About
Born in Burbank, California in 1949, Bonnie Raitt emerged from the early 1970s blues revival scene as one of the most distinctive voices and guitar players of her generation. Picking up slide guitar as a teenager after falling hard for the blues, she signed to Warner Bros. and spent the 1970s releasing critically respected records that built a devoted cult following without ever breaking through commercially. Her blend of blues, rock, R&B, and country felt genuine rather than calculated, and her slide guitar work drew comparisons to the greats while remaining entirely her own.
After a decade-long commercial struggle and a well-documented battle with substance abuse, Raitt made one of rock's great comeback stories with Nick of Time in 1989, which swept the Grammys and introduced her to a massive mainstream audience. Luck of the Draw followed in 1991 and produced the inescapable hit Something to Talk About, cementing her status as a genuine star. Throughout her career she championed lesser-known artists and causes, becoming a respected activist alongside her musical work.
Raitt's cultural impact runs deeper than her sales figures suggest. She kept authentic blues-rooted playing alive during eras that didn't always reward it, and her slide guitar technique remains a benchmark. Her 2022 album Just Like That earned her a surprise Song of the Year Grammy, proving that five decades in, she's still a vital force.
