The new documentary Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice, directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, proves aptly titled. Not only does the pic provide many examples of the glorious vocals that made its subject a pop music superstar, it also allows us to once again hear her voice as she narrates her story. Astutely chronicling an amazing musical career that ended prematurely due to Parkinson's disease, the doc will delight the singer's old fans and likely make her many new ones as well.
Sound of My Voice begins with a montage of clips of Ronstadt's television appearances during her heyday, followed by Dolly Parton proclaiming, "Linda could literally sing everything!" Ronstadt came by her love of music easily; her Mexican grandfather was the founder and leader of a large band, and her father, who had a beautiful voice (we hear a sample of it in the doc), was fond of singing on any occasion.
The documentary also delves into personal topics, most movingly, the Parkinson's disease that robbed her of the ability to perform. For someone who loved singing above almost all else, it was a devastating blow. Ronstadt appears only briefly in the film, at the beginning and the end. Fortunately for us, Ronstadt did enough real singing during her career to make her voice one that will be heard for as long as people listen to music."