Linda Perry

Linda Perry is an American singer‑songwriter, musician, and record producer best known for her powerful vocals and keen songwriting instincts. Born on April 15, 1965 in Springfield, Massachusetts, she grew up in a creatively charged household where her father, a Portuguese‑descended musician and engineer, and her mother, a Brazilian‑heritage model and designer, fostered her early love of music. After spending her teenage years in San Diego, Perry moved to San Francisco at 21, where she honed her craft playing guitar on city streets and performing at Bay Area clubs such as Nightbreak and DNA Lounge. In 1989 she joined the alternative rock band 4 Non Blondes, becoming its lead singer and primary songwriter; the group’s 1993 hit “What’s Up?”—penned by Perry—topped charts in ten countries and cemented her place in pop culture. Following the band’s breakup in 1994, Perry embarked on a solo career, releasing In Flight in 1996 and After Hours in 1999, while simultaneously developing production skills that would later define her legacy. The turn of the millennium saw her rise as a sought‑after producer, co‑writing and producing Pink’s breakout single “Get the Party Started” and Christina Aguilera’s anthem “Beautiful,” both of which garnered worldwide acclaim and Grammy recognition. Over the next decade she collaborated with icons such as Adele, Gwen Stefani, and Dolly Parton, while founding Custard Records and later the innovative label We Are Hear. In 2015 she was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, a testament to her enduring influence. Beyond music, Perry’s personal life includes her marriage to actress Sara Gilbert in 2014, with whom she shares a son born in 2015, and her openness as a proud lesbian activist. Her career, spanning over three decades, continues to inspire artists across genres and generations.