Bonnie Raitt is one of the most respected musicians of her generation.
Fans were in uproar in 2023, when she was described as an “unknown blues singer” by some publications, after winning a Grammy Award for Song of the Year, beating the likes of Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Lizzo.
The American blues singer and guitarist released her self-titled debut album in 1971, and has since brought out several critically acclaimed albums across various genres including blues, rock, folk, and country.
In 1989, after several years of relatively small commercial success, she finally had a major hit with her 10th studio album Nick of Time, including the song of the same name. The album reached number one in America, and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
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Her next two albums, Luck of the Draw (1991) and Longing in Their Hearts (1994), were also big successes, and featured several hit singles, including ‘Something to Talk About’, ‘Love Sneakin’ Up On You’, and the ballad ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’, which was later covered by George Michael.
In 2000, Bonnie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and she also received the Icon Award from the Billboard Women in Music Awards.
Aged 8 to 15, Bonnie and her brothers attended a summer camp in the Adirondack Mountains called Camp Regis.
Here, Bonnie discovered her musical talents, when camp managers would ask her to play in front of the campers.
As a teenager, she was self-conscious about her weight and her freckles, and used music as an escape from reality: “That was my saving grace. I just sat in my room and played my guitar.”
During her second year of college, she left school for a semester and moved to Philadelphia with other local musicians. She said it was an “opportunity that changed everything.”
In summer 1970, she played with her brother David with Mississippi Fred McDowell at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, and opened for John Hammond at the Gaslight Cafe in New York.
Here, she was spotted by a reporter from Newsweek, who raved about her performance. Major record companies were soon attending her shows to watch her perform.
She accepted an offer from Warner Bros, and soon released her debut album, Bonnie Raitt, in 1971.
Is Bonnie Raitt married and does she have children?
Few people were as dumbfounded as Bonnie Raitt when she won the prize for song of the year at the 65th Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 5. The Bay Area-based singer beat out pop royalty like Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Adele, Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé and a handful of other nominees in the category.
“Oh my gosh,” said a visibly stunned Raitt, 73, after accepting her award from first lady Jill Biden. “I’m so surprised. I don’t know what to say.”
It’s particularly shocking as Raitt is better known as an interpreter of other people’s songs. But her award-winning composition “Just Like That,” about an organ donation, was solely written by Raitt as a tribute in the style of the late songwriter John Prine, who died from complications of COVID-19 in 2020.
“I don’t write a lot of songs, but I’m so proud that you appreciate this one and what this means for me and the rest of the songwriters who I would not be up here (without) tonight,” Raitt said.
She won two other Grammys — for best Americana performance (“Made Up Mind”) and best American roots song (“Just Like That”).
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Few viewers were likely familiar with the track before Sunday, especially compared to the other ubiquitous song of the year nominees, which included Lizzo’s “About Damn Time,” Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well (10 Minute Version),” Harry Styles’ “As It Was,” Steve Lacy’s “Bad Habit,” Adele’s “Easy on Me,” Kendrick Lamar’s “The Heart Part 5” and Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul,” among others.
Naturally, Raitt’s victory inspired plenty of hot takes and memes on social media, especially from people unfamiliar with her extensive back catalog. And to be fair, stacked against the competition it was a classic Grammy blunder, revealing the conservative leanings of the older Grammy voters.
For many viewers, it felt like a flashback to the 2008 Grammys when Herbie Hancock won album of the year for his middling tribute album, “River: The Joni Letters,” over Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black.”
Here's why you should never hire kids without more experienced editors. Bonnie Raitt, one of the greatest, most talented, most versatile and most consistent artist of the last 50 years, is dubbed unknown. Jesus wept. pic.twitter.com/SMIKBgDSSI
Raitt, who also offered a tenuous version of the late Christine McVie’s “Songbird” with Sheryl Crow and Mick Fleetwood during the evening’s in memoriam segment, still seemed to relish the win.
“I’m still reeling,” she said in a blog post on Monday. “So grateful to everyone who helped bring me to last night … I thank you all for helping me get our music out to the world. And to all the friends, family and fans who lift me up with their steady love and support. And lastly, to John Prine and all the songwriters who keep inspiring and giving us the joy of sharing their music. I’m just bowled over.”
A representative said Raitt was traveling on Monday, Feb. 6, and not available for comment.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, whose hits include “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” “Something to Talk About” and “Love Sneakin’ Up on You,” was a late bloomer. Raitt cut her first album in 1971 but didn’t crack the Billboard Top 10 until 18 years later with her 1989 multiplatinum release, “Nick of Time,” and two subsequent best-sellers, “Luck of the Draw” and “Longing in Their Hearts,” which together sold more than 14 million copies and made Raitt the best-selling artist on Capitol Records.
“Just Like That” was taken from her 21st album of the same name, released last year through her own Redwing Records label. It was recorded in Sausalito with a band that included bassist James “Hutch” Hutchinson, drummer Ricky Fataar, keyboardist and backing vocalist Glenn Patscha, and guitarist Kenny Greenberg.
Raitt, a 13-time Grammy winner, received the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the 64th annual Grammy Awards last year.
I’m so happy for @BonnieRaitt. She deserves every single thing we can give her. From the time I opened for her on a tour in the early 1980’s up to now, she has been unfailingly kind and generous to me. I adore her and we’re all lucky to have her. #BonnieRaitt
And “Just Like That,” Bonnie Raitt takes home Song of the Year at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony, hosted Sunday night (Feb. 5).
“I’m so surprised, I don’t know what to say,” Raitt said in her acceptance speech. “This is just an unreal moment.”
Her track, “Just Like That,” went head-to-head against some of the night’s biggest songs, including Adele’s “Easy on Me,” Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul,” Harry Styles’ “As It Was,” Kendrick Lamar’s “The Heart Part 5,” Lizzo’s “About Damn Time,” Steve Lacy’s “Bad Habit,” Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (The Short Film),” DJ Khaled’s “God Did,” and Gayle’s “ABCDEFU.”
“I don’t write a lot of songs but I’m so proud that you appreciate this one and what this means for me and for the rest of the songwriters who I would not be up here tonight if it wasn’t for the art of the great soul digging hard-working people that put these songs and ideas to music,” she added of her self-penned tune, written as a tribute to the late singer/songwriter legend John Prine. “I’m totally humbled, I really appreciate it.”
Watch her acceptance speech below.
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During the ceremony, the artist also snagged the awards for Best Americana Performance for “Made Up Mind” and Best American Roots Song for “Just Like That” and saw a nomination for Best Americana Album. She also paid tribute to the late Christine McVie with a performance of Fleetwood Mac’s “Songbird” alongside Sheryl Crow and Mick Fleetwood.
And to bring the In Memoriam segment to a close, Mick Fleetwood accompanied Sheryl Crow and Bonnie Raitt for a moving cover of ‘Songbird,’ originally written by his late Fleetwood Mac bandmember, Christine McVie #GRAMMYspic.twitter.com/93bw7XpQU8
Her studio album Just Like That… was released in April 2022 and has been met with great acclaim.
“It’s like putting together a great meal,” Raitt told American Songwriter of the album. “I’m not a terrific cook, but I appreciate why you wouldn’t want to put this vegetable with that vegetable when this one will be a better match. I want to say something new on every record, and with 21 albums, man, I’ve covered a lot of territory of what can go wrong in a love affair. Those blues guitar licks on ‘Made Up Mind,’ I could have been singing a song about a laundromat and I still would’ve cut it.”
First and foremost, Alli Patton is a chicken wing connoisseur. She is a writer, second. The Birmingham, Alabama-native is a lover of music and the written word and finds great joy in combining the two. She is a journalist with eight years of experience working for various publications around the world. Prior to her journalism career, she worked in the music industry as a Digital Media Specialist, a role that has informed her work as a writer today. A Dolly Parton junkie and lover of all things with a twang, Patton can be found spinning old records and trying to teach her dog, Zeppelin, how to two step. You can find her scribblings on country, rock, and everything in between at American Songwriter, Holler, and The Independent.
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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