We travel to Los Angeles for the first half of Episode 2, where Carmel talks to legendary producer, bassist, and Blue Note Records president, Don Was about his first gig ever at age 12 opening for Joni Mitchell. Don also shares how he learned an important life lesson from listening to Blue, and discusses the sophistication of Joni’s harmonic and poetic compositions, and how this naturally intersected with some of the greats of jazz, including their mutual friend, the late Wayne Shorter. Next, in a heartfelt conversation, host Carmel Holt tells Bonnie Raitt that her own road to Joni began with cassettes of Blue and Bonnie’s 1974 album Streetlights, and we learn that her version of “That Song About The Midway” also holds a very special meaning for Bonnie, including performing the song in Joni’s living room at one of the Joni Jams. Bonnie shares how inspirational and important Joni has been for her, and the ways she has impacted her work.
SHEROES RADIO - The Road to Joni - She's Like Cézanne - September 2024
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SHEROES Productions is proud to present The Road To Joni,honoring the legendary Joni Mitchell.
The series, a 10-week takeover of the SHEROES Radio Hour and companion music interview podcast, will release new episodes weekly as Carmel embarks on a cross-country road trip from New York to California and back again; and will run through November 7, Joni’s 81st birthday. Midway through, Carmel will stop in Los Angeles where Joni Mitchell will be performing two “Joni Jam” concerts, on October 19 and 20, at the Hollywood Bowl.
“The Road To Joni” will air on all 23 SHEROES public radio affiliates across the country and will be released as a podcast, distributed by the Talkhouse Podcast Network, available everywhere. Subscribe now to “The Road To Joni” wherever you listen to podcasts.
During the 2-month journey, Carmel will stop in select markets for events, tapings, and on-air visits in cities where the SHEROES Radio Hour is broadcast, creating a communal experience among public radio partners, listeners, and fans. These stops include Minneapolis (The Current), Austin (KUTX) and Los Angeles (KCSN). All dates are listed below.
Featured guests will include Joni Jam members Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe of Lucius, Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), Hozier, and SistaStrings, as well as Bruce Hornsby, St. Vincent, Bonnie Raitt, Brittany Howard, esperanza spalding, Madison Cunningham, Arooj Aftab, Natalie Merchant, Kathleen Edwards, Béla Fleck, Amelia Meath (Sylvan Esso), Courtney Marie Andrews, Anaïs Mitchell, Jobi Riccio, Naomi McPherson (Muna), Anthony Mason (CBS News), Sam Beam (Iron & Wine), Don Was, and longtime Joni Mitchell photographer, Norman Seeff (who, among other well-known photographs of Joni, shot the cover image for Hejira, now used with permission for “The Road To Joni”).
As an independent feminist and queer-powered production team, SHEROES has historically been a femme and non-binary focused series, and for the first time is opening its doors wide for guests of all genders for its most inclusive production thus far to celebrate one central SHERO.
The Road To Joni
September 11 – Philadelphia, PA (WXPN)
September 13 – Pittsburgh, PA (WYEP)
September 14 – Akron, OH (WAPS)
September 15 – Ann Arbor, MI (WKQL)
September 17-18 – Milwaukee, WI (Radio Milwaukee)
September 19-21 – Minneapolis, MN (The Current)
September 23 – Des Moines, IA (Iowa Public Radio/Studio One)
September 24 – Kansas City, MO (The Bridge)
September 26 – Dallas, TX (KXT)
September 27-30 – Austin, TX (live event at KUTX 9/29)
October 4 – Santa Fe, NM (KBAC)
October 10-23 – Los Angeles, CA (KSCN)
October 19-20 – Los Angeles Joni Jam (Hollywood Bowl)
Carmel Holt is a podcast host and radio personality with a proven ear for curation and presentation. Over the past two decades, she has become known for her warm delivery, passionate support of new and emerging talent, and her natural rapport with artists. She has hosted engaging, conversational interviews with everyone from Courtney Barnett to Cat Power, Death Cab For Cutie to Paul McCartney, Mitski to Maggie Rogers, Bob Weir to Yola, Leon Bridges to The National, Ex Hex to The xx. Her extensive knowledge of music, and affinity for connecting with artists has made her a trusted and beloved host.
Bonnie Raitt can’t be summed up easily. Some people might view her as a sassy blues singer, some as a no-nonsense social activist, and some as an observant balladeer who writes deeply serious songs such as “Nick of Time” (a 1990 Grammy winner about a woman wanting to get pregnant before it’s too late) and “Just Like That,” a stunning track about a heart transplant survivor that won a Grammy last year for song of the year.
It turns out, of course, that Raitt is all of the above and more. At this point in her life, she cannot be stereotyped.
Bonnie Raitt performs at the Grammy Awards in 2020. EMMA MCINTYRE/GETTY IMAGES FOR THE RECORDING ACADEMY
“I don’t always just do blues or just do rock ‘n’ roll and up-tempo songs,” Raitt, 74, said in a recent phone interview ahead of her show at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway on June 15. “I think part of the reason I’ve lasted as long as I have … is pacing. It’s something I learned from watching my dad in those classic Rodgers and Hammerstein shows.”
As the daughter of Broadway star John Raitt, who starred in “Carousel” and “Oklahoma!,” Raitt talked about how those shows were presented. “They knew how to build the pacing, and how to set a beautiful song or a sadder song in the perfect place in the show. And I have about four different songs like that, which I have to nestle in my set. If you do them too soon, or too late in the set, or bunch some together, then energetically it doesn’t work. You have to honor the flow — and that’s the way I feel about all the songs I’ve written. I’ve written some rockers and some funky soul songs and reggae songs, but there’s a half-dozen at least emotional ballads that I’ve also written over the years.”
Bonnie Raitt and John Prine performing together in 2019. WADE PAYNE/ASSOCIATED PRESS
She put two of the serious ones on her last album “Just Like That,” including the title track and “Down the Hall,” a poignant reference to a prison hospice. Both are based on true events and “both are story songs,” said Raitt. “I was really inspired this time to write about someone else’s story. And I was directly inspired by John Prine. We do his ‘Angel From Montgomery’ every night and we know what a master he was of that form. … When I found some topics to write about in ‘Down the Hall’ and ‘Just Like That,’ I was so glad to be able to channel those.”
Raitt also marvels at how “Just Like That” prompted a new look at organ donation after she won the Grammy. She discovered a “bureaucratic quagmire” about how difficult it was to find matches for those surgical procedures. She said, “One of the things I’m most proud of was that Jill Biden gave me that [Grammy] onstage. It might have had an impact, because a couple of months later, Joe Biden announced there was an overhaul of organ donations. So I’m heartened by the fact that it will be different.”
Lest people think she’s getting too serious these days, Raitt just recorded a song with Little Feat’s Sam Clayton, “Long Distance Call.” It’s a sensuous blues tune that finds Raitt singing “One of these days I’m going to show you just how nice a woman can be.” And she just sang on a track for the upcoming 50th-anniversary album by rootsy road warriors the Fabulous Thunderbirds.
Bonnie Raitt performing at the Leader Bank Pavilion in 2022. JOSH REYNOLDS FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE
Given Raitt’s adventurous attitude both in the studio and on tour, she needs a band that can follow her increasingly diverse and complex styles. She has now released 21 albums since dropping out of Radcliffe to sign with Warner Bros. in 1970. That’s a lot of ground to cover.
She is particularly pleased to have added Boston guitarist Duke Levine to her group in the last couple of years. “He’s legendary among musicians as a guitarist. And it is so cool that he has played with Peter Wolf. His range and his tone and his passion for many different styles is [wonderful]. He plays with so much soul and pace. And I had no idea he could sing. I love playing with him.
“There was a short list of guitar players who could cover the range of what I do, because it’s really a broad range between R&B and Stones-y rock and funk and reggae and African and pop and Richard Thompson songs. You really have to know how to play. And when I found out Duke could also sing, he became my first choice. … The whole stack of people who are singing in this band now is really adding a lot of soul to the vocals.”
Levine, for his part, is ecstatic to have joined her group. He has played with many Boston acts such as J. Geils, Peter Wolf and the Midnight Travelers, Dennis Brennan, Tim Gearan, and Chris Cote — and toured nationally with Mary Chapin Carpenter. “I’m very lucky now to play with Bonnie,” he said. “She has been very gracious and welcoming. This has been more awesome than I thought it would be. Bonnie is one of the best singers in the world. Her voice has taken on an extra dimension and depth.”
Bonnie Raitt performing at Fenway Park in 2015. BEN STAS /BOSTON GLOBE
Any return by Raitt to New England summons memories of her early days in Cambridge, when she hung out with fellow musicians Peter Johnson, Reeve Little, Peter Bell, and “Spider” John Koerner. They partied in local clubs, and Koerner’s Monday night shows at Jack’s, on Massachusetts Avenue, were the focal point. (Learning of Koerner’s death last month, she posted a eulogy on her website. “It seems like I find myself writing eulogies every couple of weeks about a crucial person in my life who has passed away,” Raitt said, referencing the likes of Jimmy Buffett, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, David Lindley, and David Crosby.)
She still loves returning to Cambridge from her home base in Los Angeles. “All these years since, I’ve tried to stay in Cambridge [when on tour] and ride my bike to Fresh Pond and along the Charles,” she said. “And all these decades later, I still enjoy going to Harvard Square.”
Remarkably, unlike some veteran artists, Raitt is still looking ahead in her career, not back. Asked about a bucket list of artists she might want to work with in the future, she said, “Oh my God, there are people whose voices I just adore and music that I love, like Habib Koité, from Mali; Paul Brady, from Ireland and one of my favorite singers ever; and my friend, Lizz Wright, who has a fantastic new album out called ‘Shadow.’ I’m hoping to sometime collaborate with her. And the list is too long. I love Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs. And I love so many R&B artists.”
Also, there’s Brandi Carlile. Raitt recently joined her at Carlile’s Mothership Weekend festival in Florida. “We sang ‘Angel From Montgomery.’ That was really fun. I’m sure we’ll be working together again. And I have a whole cadre of male and female and in-between artists that I love and hope I can record with.”
About The Author
Steve Morse
Globe correspondent
Steve Morse was a staff music critic at The Boston Globe for nearly 30 years. He now teaches an online course in rock history at the Berklee College of Music. He also has contributed to Billboard and Rolling Stone.
Bonnie really enjoyed speaking recently with Julia Louis-Dreyfus for an episode of her terrific podcast, Wiser Than Me. They talk about performing live, the experience of external vs. internal validation, and managing grief among many other things. Don’t miss this in-depth conversation between two smart and fascinating women!
Today on Wiser Than Me, Julia sits down with 74-year-old music legend and Grammy Award winner Bonnie Raitt. Bonnie talks to Julia about performing live, the experienceof external vs. internal validation, and managing grief. Julia also gets Bonnie thinking about her songwriting in a whole new light. Crying, laughing, raging — this episode has everything. Plus, Julia discusses the deep emotions tied to meeting your heroes with her 90-year-old mom, Judy.
Wiser Than Me - Bonnie Raitt with Julia Louis-Dreyfus - April 3, 2024
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Bonnie Raitt with Julia Louis-Dreyfus backstage at The Late Show with David Letterman – April 2012
Julia Louis-Dreyfus returns for Season 2 of her award-winning podcast, Wiser Than Me™. Each week, she has funny, touching, personal conversations with iconic older women who are brimming with the kind of unapologetic attitude and wisdom that only comes with age. Julia sits at the feet of some extraordinary teachers this season (discover who in the trailer), and of course her 90-year-old mom, Judy. Tune in to laugh, cry and get wise. All Hail Old Women!
Bandana Blues is and will always be a labor of love. Please help Spinner deal with the costs of hosting & bandwidth. Visit www.bandanablues.com and hit the tipjar. Any amount is much appreciated, no matter how small. Thank you.
Bonnie has contributed a new recording of "Prison Bound Blues" written by Leroy Carr to a project called Better Than Jail, an extraordinary new album benefiting Free Hearts and Equal Justice USA. Better Than Jail is available everywhere today and features covers of iconic prison songs from Steve Earle, Taj Mahal,Margo Price, The War and Treaty and many more. The album seeks to raise awareness and support for the urgent need to reduce the harm of the criminal justice system. https://found.ee/BetterThanJail.
I'm so proud to have joined in with so many illustrious artists in creating this very special album in support of rural prison reform. Overlooked for far too long, this issue cuts across all cultural and political divides and deserves all our focused attention to finally bring about some swift and meaningful action. Better Than Jail is one of the most inspired and heartfelt albums I've been blessed to be a part of and I hope it sets a fire in hearts far and wide to join in our efforts." ~ Bonnie Raitt
Released on: 2024-10-04 Executive Producer: Brian Hunt Producer: Kenny Greenberg Producer: Wally Wilson Producer: Bonnie Raitt Recording Engineer: Jason Lehning at Sound Emporium Mastering Engineer: Alex McCollough at True East Mastering Production Assistant: Shannon Finnegan Mixer: Justin Niebank at Hounds Ear Music Publisher: Universal Music Corp. Composer, Lyricist: Leroy Carr ℗ Believe Entertainment Group and Wyatt Road Records
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The Fabulous Thunderbirds - Nothing in Rambling Ft. Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Keb' Mo' & Mick Fleetwood
In celebration of the band’s 50th Anniversary, The Fabulous Thunderbirds have just released Struck Down, their first studio album in eight years on Stony Plain Records. The ten-track album includes a wonderful cover of Memphis Minnie’s “Nothing in Rambling,” featuring longtime friends, T-Birds founding member Kim Wilson, along with Bonnie, Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal and Mick Fleetwood. — BRHQ
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Little Feat - Long Distance Call
“I’ve always loved Little Feat and this new incarnation of the band is bringing some serious heat, cred and new blood to their enduring legacy. Every Feat fan loves us some Sam. I’m so glad he’s now gotten a chance to step out front and center and put his spin on these wonderful blues songs. I loved singing "Long Distance Call" with him, always one of my favorites, and Scott slayed on slide. Know you’ll enjoy hanging out with us at Sam’s Place!" -- Bonnie Raitt
“Long Distance Call” was written by blues legend, Muddy Waters. It has Sam Clayton and Bonnie Raitt on vocals, Scott Sharrard on Dobro, Fred Tackett on acoustic guitar, Tony Leone on drums, and Michael “The Bull” LoBue on harmonica. The album also features Bill Payne on piano and Kenny Gradney on bass.
Little Feat have composed an album that’s their love letter to the blues entitled, ‘Sam’s Place.’ “Long Distance Call” plus many other blues classics are on this album. You can stream and order ‘Sam’s Place’ here: https://orcd.co/samsplace
Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine, Vol. 2, the anticipated new John Prine tribute record from Oh Boy Records, is out today. Stream/purchase HERE.
Created as a celebration of Prine’s life and career, the album features new renditions of some of Prine’s most beloved songs performed by Brandi Carlile (“I Remember Everything”), Tyler Childers (“Yes I Guess They Oughta Name A Drink After You”), Iris DeMent (“One Red Rose”), Emmylou Harris (“Hello In There”), Jason Isbell (“Souvenirs”), Valerie June (“Summer’s End”), Margo Price (“Sweet Revenge”), Bonnie Raitt (“Angel From Montgomery”), Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats (“Pretty Good”), Amanda Shires (“Saddle in the Rain”), Sturgill Simpson(“Paradise”) and John Paul White (“Sam Stone”). Proceeds from the album will benefit twelve different non-profit organizations, one selected by each of the featured artists.
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Bonnie Raitt - Write Me a Few of Your Lines/Kokomo Blues
60 years anniversary celebration of Arhoolie
December 10, 2020
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Arhoolie Foundation celebrates it's 60th anniversary (1960-2020) with an online broadcast.
Bonnie Raitt - Shadow of Doubt
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival
October 3, 2020
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass celebrates it's 20th anniversary with an online broadcast titled “Let The Music Play On”.
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Bonnie Raitt & Boz Scaggs - You Don't Know Like I Know
Farm Aid 2020 On the Road
Sam & Dave classic written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter.
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Sheryl Crow & Bonnie Raitt - Everything Is Broken
[Eric Clapton’s Crossroads 2019]
Eric Clapton, one of the world’s pre-eminent blues/rock guitarists, once again summoned an all-star team of six-string heroes for his fifth Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2019. Held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, the two-day concert event raised funds for the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, the chemical dependency treatment and education facility that Clapton founded in 1998.
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'A Tribute To Mose Allison'
Celebrates The Music Of An Exciting Jazz Master
Raitt contributed to a new album, If You're Going To The City: A Tribute To Mose Allison, which celebrates the late singer and pianist, who famously blended the rough-edged blues of the Mississippi Delta with the 1950s jazz of New York City.
NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks to Bonnie Raitt about her friendship with the Mose Allison. They're also joined by Amy Allison — his daughter, who executive produced the album — about selecting an unexpected list of artists to contribute songs to the album.
Recorded on tour June 3, 2017 - Centennial Hall, London - Ontario Canada
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