Humble Beginnings Amid an Epidemic
It might not have been clear to her, prior to her new gig at the Half Beat Club, that she would be making her way to stardom. Her beginnings were nothing short of humble. She was born Roberta Joan Anderson on November 7, 1943, in a tiny town called Fort Macleod in Alberta, Canada. Like many talented artists, Joni faced hardship in her early years.
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At the age of nine, she contracted polio and was hospitalized for weeks during an epidemic. She was initially bedridden, but once she was in the recovering stages, Joni discovered her love of entertaining. She was hospitalized during Christmas time and would sing carols for other recovering patients.