Linda Ronstadt's Yamaha grand piano has worked with many important composers and music creators: Eagles members Elton John, Ray Charles, James Taylor, Jonny Mitchell, Randy Newman, Jimmy Webb, Jackson Brown, Nelson Riddle, Carole King, J.D. Souther.
And, of course, the original owner of the Yamaha grand piano, Peter Asher, who went from being a pop star to a Grammy-winning producer. Then there's current owner Linda Ronstadt, a rock and roll hall of famer who, as the New York Times put it, "sings every song out of the real and beautiful." ”
The first encounter with the piano
Ronstadt wanted the piano to be relatively small and not crowded in San Francisco, which was smaller than before, and the Yamaha grand piano just met demand, which is why she bought it 15 years ago, asher was closing her studio and needed to sell the piano, and she just needed one.
But now, she plans to sell the piano, hoping to make room for her home, which is actually a "priceless treasure."
Ashe became her manager and producer in 1973, when her fourth album, Don't Cry Now, was also the first gold album. In 1974, she published Heart Like a Wheel, which received a lot of recognition and praise. Ronstadt told Cameron Crowe of the Rolling Stones in 1976 that Asher was "the first person willing to work like a friend with me." ”
The legendary life of the piano
Ronstadt remembers the piano as the heart of Asher's studio in Los Angeles' famous Subwayadour (1970s folk rock team).
At the time, Asher often rehearsed new songs with friends and clients, and found the perfect piano on North Doheny Drive, Ronstadt said: "I remember James Taylor rehearsing JT's songs with it. Joni Mitchell also used it for a while. Carole King has also been playing the piano, and of course, there are many artists who come to play it regularly. ”
Asher said how many beautiful songs were played on the piano, including famous songs by Andrew Gold and others.
"The piano plays a vital role in going from creative inspiration, constant experimentation to finishing the arrangement," Says Asher, "and I'm glad it came to Linda." I've always thought it was a piano of the times. ”
Ray Charles also played the piano, "and we were talking about things, and he sat on the piano and played for a while," Ronstadt recalled. "We were supposed to be talking about the duo."
Arranger and composer Nelson Riddle also rehearsed on this piano, where her famous trio album The Great American Song was composed.
Jimmy Webb's "Wichita Lineman" is a classic pop song that he often plays on this piano. The same goes for George Gershwin of Los Angeles. Newman also came to try out a song from his 2017 studio record Dark Matter, the last of which was the heartbreaking "Wandering Boy."
Cry for "her"
"He always made me cry," Ronstadt said of Newman. "I can still hear them in the living room, the musician sitting at the piano, playing their songs. "Music does have its own charm, and it's hard to believe that every key can make such a beautiful sound, and every note seems to have entered my heart."
Her family has also played on this piano for her, especially since 2009, when she had to give up her singing career due to Parkinson's disease.
She said: "I remember, they used to sing for me. ”