In celebration of the band’s 50th Anniversary, The Fabulous Thunderbirds have just released Struck Down, their first studio album in eight years on Stony Plain Records. The ten-track album includes a wonderful cover of Memphis Minnie’s “Nothing in Rambling,” featuring longtime friends, T-Birds founding member Kim Wilson, along with Bonnie, Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal and Mick Fleetwood.

Bonnie and the band go way back, playing live together often over the decades. Bonnie invited Kim to be one of her special guests on ROAD TESTED, her 1995 live album/concert film. Here’s a clip of their rockin’ duet of Kim’s T-Birds hit, “I Believe I’m In Love With You,” from that show, which has been a highlight of Bonnie’s concerts for years. — BRHQ

Check out Struck Down including the track, “Nothing in Rambling,” here: https://stonyplainrecords.com/fabulousthunderbirds/

Watch the clip from Road Tested here: https://www.tiktok.com/@bonnieraittofficial/video/7385585402700156191?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7345185561815369246

What a great time was had by all on Saturday night at Bonnie’s sold out show at Boston’s MGM Music Hall at Fenway. She was honored to have fellow soul rocker Peter Wolf at the show. Here’s a photo of them backstage after the show and linked below are a couple of great reviews. Bonnie thanks all the fans, her band and crew, The James Hunter Six and their MGM hosts for a fantastic night!
— BRHQ

Photo by Duke Levine

Boston.com review: https://tinyurl.com/4tez795f
Boston Globe review: https://tinyurl.com/mr38sue7

With Father’s Day this weekend, we wanted to note how special it has been for Bonnie to perform in some of the more historic venues on the East Coast of the U.S. where her father, Broadway legend John Raitt, performed many times over his career. John brought Broadway to “small town USA” appearing in Summer Stock productions across the country for 25 consecutive summers from 1960-1984. Performing in venues like Westbury Music Fair (now know as NYCB Theater at Westbury) and Cape Cod Melody Tent, both of which Bonnie and her band played to sold out crowds this past week.

Thinking of John Raitt and the many fathers and father-figures in our lives who have inspired and taught us so much. Happy Father’s Day to all! — BRHQ

Learn more about John’s Summer Stock legacy here: https://www.johnraitt.com/career/road

Marquis photo by @James “Hutch” Hutchinson

Written by Jay Lustig

“Oh my gosh, what would we do without soul music!” said Bonnie Raitt, before singing her own soulful “Nick of Time” at her June 5 concert at Prudential Hall at NJPAC in Newark.

Testifying to the power of music itself was a constant theme of her between-song commentary during this show. After performing John Prine’s “Angel From Montgomery,” for instance, she remembered how Phoebe Snow used to come to her New Jersey shows and how Snow would sit in with the band and “tear the roof off of that sucker right there. We’d do a Sam & Dave song, ‘I Thank You,’ and it was just … I fell over, you know.”

Read the full review here:
https://www.njarts.net/bonnie-raitt-remains-at-top-of-her-game-at-njpac-concert-review-photos-setlist-video/

Photo by John Cavanaugh

Local favorite Bonnie Raitt returns for a concert at MGM Music Hall at Fenway.

by Steve Morse, Globe Correspondent

Bonnie Raitt can’t be summed up easily. Some people might view her as a sassy
blues singer, some as a no-nonsense social activist, and some as an observant
balladeer who writes deeply serious songs such as “Nick of Time” (a 1990
Grammy winner about a woman wanting to get pregnant before it’s too late) and
“Just Like That,” a stunning track about a heart transplant survivor that won a
Grammy last year for song of the year.

Read the full article here: https://tinyurl.com/yc467zkp

I’m heartbroken at the loss of one of my dearest friends, Spider John Koerner, who passed away last Saturday at 85 in Minneapolis, surrounded by his family.   

We’ve been close friends since we met in ‘69, hung out in Cambridge in the early 70’s and in all the decades since. John, along with Snaker Dave Ray and Tony Little Sun Glover, comprised one of the greatest and most influential blues groups from the mid-Sixties. From the first time I heard their seminal ‘Blues, Rags and Hollers’ album, I’ve been completely under his spell. 

He was funny, talented, mischievous, always curious —loved life, good music, watching stars and a high time with friends. Between his incredibly unique, funky, rhythmic guitar playing and singing, his great original songs and the hilarious, long-winding stories he’d weave into his sets, there was simply no one like him. 

Through their terrific album together, ‘Running, Jumping, Standing Still,’ I met Willie Murphy, who went on to produce my first album and record one of my favorite song of John’s, “I Ain’t Blue.“

We got to enjoy a lifetime of fun, great music and meaning. John will be remembered as one of the most beloved and important revivalists of the great folk and blues song tradition. 

My deep condolences to his family and we will remember and treasure him and his wonderful music always.

— Bonnie

https://www.startribune.com/spider-john-koerner-obituary-minneapolis-minnesota-bob-dylan-ray-glover-bonnie-raitt-palmers-cancer/600366946

http://www.redhouserecords.com/artists/spider-john-koerner/

One of my faves of John’s originals, from his first album with Dave Ray and Tony Glover, 1963‘s  Blues, Rags and Hollers.
“Creepy John” https://youtu.be/C91OMLB36I8

Another great original from one of my favorite albums ever—Running, Jumping, Standing by Still, recorded with Willie Murphy and  released in 1969.
“Running Jumping Standing Still” https://youtu.be/lK8Xry9I-1k

And here’s my version of John’s beautiful “I Ain’t Blue,” from my first album 1971.  Produced by Willie Murphy 
“I Ain’t Blue” https://youtu.be/YsELUACBg8s

Photo Courtesy of Treehouse Records (top); Photo Courtesy of Red House Records (bottom)

“I’ve always loved Little Feat and this new incarnation of the band is bringing some serious heat, cred and new blood to their enduring legacy. Every Feat fan loves us some Sam. I’m so glad he’s now gotten a chance to step out front and center and put his spin on these wonderful blues songs. I loved singing ‘Long Distance Call’ with him, always one of my favorites, and Scott slayed on slide. Know you’ll enjoy hanging out with us at Sam’s Place!” — Bonnie Raitt

Hear the debut of “Long Distance Call” below and stream the full album on May 17th! https://ultimateclassicrock.com/bonnie-raitt-little-feat-long-distance-call/

I am saddened to hear of the passing of Michael Cuscuna, a longtime friend who produced my second album, Give it Up, in 1972.

He was smart, funny and brilliant — one of a kind. As well as being an independent producer, he became a legendary jazz historian and prolific archival record producer who helped reissue recordings and find never-released music for hundreds of albums at Blue Note and his own Mosaic Records from the 1970s until now. “His passion for filling in the blanks in jazz history contributed significantly to deepening the knowledge of jazz and how the genre influenced American culture.”(Washington Post)

I send my condolences to his wife Lisa, their two daughters and grandkids. He will be sorely missed.
— Bonnie

Here are links to two wonderful obituaries chronicling his extraordinary life.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/25/arts/music/michael-cuscuna-dead.html https://www.bluenote.com/spotlight/michael-cuscuna-1948-2024/

Photo by Brian Ach/WireImage for NARAS/Getty Images

Bonnie really enjoyed speaking recently with Julia Louis-Dreyfus for an episode of her terrific podcast, Wiser Than Me. They talk about performing live, the experience of external vs. internal validation, and managing grief among many other things. Don’t miss this in-depth conversation between two smart and fascinating women! “Wiser Than Me” is available to listen to wherever you get your podcasts – http://lemonada.lnk.to/wiserthanme

Second slide photo taken backstage at The Late Show with David Letterman (April 2012.)

Blues, rock & soul maestro Bonnie Raitt returns to Austin City Limits for the first time in a decade performing classics and highlights from her triple Grammy-winning album ‘Just Like That…’ in an epic hour. She is joined for a special guest appearance by Nashville-based singer-songwriter and guitar virtuoso Sunny War.

Available to view via PBS Passport at https://www.pbs.org/video/bonnie-raitt-ux4qzn/