Phoebe Snow: Back and Better Than Ever!

Really moving segment from CBS Sunday Morning: It is the untold story of Phoebe Snow; about a tragic medical mistake that changed Phoebe's life and the loyalty of her longtime friend, Linda Ronstadt.
Born in New York City, Phoebe Snow was raised in a household where Delta blues, Broadway show tunes, Dixieland jazz, classical music and folk music recordings were played around the clock.

Her father, Merrill Laub, was an exterminator by trade and her mother, Lili, was a dance teacher who died of bone cancer. She grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey and graduated from Teaneck High School.

As a teenager, she carried her prized Martin 00018 acoustic guitar from club to club around Greenwich Village, playing and singing on amateur nights. Her stage name is the same as a fictional advertising character created in the early 1900s for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, a young woman named Phoebe Snow, who appeared on boxcars traveling near her hometown. She changed her name from Phoebe Laub to Phoebe Snow.

She was briefly married to Phil Kearns, and, in December 1975, gave birth to a severely brain-injured daughter, Valerie. Snow resolved not to institutionalize her but instead care for her at home, which she did until Valerie died on March 18, 2007 at the age of 31. Snow's efforts to care for Valerie greatly and negatively affected her professional career, nearly ending it; it also adversely affected her personal life.

It was at the Bitter End club in 1972 that Denny Cordell, a promotions executive for Shelter Records, was so taken by the singer that he signed her to the label and produced her first recording. She released an eponymous album, Phoebe Snow, in 1974. Featuring guest performances by The Persuasions, Zoot Sims, Teddy Wilson, David Bromberg and Dave Mason, Snow's album became one of the most acclaimed debut recordings of the era. It spawned the Billboard Hot 100 #5 hit single, "Poetry Man," reached number 4 on the Billboard 200 album chart, won Snow a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist, and established her as a formidable singer/songwriter. The cover of Rolling Stone magazine followed, while she performed as the opening act for tours by Jackson Browne and Paul Simon (with whom she recorded the hit single "Gone at Last" in 1975). 1975 also brought the first of several appearances as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live, on which Snow performed both solo and in duets with Paul Simon and Linda Ronstadt. During the 1975 appearance, she was seven months pregnant with her daughter.

Legal battles took place between Snow and Shelter Records, and Snow ended up signed to Columbia Records. Her second album, Second Childhood, appeared in 1976, produced by Phil Ramone. It was jazzier and more introspective, and suffered disappointing sales. Snow moved to a harder sound for It Looks Like Snow, released later in 1976 with David Rubinson producing. 1977 saw Never Letting Go, again with Ramone, while 1978's Against the Grain was helmed by Barry Beckett. After that Snow parted ways with Columbia; she would later say that the stress of her parental obligations degraded her ability to make music effectively.

In 1981, Snow, now signed with Mirage Records, released Rock Away, recorded with members of Billy Joel's band; it spun off the Top 50 hit "Games". The 1983 Rolling Stone Record Guide summed up Snow's career so far by saying: "One of the most gifted voices of her generation, Phoebe Snow can do just about anything stylistically as well as technically ... The question that's still unanswered is how best to channel such talent." However, Snow would now spend long periods away from recording, often singing commercial jingles for AT&T and others in order to support herself and her daughter.

Snow returned to recording with Something Real in 1989 and gathered a few more hits on the Adult Contemporary charts.
Even when she wasn't recording her own works, Phoebe continued to tour extensively as a solo artist throughout North America, Great Britain, Germany, and the Far East. Throughout the '90s she made numerous appearances on the Howard Stern radio show.

In 1997, she sang the Roseanne theme song a cappella during the closing moments of the final episode.

In May 1998, Snow received the Cultural Achievement Award by New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. She is also the recipient of a Don Kirschner Rock Award, several Playboy Music Poll Awards, New York Music Awards and the Clio Award.
She performed for the President Clinton, the First Lady, and his cabinet at Camp David in 1999.
In 2003, Snow released her album Natural Wonder on Eagle Records, containing ten original tracks, her first original material in fourteen years.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Phoebe
• Snow
• Linda
• Ronstadt
• medical
• malpractice
• stouffers
• commercial
• poetry
• man

[ronstadtfanaz]

touching story of a tragic medical mistake that changed Phoebe's life and the loyalty of her friend Linda Ronstadt whom anyone would be proud to have in her corner. a long and happy life to both of these women.

[1stfamilyent]

RIP Phoebe you're with Valerie forever in each others arms.

[ASultryWmn]

I had been a fan for years, and never knew her real story. I feel honored to have her share this story with the world. As sad as it is to have Phoebe leave us,We should all rejoice knowing she is reunited with her daughter.

[willial12]

We were so honored to have be able to see her at the Lancater Performing Arts Center with my brother and sister in-law, she took our breat away and brought us to tears, she is one of the gifted artist who made us so passionate about music, a passion that our family( especially my brother Dennis and me) share deeply. Her love for her daughter is so moving and deeply felt, it jsut can't help but move your soul! Bless you Phoebe for ALL you shared with US, Good Journies! Lar, Den,Jeff & Dar

[welles2002]

a super talent wow I hope she is reunited with her daughter

[trainerkeith]

Beautiful woman, beautiful soul...THANK YOU for sharing your gift with us...

[flathead59]

Touched my heart,I always sing the Stoufers commercial ,and Poetry Man, such a heartbreaking story.Rest in peace little girl,with Jesus....

[Golden3000997]

I loved Phoebe Snow back in the 70s. A friend shared a video about her on Facebook with me today. I went to YouTube to put the video on my favorites list and found out that she died on Tuesday! A Beautiful Woman. A Beautiful Singer. A Beautiful Mother. The Heavenly Choir has a new bright star!

[TheRich1217]

I had no Idea about Phoebe's blessing with such a child as I have. I know her dedication and determination as I feel the same about my blessing in a son. He is also my love and my life. I am fortunate to still have my 31 year old, and I know she is with her daughter today. My life experience has been on exactly the same as Phoebe's. May she rest in peace and enjoy being reunited with her love.

[jsmnthomas1]

Only a mother can understand this kind of Love, God bless you Phoebe

[bubblesandpickles]

I feel so lucky and honored to have seen Phoebe sing outdoors in NYC at Washington Square Park 2 years ago. It was one of the most touching and impressive performances I have ever seen. And man could she rock out. Amazing.

[cynthiacher]

Goodbye, Phoebe. You were one of the best, both as an artist and a human being.