Mimi Fariña

Mimi Baez Fariña ( born April 30, 1945 as Margarita Mimi Baez, † 18 July 2001) was a singer, songwriter and activist. She was the daughter of the physicist Albert Baez and the sister of folk singer Joan Baez.

Fariña married in 1963 at the age of 17, the writer, musician and composer Richard Fariña. They worked together on some folk music albums, with particular Celebrations for a Grey Day (1965) and Reflections in a Crystal Wind (1966 ) stand out. After the death of Richard Fariña ( at Mimi's 21st birthday ) in a motorcycle accident in 1966, married Mimi Milan Melvin and continued to make music. She was either with her sister Joan or the folksinger Tom Jans in the studio or on stage.

Bread and Roses

In 1974, to bring Fariña Bread and Roses, a non-profit organization that aims to free music and entertainment in hospitals, retirement and nursing homes, but also prisons. Bread and Roses is still working and organized around 500 shows per year. The name of the organization is based on the 1911 published poem by the author James Oppenheim. Fariña brought the text of the poem in song form.

Although in her later career continued to make music and in 1985 brought out another album, Fariña devoted most of their time to the Bread and Roses Project. She died in July 2001 at age 56 from a rare form of cancer.