prairie... (Mark Scott)
• Oh, but California... (MS)
• Crown and anchor me or let me sail away... (MS)
• Did you get a round resounding for you way up here? (MS)
• Safaris to the heart of all that jazz.... (MS)

There are many biography-based articles in the Library as well. And here are a few off-site references we find to be of interest:

• The Pop History Dig
• Wikiwand Biography
• The Lyrical Journey of Joni Mitchell

Awards and Honors

2024 GRAMMY Award for Best Folk Album At Newport
2023 Folk, Americana, and Roots Hall of Fame Inaugural Inductee
2023 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song
2022 Honorary Doctorate from Berklee College of Music
2022 GRAMMY Award for Best Historical Recording Archives Volume 1
2022 Honorary member American Academy of Arts and Letters
2022 MusiCares Person of the Year
2021 44th Annual Kennedy Center Honoree
2021 Honorary Doctorate in Music from University of Connecticut
2020 Les Paul Innovation Award
2020 Clouds inducted into Grammy Hall of Fame
2019 Elaine Weissman Lifetime Achievement Award
2018 Saskatoon names the Joni Mitchell Promenade
2018 Honorary PhD from the University of Saskatoon
2016 GRAMMY Award for Best Album Notes for Love Has Many Faces
2015 SFJazz Lifetime Achievement Award
2014 Hammer Museum Gala Honoree
2013 Luminato Festival Gala Honoree
2008 Alberta Arts Day Award
2008 JUNO: Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Award for Hana and Bad Dreams
2008 GRAMMY Award for Album of the Year River: The Joni Letters (Vocal Contribution)
2008 GRAMMY Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for One Week Last Summer
2007 Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame
2007 Canada Post issues Joni Mitchell stamp
2005 ASCAP Pop Award for Most Performed Song for Big Yellow Taxi
2004 Inducted into the Order of Canada
2004 Honorary Doctorate in Music from McGill University
2004 Court and Spark inducted into Grammy Hall of Fame
2002 GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award
2002 William Harold Moon Award from SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers for Canada)
2001 JUNO Award for Best Vocal Jazz Album for Both Sides Now
2001 Star on Canada's Walk of Fame
2001 Honoree at World Leaders: A Festival of Creative Genius
2001 RIAA Gold Certification for Clouds
2001 GRAMMY Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Both Sides Now with Larry Klein
1999 ASCAP Founder's Award
1998 Blue inducted into Grammy Hall of Fame
1997 RIAA Multi-Platinum Certification for Court and Spark
1997 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
1996 Sweden's Polar Prize
1996 National Academy of Songwriters Lifetime Achievement Award
1996 Governor-General's Performing Arts Award
1996 GRAMMY Award for Best Pop Album for Turbulent Indigo with Larry Klein
1996 GRAMMY Award for Best Recording Package for Turbulent Indigo with Robbie Cavolina
1996 Gemini Award
1996 Orville H Gibson Award
1995 Billboard Century Award
1993 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Saskatchewan Recording Industry Association
1988 Tenco Prize for Songwriting
1986 RIAA Platinum Certification for Blue
1986 RIAA Platinum Certification for Ladies of the Canyon
1981 Canadian Music Hall of Fame
1978 RIAA Gold Certification for Don Juan's Reckless Daughter
1976 RIAA Gold Certification for Hejira
1976 JUNO Award for Female Vocalist of the Year
1975 Rock Music Awards Best Female Vocalist
1975 RIAA Gold Certification for Hissing of Summer Lawns
1975 GRAMMY Award for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists for Down to You with Tom Scott
1974 RIAA Gold Certification for Miles of Aisles
1972 RIAA Gold Certification for For The Roses
1970 GRAMMY Award for Best Folk Performance for Clouds

15 additional JUNO nominations
9 additional GRAMMY nominations