She was raised in a musical family, was swept up in the early 60’s Folk Movement. With husband Richard, Mimi Farina recorded three albums for the Vanguard label, until his untimely death in 1966, the result of a motorcycle accident. Going it alone, she recorded for A and M Records and opened concerts for people like Gordon Lightfoot, Arlo Guthrie, Phil Ochs and Hoyt Axton. In 1974, Farina founded Bread and Roses, a non-profit organization presenting free entertainment in hospitals, prisons, and convalescent homes in Marin County, California. Mimi’s last album was titled Mimi Farina, Solo. (Philo-Rounder Records).
Oh, we forgot to mention, Mimi’s older sister is Joan Baez.
Q – We don’t hear the word “folk” applied to any artist these days. What happened to the Folk Movement? Is it just a word from the past?
A – Well, it depends on what you call folk music. Traditional folk songs, I think there’s certainly still a network of people who perform them, sing them. I don’t think you can make a very manageable living from traditional folk music, although if you’ve ever been to Folk Festivals, there’s a whole circuit of Folk Festivals that go on all summer long, from Canada through the United States. I think a good tradition remains there and probably through the smaller clubs of America. But there it’s more likely to be combined with several nights of rock ‘n’ roll in order to keep a club alive. It’s less common and throughout the past 5-10 years I know I’ve heard there’s going to be a folk revival or it’s on its way, or it’s here, and I think we’ll probably never see one that is the same as what happened in the late 50’s, early 60’s.
Q – Is there any rivalry between yourself and your sister? We just have to ask that Question.
A – Naah. (Laughs.) I think it would sort of be out of the question to think otherwise. But, I would say over the years we learned better and better how to manage our sibling feelings.
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