Resolution declaring July 15, 2024, as Linda Maria Ronstadt Day in the City and County
of San Francisco in recognition of her iconic catalog of work, her commitment to social
justice, and her 78th birthday.
WHEREAS, Linda Maria Ronstadt, a resident of San Francisco’s Richmond District, is
a world renowned singer, referred to as the “First Lady of Rock” and voted the Top Female
Pop Singer of the 1970s and has forged a four-decade career and expanded the range of a
pop singer to include country, Rock ‘n’ Roll, big band, jazz, opera, Broadway standards, and
Mexican and Afro-Cuban influences; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Ronstadt has recorded and released over 30 studio albums and has
made guest appearances on an estimated 120 albums by other artists and at least 31 gold
and platinum records; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Ronstadt has 38 Billboard’s Top 100 singles, and her single “You’re
No Good”, was the number 1 single in 1974; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Ronstadt has earned 11 Grammy Awards, three American Music
Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, a Tony
Award, and a Golden Globe Award; and
WHEREAS, In 2014, Ms. Ronstadt was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
and was awarded the National Medal of Arts and Humanities; and
WHEREAS, In 2016, Ms. Ronstadt was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement
Award in 2016; and
WHEREAS, In 2019, Ms. Ronstadt received the Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime
artistic achievement by President Barack Obama, and a star, jointly with Dolly Parton and
Emmylou Harris, on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for their work as the group Trio; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Ronstadt, a proud Mexican American, serves on the Advisory Board
of Los Cenzontles, an academy in California’s East Bay dedicated to the preservation of
Mexican Heritage; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Ronstadt has long been active in supporting social justice causes and
in 2004 at a performance in Las Vegas she was evicted from her hotel after speaking out
against war and received support from friends in the entertainment world, including the Rolling
Stones and Elton John, and several other entertainers, like the Eagles, who boycotted the
Vegas venue; and
WHEREAS, In 2009, Ms. Ronstadt gave an interview, “Linda Ronstadt’s Gay Mission”,
where she championed gay rights and same-sex marriage, and stated “homophobia is anti-
family values. Period, end of story”; and
WHEREAS, In 2010, Ms. Ronstadt, a native of Arizona, joined in a lawsuit against
Arizona’s law SB 1070 , speaking out against the anti-immigrant law and in support of
immigrant rights; and
WHEREAS, In 2011, Ms. Ronstadt retired from singing and now resides in her home in
San Francisco’s Sea Cliff neighborhood in District 1; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the San Francisco Board of Supervisors declares July 15, 2024, as
Linda Maria Ronstadt Day and recognizes and honors Ms. Ronstadt for her amazing
contributions to American culture, preservation of Mexican American heritage, and advancing
social justice; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, The Board wishes Ms. Ronstadt a very happy birthday.