For blues fans, American singer and guitarist Bonnie Raitt is an icon that many adore or, at the very least, have heard of, especially since she recently took home the Song of the Year award at this year’s Grammy Awards. With her decorated music career, this is only the latest in Raitt’s extensive achievements. She is already a multi-Grammy award winner and has released 18 splendid studio albums since her humble beginnings in 1971.
Back then, the 21-year-old blues devotee began her journey after making her self-titled debut album and has thus become the untiring champion and one of the most vital performers of American roots music. Read on to learn more about this formidable artist and her journey in making excellent music across five decades and counting.
A Brief Look at Bonnie Raitt’s History
Bonnie Lynn Raitt hailed from the heart of Burbank, California and was raised by Broadway star John Raitt and Marge Goddard (née Haydock), two musically-talented parents that provided Bonnie with the environment and encouragement to hone her skills as a bottleneck guitarist.
After dropping out of Radcliffe College, she joined the East Coast blues and folk music scene, which paved the way for her career. During her early days, she played with folk-rock contemporaries like Little Feat and Jackson Browne and classic blues performers like Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup and Sippie Wallace.
Then in 1971, Raitt signed a contract with Warner Bros. as a rookie artist and recorded her self-titled album with the backing of members from the band Willie and the Bumblebees. From this point onward, Raitt would begin her musical journey that, despite its many ups and downs, never diminished her enthusiasm for her music.
The Famed Singer’s Breakthrough
Bonnie Raitt’s distinct falsetto and velvety tone make her singing easily distinguishable among her peers. Apart from her superb vocals, she is also a multi-instrumentalist, making her a phenomenally talented musician. And yet even with all these, Raitt still spent nearly two decades making music without seeing much commercial success up until 1989, when she released Nick of Time, her 10th album.
This famous album topped the US charts back then and got her four Grammys Awards. In addition to that, Rolling Stone also granted it a place among the 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time. Raitt’s succeeding albums were also big successes, earning her 13 competitive Grammy Awards to date, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and a place among the legends in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Raitt’s Latest Exploits
Much to the upset of many a young viewer that tuned in to the 2023 Grammys, Raitt claimed victory when she was called on as the winner for Song of the Year, stunning even the artist herself. The song in question, “Just Like That”, was not even remotely the zeitgeist of the year; the song’s number of Spotify streams was only one-sixtieth to that of the second-least streamed song in the same category, which was “GOD DID” by DJ Khaled.
This unexpected win came about from older Grammy voters who long for the good old days of music and view the industry changes of recent years with contempt. However, it is a disservice that “Just Like That” did not earn the win without merit, as the song is poignant, terrific, and made from a perspective that is boxed out all too often from the culture spotlight.
In case you haven’t listened to it, Raitt’s “Just Like That” is a song that tells a story, which is increasingly becoming rare these days. With finger-picked guitar, she sings through the lens of a grieving mother, Olivia Zand, who answers the call of a stranger at her door. The solitary and hardened Zand initially looks to turn them away but ultimately welcomes them inside, soon learning that they are the recipient of a heart transplant made possible by her deceased son. Thus, he came to show his gratitude to her for practically saving his life.
This suspenseful story filled with haunting turns of phrase shows how heartbreak can blossom into hope through Raitt’s understated yet lovely vocals that express a woman who unleashes her long-buried sadness.
There are also many other systemic reasons why Raitt won her unlikely trophy. First and foremost, she is a music legend revered by her peers from all generations, deeply influencing two other younger Grammy winners, Adele and Brandy Carlile. Her fame stems from being a devastating writer and mean blues guitarist who creates impactful songs about hard times and breakups.
Raitt’s long and deep connection with the Grammys also likely aided her win, as she has already won numerous trophies throughout her career. However, her success at the Grammys isn’t simply due to her overflowing musical talents but also because she is the type of artist the institution wishes to honour, especially amid today’s rapidly changing music trends.
Therefore, a vote for Raitt was more than just a vote for a song but rather an entire generation. There is also the aspect of Song of the Year being a songwriter’s award, and since “Just Like That” was the only song on the ballot with a single songwriter, it is rather fitting.
Conclusion
Through perseverance, hard work, and her love for music, Bonnie Raitt has become a name that will go down in history among the greats of the Americana and blues genres. As an innately talented singer-songwriter whose music speaks volumes and stands the test of time, she is an excellent role model that continues to influence up-and-coming musicians today and well into the future.
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