Bonnie Raitt (born November 8, 1949) is an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. In 1971, Raitt released her self-titled debut album. Following this, she released a series of critically acclaimed roots-influenced albums that incorporated elements of rock, blues, country, and folk. She was also a frequent session player and collaborator with other artists, including Warren Zevon, Little Feat, Jackson Browne, the Pointer Sisters, John Prine, and Leon Russell.
At the start of the 1980s, Raitt was already respected for her bluesy voice, slide guitar mastery, and soulful songwriting. However, her albums in the early 1980s, Green Light (1982) and Nine Lives (1986), didn’t achieve the commercial success her label, Warner Bros., hoped for. As a result, she was dropped by the label in 1983, despite critical acclaim and a loyal fan base.
During this period, she also struggled with alcohol and substance use, which took a toll on her career momentum and health. Yet even in tough times, she remained active in political and environmental causes, such as anti-nuclear activism and supporting women in music.
By 1987–88, Raitt made major life changes. She got sober, refocused her priorities, and began rebuilding her career. Her authenticity and perseverance earned deep respect among fellow musicians. She signed with Capitol Records and began work on what would become her comeback album. She also gained renewed energy and confidence from touring and collaborating with artists like John Hiatt, Don Was, and Bruce Hornsby.
Although her massive commercial breakthrough came with Nick of Time (1989), which swept the 1990 Grammy Awards, the seeds were sown throughout the 1980s. That album’s success was both a personal redemption story and a career renaissance, marking the end of a difficult decade and the beginning of her legacy as one of America’s most beloved roots and blues artists.
“I never thought of it in terms of men or women, I taught myself to play guitar because I was in love with Joan Baez’s voice, and she was also a Quaker,” Raitt said. “I taught myself country-blues off of records that didn’t even include women, but I didn’t think about it at the time. Dave Van Ronk, John Hammond, Jr., and (the trio) Koerner, Ray & Glover were the first people I heard who made me realize it was OK to be white and play blues, and that you weren’t (trespassing) on hallowed ground.”
“Barbara Dane and Judy Roderick were two blues women in the 1960s who knocked me out. I knew about Sister Rosetta Tharpe, but a little later. Pops Staples was one of the guitar guys for me. And two of my heroes were Memphis Minnie and Sippie Wallace. I was inspired by the whole story about Minnie being a street busker and sometimes disguising herself as a man.
“I knew Aretha (Franklin) played piano, and thought it was great, because I loved the way she accompanied herself. And Ray Charles was as important to me as anybody. I learned off of records, as many of us kids did. I took piano lessons, but not guitar lessons. So I was trying to emulate how Fred McDowell, Son House and Robert Johnson played. There wasn’t any YouTube then, so I had to do it by ear.”
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