I’ve been ‘with the band’ since I was in the first grade.  And by the band, I mean my dad’s 70’s/80’s rock cover band – Palo Alto’s Battle of the Bands winners three years running – the Wildcats (the trophy is prominently displayed on our mantle, let me tell you).  Named for my elementary school, the Wildcats play locally in the Valley for charity events and parties (you can auction them off and win their presence at your next soirée!).  In sixth grade, I helped my dad sell their CDs during the holiday season by standing on the corner of the street in front of my elementary school by knocking on the windows of unwilling and slightly terrified drivers.  While I wore an elf costume, my dad was playing his guitar in a red bodysuit and Santa hat with matching vintage Nikes, if that gives you a better image.  So I think it’s safe to say I skipped the steps of a conventional preteen being embarrassed by my parents at a young age.

Through my years of attending the Wildcats' concerts, witnessing stage dives and numerous parent parties partnered with the constant Scheel family soundtrack of 70’s XM Satellite radio, I have developed a deep love and appreciation for the ‘oldies’ – the music of our parents’ generation.  I’d go as far as call myself an unofficial oldies connoisseur: from Springsteen to the Disco era these jams are a part of my lifeblood.  And what’s even cooler about this period in the larger sociocultural landscape of the music world is the number of unique female artists that emerged as trailblazers for future generations, and are still revered today.  In addition to the greats such as Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin, here are a few of my favorites, and in my opinion artists that, for their own reasons, millennial women should know a thing or two about.

STEVIE NICKS

If any of you have seen School of Rock (which I hope to God you have), remember the scene where Ms. Mullins is jammin' out to that song in the sketchy cafe with Jack Black?  Those are Stevie’s pipes soaring out of that juke box.  She holds the unofficial crown title of ‘Queen of Rock and Roll’ and was deemed one of Rolling Stone’s Best Singers of All Time.  As one of the female leads of Fleetwood Mac, Nicks scored five Grammys for her vocal performance with the band, whose album ‘Dreams’ (released 1977) is, in my opinion, one of the most timeless rock albums to date (it’s also the sixth most selling rock album of all time, if that doesn’t tell you something). The blend of rhythms and almost bluesy tracks balance out the more upbeat, rock-oriented ones to create a mix of kick-ass songs.  After starting her solo career in 1981, Nicks would go on to receive eight more Grammys, bringing her grand total to a lucky 13.  She carried over the bluesy element typical of Fleetwood Mac’s music to her solo career, amplifying her stage presence with her eloquent lyrics that often amplify human emotions into an almost spiritual and mystic language.  Backed by a unique style, Stevie is fearless, creative, and still rocking out well into her sixties. Now THAT’S what I call pursuing a passion.

Shannon's Picks

LINDA RONSTADT

I guarantee I’m one of the few millennials who knows about Linda simply because of my sheer volume of exposure to the music of the 70s, but she is worth taking a second look at.  Although since silenced by Parkinson’s disease, Linda’s musical legacy is far from keeping quiet.  Her style is especially unique because of the way she flirts with the boundary between country and rock, blending the two genres to highlight the distinct tone of her music.  Her pure, soulful voice and incredible range really carries the weight of her lyrics, which oftentimes speak to women and their deserved treatment in relationships.  A sultry ballad calling for relationship balance that I can belt out shamelessly in the shower?  Hell yeah, Linda!  At one point, her tour band included members that would go on to form the Eagles (one of my favorite bands).  Oh, and she also has 11 Grammys, a Tony award and has collaborated with the likes of Neil Young and Jonny Cash.  Not too shabby.

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Famous Quote: 'I have always believed that one learns more from failure than from success.'

GLADYS KNIGHT

‘The Empress of Soul’ did not allow the roadblocks put in place by Motown Records to keep her from having a standout career.  Her intrinsic motivation and early sense of purpose shows prominently in the early stages of her career – Knight and her siblings began singing as a group (‘The Pips’) when she was eight, and the name stuck as their permanent headline.  Upon signing with Motown in 1966, label head Berry Gordy considered Knight as a second tier act to Diana Ross and the Supremes, despite the Pips’ earning several number one hits.  However, Knight knew her voice had more to give than she was getting at Motown, and the group switched labels to release ‘Midnight Train to Georgia,’ which topped the R&B charts and picked up a Grammy.  The tonality of soul in her voice is not something that can be taught, and speaks to the success of her solo career that took off in the late 1980s.  Yet another intelligent, driven woman who wouldn’t take no for an answer, Gladys Knight is clearly deserving of a spot on my list.

Shannon's Picks

Famous Quote: ‘If all I do in my life is soothe someone’s spirit with a song, let me do that and I’ll be happy.’

Obviously this is the short list of brilliant women artists from this time period of music, but I picked these three not only because of their musical talents, but also because of what their music means on a larger scale.  My hope is that you’ve gotten a little more cultured (and a little more old school in your music tastes) by getting to know these timeless leading ladies.

Until next time, bSmart!

The Wildcats