Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer and guitarist. In the 1970s, Raitt started releasing music with a rootsy sound. Since then, she has released 17 studio albums, including ‘Nick of Time’ (1989), ‘Luck of the Draw’ and ‘Longing in Their Hearts’, all of which have achieved platinum certification (1994).
Renowned slide guitarist Bonnie is best known for her hit singles “Something to Talk About,” “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” “Love Sneakin’ Up On You,” and “Not the Only One.” She has merged blues, rock, folk and country elements into her music style.
She was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. “Rolling Stone” ranked Bonnie Raitt at number 50 on its 2008 “100 Greatest Singers of All Time” list and number 89 on its 2015 “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” list.
In this article, we discuss Bonnie Raitt’s net worth, early life, career and personal life. Read the post till the end to get full details.
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Bonnie Raitt net worth
As of 2023, Bonnie Raitt’s net worth would be there 12 million dollars. Raitt has earned a significant amount of money from her singing career, advocacy and endorsement partnerships. Her investments and real estate have also paid off for her.
| Name | Bonnie Raitt |
| Net value | $12 million |
| Sex | Female |
| Date of birth | November 8, 1949 |
| Birthplace | Burbank, California, USA |
| Profession | Political activist, guitarist, actor, singer-songwriter, musician and film score composer |
| Nationality | United States |
The early life of Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt was born on November 8, 1949 in Burbank, California. Bonnie grew up alongside her brothers David and Steve and is the only child of actor John Raitt and pianist Marjorie Haydock. In 1976, Marjorie married Dr. James Goddard of the United States Public Health Service after Raitt’s parents separated in 1970.
John, who was known for his roles in Broadway productions including ‘The Pajama Game’ and ‘Carousel’, again married twice – first to Rosamond Smith and then to Rosemary Kraemer. Sadly, Steve passed away in 2009, John in 2005, and Marjorie in 2004.
Bonnie’s parents supported their children’s musical interests, and Raitt grew up learning to play the piano. She started going to Camp Regis in the Adirondack Mountains when she was 8 years old and got a Stella guitar for Christmas.
Raitt attended Camp Regis until she was 15 years old, and the staff regularly asked her to perform musical selections for the other campers.
Bonnie Raitt Education Path
To “travel to Tanzania, where President Julius Nyerere established a government based on democracy and socialism,” Bonnie first attended Oakwood Friends School in Poughkeepsie, New York, before enrolling in Radcliffe College at Harvard University.
Her majors there were African studies and social relations. While in college, Raitt performed with the Revolutionary Music Collective and befriended blues promoter Dick Waterman.
She spent a semester of her sophomore year in Philadelphia with Waterman and several local musicians, which she refers to as “the chance that transformed everything.”
Bonnie Raitt Career Success: Anti-Apartheid Activism and Film Appearances
At the 1970 Philly Folk Festival, Bonnie and her brother David shared the stage with Mississippi Fred McDowell, and at the Gaslight Cafe in New York, Bonnie was John Hammond’s opening act. Record label scouts attended Raitt’s performances after a “Newsweek” reporter saw her perform and began spreading the word about her.
In November 1971 she got a recording contract with Warner Bros. and released her self-titled debut album. Bonnie released three more albums in 1973 and 1974 after “Give It Up,” her Gold-certified second album: “Takin’ My Time,” “Streetlights,” and “Home Plate” (1975).
In late 1975 she was on the cover of ‘Rolling Stone’ and in 1977 she released the gold-certified album ‘Sweet Forgiveness’, which featured the single ‘Runaway’. The albums “The Glow” (1979), “Green Light” (1982) and “Nine Lives” (1986) were subsequently released by Raitt.
The 1986 song “No Way to Treat a Lady” peaked at #15 on the “Billboard” Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. In the 1980s, Bonnie took part in Farm Aid, the Soviet/US peace concert, and the anti-apartheid music video “Sun City.”
In the 1980 movie ‘Urban Cowboy’ she sang the song ‘Don’t It Make You Wanna Dance’ and in the 1987 television special ‘Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night’ she sang in the background. After her release from Warner Bros. Raitt got a recording contract with Capitol Records.
Her debut album with the company, 1989’s “Nick of Time,” debuted at the top of the “Billboard” 200 charts and placed #229 on “Rolling stonemagazine’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” in 2003.
The singles “Something to Talk About”, “I Can’t Make You Love Me”, “Not the Only One” and “Come to Me” were top 10 hits on the Adult Contemporary chart. Bonnie’s eleventh album, “Luck of the Draw”, released in 1991, peaked at No. 2 on the “Billboard” 200 charts.
With 1994’s ‘Longing in Their Hearts’ she achieved her second No. 1 album and the single ‘Love Sneakin’ Up On You’ peaked at No. 1 in Canada and No. 2 on the ‘Billboard’ Adult Contemporary chart.
A duet with Bryan Adams, “Rock Steady”, appeared on the 1995 live album “Road Tested”, which went gold in the United States and Canada. The Gold albums “Fundamental” (1998) and “Silver Lining” (2002), as well as “Souls Alike” (2005), were released by Raitt.
The live CD/DVD Bonnie Raitt and Friends was released in 2006 and on the 2007 album Goin’ Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino she and Jon Cleary performed a mashup of the songs All by Myself and I’m in Love Again.”
The album “Slipstream”, which Bonnie released in 2012, peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 chart and was hailed by American Songwriter as “one of the best of her 40-year career”.
In 2016 Raitt’s 17th album “Dig in Deep” was released and the following year she would go on tour with James Taylor. However, the first leg of the tour had to be canceled “due to a medical condition” that necessitated surgery.
Bonnie would be honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 Grammy Awards, while “Billboard” revealed that Raitt would receive the Icon Award at the 2022 “Billboard” Women In Music Awards. Both announcements were made in December 2021.
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Bonnie Raitt’s Personal Life: A Journey Through Marriage and Sobriety
On April 27, 1991, Bonnie married actor Michael O’Keefe, and the two later divorced. In 2012, Raitt spoke candidly about her struggles with alcohol and drugs. In the words of Parade magazine, “I believed I had to live that partying lifestyle to, to be honest, but in reality, if you hang on too long, all you’re going to be is sloppy or dead.”
I recently celebrated 25 years of sobriety. I was among the lucky ones. Amy Winehouse’s song “Rehab” made everyone smile, but it was terrible for me to hear her sing it because it was like she was standing on a precipice. I also thought it was tragic to see Whitney Houston die.”
Bonnie joined Musicians United for Safe Energy in 1979 as a founding member. She also supported No Nukes, Little Kids Rock, the Abalone Alliance, Alliance for Survival, and Musicians United for Safe Energy.
To raise money for relief efforts for the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, she sponsored new tombstones for singers Sam Chatmon, Tommy Johnson, Fred McDowell and Memphis Minnie.
She also paid for replacement tombstones for Fred McDowell, one of her mentors. The Berklee College of Music in Boston awarded Raitt an honorary doctorate of music in 1991.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Bonnie Raitt come out?
The young blues woman with the red hair, her deep, unaffected singing style and her uncanny insights into blues guitar quickly gained popularity. Her debut album, Bonnie Raitt, was released in 1971 by Warner Bros. after they found and signed her.
Did Bonnie Raitt win Grammy 2023?
Bonnie Raitt now has a second Grammy in her collection. The icon unexpectedly triumphed on Sunday, winning the 2023 Grammy for song of the year for “Just Like That” (February 5).
What is Bonnie Raitt’s biggest hit?
I can not Make You Love Me. “I Can’t Make You Love Me” was a 1991 release that peaked at number 20 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.
Did Bonnie Raitt go to Harvard?
Raitt entered Radcliffe College at Harvard University in 1967 after completing his education at Oakwood Friends School in Poughkeepsie, New York, declaring Social Relations and African Studies as his major.
Does Bonnie Raitt have a hoarse voice?
Raitt’s voice, which has become a bit raspy in conversation, was crystal clear while singing blues, ballads and rock songs. Her intonation was also excellent, and the richness of her timbre diminished only slightly.
