Linda Shear

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Linda Shear (born 1948 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and piano player.

Musical career[edit]

On May 13, 1972, she and percussionist Ella Szekely performed in the first known out-lesbian concert in the U.S. at the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle Campus.[1][2][3][4] The Chicago Women's Liberation Rock Band was also on the bill that evening. Soon after, Shear began performing with her band, Family of Woman, which included Szekely, violinist Joan Capra, and guitar players Sherry Jenkins, Judy Handler, and Susan Abod.[1] Susan Kahn served as their sound technician, and they played nationally as the first known out lesbian band in the country, including at the second National Lesbian Conference at the University of California, Berkeley in 1973.[5][1]

Following the dissolution of Family of Woman, Shear began touring and released her album A Lesbian Portrait on her own independent record label, Old Lady Blue Jeans, in 1976.[6][7] Elana Dykewomon reviewed the album positively in DYKE, A Quarterly.[7] She performed in concert and at women's music festivals, including the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival.[8] She was a supporter of lesbian separatism, and in 1976 began requesting that her audiences be limited to lesbians only.[9][10][11] In the early 1970s, Shear helped found the Chicago-based lesbian newspaper, Lavender Woman.[1]

Although Shear had little commercial success, she remains an icon in some lesbian circles.[12] Her music and story was featured by JD Doyle in 2001.[13] She was interviewed in the 2002 documentary Radical Harmonies, and she appeared on the breast cancer research benefit CD High Risk. In 2010, she was interviewed by Tracy Baim for her project, Chicago Gay History.[14]

Personal life[edit]

In 1974, Shear moved to Northampton, Massachusetts with her partner Tryna Goldsmith. In 1975, they were involved in a custody battle for their eleven-year old daughter, which they ultimately lost.[15]

On September 28, 2008, after 25 years of domestic partnership, Shear married Windflower Townley. They live in Northern California with their two dogs, Emma Rose and Skylar Grace.[14]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Love, Barbara J. (2006). Feminists Who Changed America, 1963-1975. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. p. 420. ISBN 0252097475.
  2. ^ "The Family of Woman" (PDF). Chicago Women's Liberation Union News. January 5, 1973. p. 5. Retrieved March 1, 2024 – via JSTOR.
  3. ^ "For the First Time A Lesbian Benefit Concert" (PDF). Lavender Woman. Vol. 1, no. 3. May 1972. p. 2. Retrieved March 2, 2024 – via JSTOR.
  4. ^ Brody, Michal (1985). Are We There Yet?: A Continuing History of Lavender Woman, a Chicago Lesbian Newspaper, 1971-1976. Iowa City, Iowa: Aunt Lute Book Co. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-918040-07-7.
  5. ^ Jovanovich, Alex (October 3, 2017). "Barbara Hammer". Artforum. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  6. ^ "Linda Shear - A Lesbian Portrait". Queer Music Heritage. October 2001. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Cowan, Liza (May 18, 2012). "DYKE A Quarterly No. 2, 1976. Rated XX: Recorded Women's Music". DYKE, A Quarterly. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  8. ^ Esther, Jean; Cook, Lucinda (October 1979). "A Taste of Honey in Michigan". Valley Women's Voice. p. 3. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  9. ^ Brunet, Ariane; Turcotte, Louise (1988). "Separatism and Radicalism: An analysis of the differences and similarities". In Hoagland, Sarah Lucia; Penelope, Julia (eds.). For Lesbians Only: A Separatist Anthology. London, England: Onlywomen Press. p. 452. ISBN 978-0-906500-28-6.
  10. ^ James, Flame; Smith, Betsy; Wechsler, Nancy (October 7, 1978). "Separatist Politics at the Women's Music Festival". Gay Community News. pp. 10–11. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  11. ^ Tilchen, Maida (1984). "Lesbians and Women's Music". In Darty, Trudy; Potter, Sandee (eds.). Women-Identified Women (First ed.). Palo Alto, California: Mayfield Publishing. p. 296. ISBN 978-0-87484-573-0.
  12. ^ "DYKE A Quarterly". DYKE A Quarterly. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  13. ^ "October 2001 Script". www.queermusicheritage.com. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Linda Shear and Windflower". Chicago Gay History. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  15. ^ "lesbians lose". Off Our Backs. 5 (3): 16. March 1975. ISSN 0030-0071. Retrieved March 5, 2024 – via JSTOR.
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