• Bonnie has long been involved with the environmental movement, doing concerts to support Forest, Oil, Mining and water protection since the mid-'70s. Her tour bus runs on biofuel.
• As one of the founding members of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, she continues to work for increased recognition, health benefits and royalty reform for the pioneer generation of R&B artists to whom we owe so much.
• Her father is the celebrated Broadway singer John Raitt (Carousel, Oklahoma!, The Pajama Game) and her mother is the accomplished pianist/singer Marge Goddard. The best advice her dad gave her: "Make every night opening night."
• Early in her career, she opened for various blues legends. From Mississippi Fred McDowell, Sippie Wallace, Son House, Muddy Waters, and John Lee Hooker she learned firsthand lessons of life as well as invaluable techniques of performance.
• She won four Grammy Awards in 1990, three for her Nick of Time album and one for her duet with John Lee Hooker on his breakthrough album The Healer. The double platinum Longing in Their Hearts, released in 1994, featured the hit single "Love Sneakin' Up On You" and was honored with a Grammy for Best Pop Album.
• On March 6, 2000, Bonnie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Amy - Chicago, IL, for all above
• Raitt has a great deal of festival appeal - she's played the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, the Indy Jazz Fest and the Bonnaroo festival. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Bertrand - Paris, France
• She was married to the actor Michael O'Keefe from 1991-1999.
• Bonnie Raitt was raised a Quaker and spent eight childhood summers attending a Quaker camp in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State. "It changed my life," she told Billboard magazine. "It's where I got a lot of my humanism, my appreciation for nature, my love of folk music and social justice. The camp experience allows you to blossom out of your nuclear family role in a way that doesn't happen anywhere else."
• Bonnie Raitt's first musical instrument was a Stella guitar given to her at Christmas when she was eight.

Comments: 3

• Alma from Laredo, TxBonnie Raitt is one of the few women in music who has proven what a hard road she and others paved for today's female singers. I hope she can continue to create more beautiful music.
• Tom from Marble Falls, ArBonnie actually looked pretty good back in the day, Glenorglenda. Keep in mind she's been around a long time. You know any pretty blues singers?
• Mike from Berkeley, CaBonnie's slide guitar playing is incredible. Of all the slide guitar players, my favorites are her, Ry Cooder, and Lowell George. Actually, her guitar playing overall is very hot. She's been overlooked in that way; maybe because she's such a great singer...maybe the same reason Nat Cole'sor Aretha Franklin's piano playing were overlooked...
  Someday everybody's going to realize what a great talent she is. I predict her works will be around for awhile.

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet SprocketSongwriter Interviews

The "All I Want" singer went through a long depression, playing some shows when he didn't want to be alive.

Don Brewer of Grand FunkSongwriter Interviews

The drummer and one of the primary songwriters in Grand Funk talks rock stardom and Todd Rundgren.

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went MainstreamSong Writing

These overtly religious songs crossed over to the pop charts, despite resistance from fans, and in many cases, churches.

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go'sSongwriter Interviews

Charlotte was established in the LA punk scene when a freaky girl named Belinda approached her wearing a garbage bag.

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.