ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti tˈuː, ˈeɪdʒd nˈaɪntiːn, ʃiː stˈɑːɹɾɪŋ sˈɪŋɪŋ wˌaɪl ɐtˈɛndɪŋ nˈɔːɹθ tɚɹˈɑːntoʊ kəlˈiːdʒiət ˈɪnstɪtˌuːt ˌɛntˌiːsˌiːˈaɪ ænd pɚfˈɔːɹmd æz ɐ fˈoʊk sˈɪŋɚɹ ɪn hɜː tˈiːnz, tˈeɪkɪŋ vˈɔɪs lˈɛsənz fɹʌm pˈoːɹʃə wˈaɪt.
In 1962, aged 19, she starting singing while attending North Toronto Collegiate Institute (NTCI) and performed as a folk singer in her teens, taking voice lessons from Portia White.