Phoebe Snow was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who was born on July 17, 1950, in New York City. She was born with the name Phoebe Ann Laub, and she grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey. Her parents were Merrill Laub and Lili Laub, and they were both Jewish. Her father was a merchant marine, and her mother was a dance teacher. Phoebe Snow was a talented musician from a young age. She began playing the guitar when she was just a teenager, and she quickly developed a unique style that blended elements of folk, blues, and jazz. She was also a gifted singer, with a powerful and soulful voice that could convey a wide range of emotions. In the early 1970s, Phoebe Snow began performing in clubs and coffeehouses in New York City. She quickly gained a following, and she was soon signed to a record deal with Shelter Records. Her debut album, "Phoebe Snow," was released in 1974, and it was a critical and commercial success. The album featured the hit single "Poetry Man," which reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Over the next few years, Phoebe Snow continued to release albums and tour extensively. She became known for her powerful live performances, which showcased her incredible voice and guitar skills. She also collaborated with a number of other musicians, including Paul Simon, who produced her second album, "Second Childhood." In 1979, Phoebe Snow released her third album, "Against the Grain." The album featured the hit single "Gone at Last," which was a duet with Paul Simon. The song reached the top 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and it earned Phoebe Snow a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Phoebe Snow continued to release albums and tour, although she took some time off to raise her daughter, Valerie Rose. She also appeared in a number of films and television shows, including "The Cosby Show" and "Sisters." In 1998, Phoebe Snow released her seventh album, "I Can't Complain." The album featured a mix of original songs and covers, and it received positive reviews from critics. In 2003, she released her eighth and final album, "Natural Wonder," which was a collection of jazz standards. Phoebe Snow was known not only for her music but also for her activism. She was a strong supporter of various causes, including environmentalism and animal rights. She also worked with the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, which was founded by her friend and fellow musician, Christopher Reeve. Sadly, Phoebe Snow passed away on April 26, 2011, at the age of 60. She had suffered a brain hemorrhage in 2010, and she had been in a coma ever since. Her death was a great loss to the music world, but her legacy lives on through her music and her activism. Throughout her career, Phoebe Snow received numerous awards and accolades. She was nominated for four Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist in 1975. She also won a number of other awards, including the ASCAP Foundation Award for Lifetime Achievement in Songwriting in 2008. Phoebe Snow was a true original, with a voice and a style that were all her own. She was a gifted musician and a passionate activist, and she will always be remembered as one of the greats of American music.

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