• 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.

Falling SlowlyGlen Hansard & Marketa Irglova

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova starred in the movie Once, which featured their song "Falling Slowly." Bob Dylan liked the song and movie so much he gave them an opening slot on his tour.

Learning To FlyPink Floyd

David Gilmour really was "Learning To Fly" when he co-wrote the Pink Floyd song - the aviation jargon came from his lessons.

The Magic of Christmas Day (God Bless Us Everyone)Celine Dion

Celine Dion's 1998 festive tune "The Magic of Christmas Day (God Bless Us Everyone)" came from an unlikely source. It was penned by Dee Snider of the heavy metal band Twisted Sister.

Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)Jay-Z

Jay-Z's "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" is based on the song "It's A Hard Knock Life" from the Broadway play Annie.

I Melt With YouModern English

"I'll Melt With You" by Modern English is about a couple who melt together because a nuclear bomb drops.

I Won't Back DownTom Petty

"I Won't Back Down" is a very personal song for Tom Petty. "I thought it wasn't that good because it was so naked," he said.

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"Songwriter Interviews

Ian talks about his 3 or 4 blatant attempts to write a pop song, and also the ones he most connected with, including "Locomotive Breath."

Martin PageSongwriter Interviews

With Bernie Taupin, Martin co-wrote the #1 hits "We Built This City" and "These Dreams." After writing the Pretty Woman song for Go West, he had his own hit with "In the House of Stone and Light."

Grammar In LyricsMusic Quiz

Lyrics don't always follow the rules of grammar. Can you spot the ones that don't?

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Rosanne CashSongwriter Interviews

Rosanne talks about the journey that inspired her songs on her album The River & the Thread, including a stop at the Tallahatchie Bridge.

Francesca BattistelliSongwriter Interviews

The 2011 Artist of the Year at the Dove Awards isn't your typical gospel diva, and she thinks that's a good thing.