Mimi Fariña facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mimi Fariña
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Fariña playing at a benefit for Bread and Roses
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Margarita Mimi Baez |
| Born | April 30, 1945 Palo Alto, California, U.S. |
| Died | July 18, 2001 (aged 56) Mill Valley, California, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1963–2001 |
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Margarita Mimi Baez Fariña (April 30, 1945 – July 18, 2001) was a talented American singer, songwriter, and activist. She was the younger sister of the famous singer and activist Joan Baez. Their father, Albert Baez, was a physicist.
Contents
Mimi's Musical Journey
Early Life and Music
Mimi Fariña's father was a physicist who worked at places like Stanford University. His job meant her family moved often, both in the United States and other countries. Mimi took dance and music lessons from a young age. She learned to play the guitar and became part of the folk music scene in the 1960s.
In 1963, when Mimi was 17, she met Richard Fariña. He was a writer and musician. They got married in Paris when she was 18. Mimi and Richard worked together on several popular folk albums. These included Celebrations for a Grey Day (1965) and Reflections in a Crystal Wind (1966). Both albums were released by Vanguard Records.
Life After Richard
Richard Fariña sadly died in a motorcycle accident on Mimi's 21st birthday in 1966. After this, Mimi moved to San Francisco. There, she continued to grow as a singer, songwriter, and activist. She performed at many festivals and clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area.
In 1967, Mimi joined a comedy group called The Committee. That same year, she and her sister Joan Baez were arrested. This happened during a peaceful protest. This experience made Mimi want to help people who were held in institutions.
In 1968, Mimi married Milan Melvin. She kept performing, sometimes with her sister Joan. She also recorded an album in 1971 called Take Heart with folksinger Tom Jans. Mimi and Milan divorced in 1971.
One of the songs Mimi wrote is "In the Quiet Morning (for Janis Joplin)." Her sister Joan Baez recorded this song in 1972. It was on Joan's album Come from the Shadows.
In 1973, Mimi was asked to perform for prisoners. She went with her sister Joan and B.B. King to Sing Sing Prison. This visit, along with her earlier arrest, made her want to do more for people in prisons and other institutions.
Bread and Roses Organization
In 1974, Mimi Fariña started an organization called Bread and Roses. Today, it is known as Bread and Roses Presents. The name comes from a poem written in 1912 by James Oppenheim. Mimi set this poem to a new tune she composed. Her song became very popular and was sung by many other artists.
Bread and Roses is a non-profit group that has been around for over 40 years. It brings free live music and entertainment to people who are isolated. This includes children, adults, and seniors in places like:
- Children's day care and special needs schools
- Hospitals
- Detention centers for young people and adults
- Homeless shelters
- Adult recovery centers
- Senior homes
Bread and Roses helps people in eight counties in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2019, they organized over 600 concerts in more than 120 different places.
Even though Mimi continued to sing and release an album in 1985, she spent most of her time running Bread and Roses. In the late 1980s, she often performed with Pete Sears. They played concerts to support human rights. Many of these concerts focused on issues in Central America. For example, they played for people protesting weapons being sent to El Salvador.
Mimi used her connections in the folk music world to get help for Bread and Roses. Many famous musicians supported her cause. These included Pete Seeger, Judy Collins, Carlos Santana, and Bonnie Raitt.
Later Life and Legacy
Mimi Fariña passed away from cancer on July 18, 2001. She was 56 years old. A memorial service was held for her in San Francisco. About 1,200 people attended to remember her.
Mimi Fariña's life is mentioned in several books and shows. She is talked about in David Hajdu's book Positively 4th Street. She also appears in the 1993 TV show based on the novel Tales of the City.
Mimi was also the subject of her sister Joan Baez's 1969 song "Sweet Sir Galahad". She appears in two documentaries: Greenwich Village: Music That Defined a Generation (2012) and Joan Baez: I Am a Noise (2023).
Selected Music Albums
- 1965: Celebrations for a Grey Day with Richard Fariña, Vanguard Records
- 1966: Reflections in a Crystal Wind with Richard Fariña, Vanguard Records
- 1968: Memories with Richard Fariña, Vanguard Records
- 1971: Take Heart with Tom Jans, A&M Records
- 1985: Mimi Farina Solo, Rounder Records
- 2001: The Complete Vanguard Recordings with Richard Fariña, Vanguard Records
- 2018: Mimi Fariña with Lowell Levinger (Banana from The Youngbloods) Grandpa Raccoon Records
