Raitt, Bonnie

Raitt, Bonnie (Lynn)

(1949– ) singer, guitarist; born in Burbank, Calif. Daughter of John Raitt, a musical theater star, she learned guitar when she was 12, inspired by blues musicians Mississippi Fred McDowell and Buddy Guy. She played with McDowell and Howlin' Wolf before she released albums such as Sweet Forgiveness (1977) which contained the hit "Runaway." Widely popular during the 1970s for her earthy singing style of rhythm-and-blues, rock, and folk, she fell into an eclipse until her albums Nick of Time (1989) and Luck of the Draw (1991) marked a comeback.