Bonnie
Lynn Raitt is a nine-time Grammy Award-winning American blues singer, songwriter
and guitarist who has recorded 18 albums since her 1971 debut, as well as guest
performing on over 100 other albums. She was born into a musical family, and was
raised with a deep respect for the arts and a strong commitment to social activism.
During college in the 1960s in Cambridge, Massachusetts, she found herself at
home with the antiwar and civil rights movements, and between classes performed
in local coffeehouse gigs. She loved the blues and before long was opening for
many blues legends like John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters.
Over
the course of her career, Bonnie Raitt has become as well known for her support
of worthy causes as she is for her music. She has performed many benefit concerts
and has spoken out at every opportunity for many different political, environmental
and human rights causes. She has lobbied in Washington, DC and has been arrested
for ancient forest protection. She has campaigned to end war in Central America,
and apartheid in South Africa, and in support of the rights of women and Native
Americans. She co-founded Musicians United For Safe Energy (MUSE) and performed
in the historic No Nukes concerts in 1979. During her 2002 tour, she initiated
the Green Highway Festival, a traveling eco-village which provides information
to concert-goers about alternative energy solutions. She headlined with Jackson
Browne and others in the historic "Vote For Change" tour, leading up
to the 2004 election. This great musical legend and social activist was inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
