Mimi Baez, Joan's little sister, married songwriter and novelist Richard Farina in 1963 when she was 17, and the pair formed a musical act whose protest music was an integral part of the pre-Woodstock folk era. Mimi's sophisticated guitar stylings meshed well with Richard's dulcimer playing, and their co-written songs were both politically engaging and musically satisfying. The duo debuted their act in 1964 and released two acclaimed albums on Vanguard Records, before tragedy struck two years later. On Mimi's 21st birthday, Richard died in a motorcycle accident, just a few days after the release of his classic novel of alienated youth, BEEN DOWN SO LONG IT LOOKS LIKE UP TO ME. Another posthumous album was released, and Mimi eventually went on to establish herself as a celebrated if not prolific solo artist. She died of cancer in 2001.