Bonnie Raitt

Written by Jim S.

Rock me pretty baby, rock me all at once
Rock me for a little while, rock me for a couple of months
You know honey I’ll rock you too
Well I try to get closer
But I’m still a million miles from you

In 1967, Bonnie Raitt moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts to go to college, specifically Radcliffe, which at that time was the “women’s college” at Harvard. As the daughter of Broadway singer John Raitt, she already had a musical pedigree. She later said, “I couldn’t wait to get back to where there were folkies and the antiwar and civil rights movements. There were so many great music and political scenes going on in the late ’60s in Cambridge.”

The album Blues at Newport 1963 kindled her interest in blues and slide guitar and she checked out that scene in local coffeehouses. (Near as I can tell, this was centered around Club 47 and Jack’s in Cambridge. 47 became Club Passim, a folk club still in Harvard Square; Jack’s, alas, is long gone).

While at Radcliffe, Raitt met Dick Waterman, a local promoter who either promoted or booked blues acts such as Skip James, Junior Wells and Mississippi John Hurt. (Waterman was one of the few non-performers nominated into the Blues Hall of Fame.) He took her under his wing, and Raitt was schooled by, and performed alongside, some of her musical heroes.

Raitt gives Waterman much credit for introducing her to, and encouraging her to be part of, the blues scene. And as everybody I think knows, Bonnie plays a mean slide guitar. HerĀ principal touring guitar is a customized Strat which became the basis for a signature model in 1996.

“My brown Stratā€”the body is a ’65 and the neck is from some time after that. It’s kind of a hybrid that I got for $120 at 3 o’ clock in the morning in 1969. It’s the one without the paint, and I’ve used that for every gig since 1969.” ā€

Having made the decision to go professional, success for Raitt did not come easily, especially being a woman in the rough n’ tumble, macho world of the blues. But she kept at it and slowly she started to get acclaim from magazines such as Rolling Stone and Newsweek. (Critical acclaim, of course, does not necessarily translate into putting food on the table).

But like a lot of blues artists, she felt that, “I had to live that partying lifestyle in order to be authentic, but in fact if you keep it up too long, all you’re going to be is sloppy or dead.” She cleaned up her act, in part because she saw Stevie Ray Vaughn play better sober than drunk.

Here’s a sizzlin’, sexy, smokin’ tune called “Million Miles:”

The world caught up with Bonnie in the late ’80’s when she won three Grammys including Album of the Year for Nick of Time. Ā Interestingly she said it was her first sober album. A couple of years later she did it again with Luck of the Draw, also Album of the Year. In addition to her blues playing and singing, she’s also a fine balladeer. “I Can’t Make You Love Me” is maybe one of the saddest unrequited love songs ever.

Of the song, she said playing it is “no picnic. I love that song, so does the audience. So it’s almost a sacred moment when you share that, that depth of pain with your audience. Because they get really quiet, and I have to summon … some other place in order to honor that space.”

Raitt has received 10 Grammy Awards.Ā She is listed as number 50 in Rolling StoneĀ magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All TimeĀ and number 89 on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. In March 2000 she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Blues Hall of Fame – wake up!)

Sources: Wikipedia, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Bonnie Raitt web site

19 thoughts on “Bonnie Raitt”

  1. I absolutely love Bonnie Raitt.

    When I saw the title I thought it was going to be a review of her new album which I have not bought yet.

    Thanks for highlighting this awesome talent.
    I agree she should be in the Blues Hall of Fame, but she certainly will be one day.

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    1. Yeah, as a rule, if I review something, I’ll typically label it as such. Otherwise if you see band or artist name, probably just a tribute/history, call it what you will. Haven’t heard the new album but she is touring behind it. We are going to try to see her. Check it out. Maybe she’s headed your way.

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  4. Sure I remember that flick. A photo showed Bruce standing on one side by himself, the other acts on the other side. Don’t know whose idea that was but I thought it was weird. And prophetic in a way.

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    1. Yeah if I remember right, there were some noses out of joint because Bruce kind of stole the show and the focus of the event. I don’t think he gave any kind of speech relating to the issue. I think I remember him saying after that just being there and supporting the cause said it all. I wouldn’t have went to the flick if he wasn’t in it. I can even remember the songs , ‘The River’ and ‘Devil with the Blue Dress Medley’ I think. Jim, you can relate that back in those days stuff like this was one of the only chances to see clips of bands. (I still like Bonnie).

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        2. Or Baby It’s Cold Outside. You know that one? She wants to go home but he tells her it’s too cold and she should stay for a while. Maybe a game of gin or something?

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        3. That would be cool. But you know what I’d like to see? Bruce and Bonnie trade guitar licks and get real greasy. You know those licks he trades with Steve. I love those. Sort of Allman Brothers style. I think your familiar with those guys.

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      2. Dude, I’ve added your site to a place of honor on my blogroll {sniff} Very moving. Please feel free to treat yourself to an extra cookie today.

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