Joni Mitchell

Joni Mitchell emerged as a darling of the late 1960s folk scene as a lyrically gifted songwriter and honey-voiced golden girl. In the '70s, she went on to incorporate jazz and confessional pop-rock into her musical vision, ultimately creating a poetic, earthy brand of art song that earned her a legion of admirers. While she has drifted in and out of fashion in her later career, she's among the most talented artists of her generation, and more than a few performers have her to thank for their careers.

• rock