In 1960-62 I was living in Paris, having gone there just out of college to teach English in a Lycee and to enjoy "La Belle Ville."  One of the friends I made there was a funny guy named "Mac," from Glendora, CA.  Mac was seriously crippled, but never let that keep him from doing whatever he wanted to do. He was a crazy, wonderful guy.

Mac introduced me to some pretty strange people, so when he said, "Kim, there's someone I want you to meet" I never quite knew what was in store. On this particular occasion (spring 1961) he said that a young friend of his whom he had met at a political rally in L.A. was coming to Paris to visit her parents. Her father, who was Mexican, worked for UNESCO. She was 19 and a "terrific singer" who Mac felt would someday be famous (coming from Mac, one took that with a grain of salt).(He neglected to tell us that she had just made a recording with a fledgling company called Vanguard and was scheduled to sing at the 1961 Newport Folk Festival).  She was giving a little concert in a lounge at the American Church at 75 Quai d'Orsay for family and friends, and would my girlfriend (now my wife) Margaretha and I be interested in coming?  I said, "What the hell, why not!"

When we got to the Church that night, there were about 12 people there, including us, sitting in a circle on three couches.  At the end of one couch was a beautiful young woman with long black hair, very dark eyes, and a guitar. She had on jeans and cowboy boots. Mac introduced her as "Joni."  As we sat back and listened for the next two hours, we were mesmerized.  I was not much into folksinging, but she made me a fan that night. She was great. She sang an incredible variety of songs, many of which were originals that she had written for political causes. Her voice was crystal clear and she had an unusually rapid and even vibrato. She had incredible poise and presence for a 19 year-old.

Margaretha and I left that little gathering feeling that we had met someone very special and that Mac had not exaggerated this time when he said "she's soon going to be famous!".

And indeed she was (and still is!)

Her name was Joan Baez.