Neil Young

Neil Young is a iconic Canadian-American artist whose music has inspired both fans and other musicians. Born in Toronto, Canada, in 1945, he was the youngest of two sons; his father was journalist Scott Alexander Young, who wrote sports articles and fiction. His mother, Edna Blow Ragland Young (known to friends as “Rassy”), was of French and American ancestry; she was also a member of Daughters of the American Revolution, a non-profit group that promotes education and (American) patriotism. Members of the group must be direct descendants of people who fought in the American Revolution. Most of Young’s early life was spent in Toronto, Ontario or Winnipeg, Manitoba, except for a year in Florida, in 1951. Young had contracted polio and was partially paralyzed; his parents believed the warmer weather would speed his recovery. This would be one of several influences on his later work and his activist sympathies. Young would record a cover of the Ian Tyson song "Four Strong Winds” in 1978, saying that the song reminded him of his childhood in Winnipeg. As an artist, Young has donated his time and energy to other philanthropic concerns, such as racism, environmentalism and political activism. One of his most famous songs, “Ohio”, reflects on the shooting of four students by members of the Ohio National Guard in 1970, during a protest against the war in Vietnam. Young was the co-founder of Farm Aid, along with musician Willie Nelson, which raised money for farmers in desperate financial need and encouraged the growth and consumption of food grown locally. Young’s work also represented the human touch, showcasing personal issues and the experience of being human and vulnerable. “Old Man” was written by Young in remembrance of Louis Avila, the caretaker of his northern California ranch. His work, while often wistful and somber, also celebrated life, such as in the hit song “Harvest Moon”. Young’s creative influences are varied and come from a variety of musical genres, such as rock ‘n roll (Elvis Prestley and Chuck Berry), country (Johnny Cash), R&B (Fats Domino and Little Richard) and much more. Young blended and worked with these influences to create a style of guitar playing that was distinctive; one of his earliest bands, Buffalo Springfield, lastest only two years but created the musical genres folk rock and country rock. The band is today considered the father of grunge music (the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997). Young was previously inducted in 1995 as an independent musician. His work wasn’t always appreciated, though, and fame has come and gone over his long career. At times a best selling artist and at other times struggling to sell records, Young was nevertheless influential on a number of up and coming young artists. His collaborations have included Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor and Joni Mitchell, a long time friend from his early days. Young himself never wanted fame, admitting his fear of becoming mainstream sometimes affected his choices and jeopardized his career. His passion for his beliefs, though, make it likely that he will still be voicing his opinion and creating music for a long, long time to come.