Presented by: Ella Myers, Westin Davis, and Rowena Jones
The Life of Bonnie Raitt
• Bonnie Raitt was born November 8,
1949 in Burbank, California
• Her parents are Broadway singer John
Raitt and pianist/singer Marge
Goddard.
• Bonnie was given a Stella guitar when
she was eight years old. This launched
her on her creative journey.
• Bonnie moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts in the late 60’s where
she attended Harvard for three years.
• She dropped out of college in 1969 and began playing for the US
folk and blues circuit.
• www.modernblues.net.htm
• “Angel from Montgomery”
http://youtube.com/watch?v=N5HpW1Sula8
Troubled Times
• Warner Bros dropped her after
she failed to win wide acclaim
by the mid 80’s.
• Bonnie fought against drug
and alcohol addictions
• Her worst selling album “Nine
Lives” released in 1986
• She got divorced in 2001 from a
ten year marriage
Music
• Influenced by:
– World politics and situations
– Friends and associates
– Life
• Musical Accomplishments
– Started with the blues
– Now combines blues, rock and roll,
and pop
– Writes her own music
– Produced her own album “Souls
Alike” in 2005
Career Moves
• Played coffeehouse gigs in Cambridge during college
• Signed with Warner Bros. and released her debut album “Bonnie
Raitt” in 1971
• 6 albums over the next 7 years
• First hit single in 1977, “Runaway”
• Moved to Capitol Records in 1989
• Appeared on over a hundred albums by other artists
Mentors, Friends, and
Associates
• Muddy Waters
• John Lee Hooker
• Sippie Wallace
• Mississippi Fred MacDowell
• Ruth Brown
• Keb’ Mo
• Ladysmith Black Mambazo
• B.B. King
• Tony Bennett
• Willie Nelson
The Grammy Collection
1980: 3 Grammy nominations
•
“Nine Lives”
•
“Green Light”
•
“The Glow”
1989: 3 Grammy awards for the album
•
“Nick of Time”
1991: 3 Grammy awards for
•
“Luck of the Draw”
1994: 2 Grammy awards for
“Thing Called Love”
http://youtube.com/watch?v=
V_8ZjtmXQUw
•
“Longing in their Hearts”
1995: 1 Grammy award for
•
“In the Mood”
Achievements
• Halls of Fame
– Rock and Roll, March 2000
– Hollywood Bowl, June 2002
• The Bonnie Raitt Program
– Gives free guitar lessons
• Recorded 18 albums
• Co-founded MUSE (Musicians United for Safe
Energy)
• Political achievements:
– campaigned against war in Central America
– Participated in the Sun City anti-apartheid project
• Worked for:
– Environmental Protection
– Women’s Rights
– Native Americans
1.
What state was Bonnie Raitt born in?
A. California
B. Massachusetts
C. Alabama
2.
What style of music does Bonnie Raitt play?
A. Blues
B. Rock and Roll
C. Pop
D. All of the above
3. What year was the award winning album “Luck of the Draw”
released?
A. 1969
B. 2003
C. 1991
References
•
•
•
•
•
www.lyricslist.com
www.bonnieraitt.com
www.coasttocoasttickets.com/concerts/bonnieraitt_article.shtml
www.modernblues.net
www.kenmeyerjr.com/music/Raitt/html