Tune In, Turn On
With Doug Deutsch
For as long as I can remember, Bonnie Raitt has been my favorite female blues musician, for a number of reasons.
Let’s start with her litany of great songs – the dreamy “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” the soulful blues gem “Angel From Montgomery,” the funky “Love Me Like A Man” and “Love Sneaking Up On You,” the upbeat “Thing Called Love,” the jamming-ly cool blues romp “Give It Up Or Let Me Go,” the beautiful blues ballad “My Opening Farewell,” and on and on. Each is distinct and memorable, with Raitt’s slightly husky, always soulful vocals at the forefront, along with her fine guitar playing.
Raitt’s most recent release, 2022’s “Just Like That” – her 18th studio album – sounds as tight as any work the Burbank, Calif. native has released in years.
Besides being an incredible musician, whose storied career began in 1971 (for those keeping track, that spans 54 years), Raitt boasts amazing longevity in a business where high pressure, and the difficulties of performing on the road can prove too much for many aging musicians.
Raitt, 75, whose Live 2025 tour comes to Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa’s Music Box on Saturday, April 19, rolls on, with a continuously busy live performance schedule that many musicians half her age might find too hard to keep up with.
She’s no stranger to Atlantic City, having performed here many times since 1991 – even recording the “Decades Rock Live: Bonnie Raitt and Friends” CD/DVD combination at the now-defunct Trump Taj Mahal Casino in 2005. She was joined by some fine talent that night including Norah Jones, Ben Harper, Alison Krauss, Keb’ Mo’, and Jon Cleary.
From the start, Raitt kept the best musical company. In addition to her stellar solo career, Raitt has been a busy session player and collaborator with other artists, including now-legends like Warren Zevon, Little Feat, Jackson Browne (who is coming to AC later this summer), the Pointer Sisters, John Prine, and Leon Russell, to name a few.
Another reason I’m a Bonnie Raitt fan for life: While I was still living in Southern California years ago, I covered an event at B.B. King’s Blues Club at Universal CityWalk (I believe it was sponsored by The Blues Foundation). It was a sit-down, swanky dinner event. I felt lucky as heck to be invited.
Someone involved with the event asked if I would help place napkins and silverware on the tables (it was a few hours before showtime).
“Sure I’ll help,” was my reply, and I worked my way in from the aisle to the center in each row.
While doing this, guess who I met in the center of one row, doing the exact same thing I was doing, dressing the tables: Bonnie Raitt. She wasn’t above helping out with the rest of us, and I thought that was so cool.
Later that evening, Raitt was a commanding stage presence – dead center of the stage, memorably leading a night-ending, all-star jam featuring the great B.B. King on one side of her and harp master Kim Wilson from The Fabulous Thunderbirds on the other side. A star among stars. That’s Bonnie Raitt, now and always.
Tune Ups
I erroneously stated in last week’s column that rock accordionist Malcolm Tent was playing the Elephant Talk Indie Music Festival in Atlantic City this weekend (April 11-13, Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall). “I’ll be in New York with my true love, Lois, for Passover,” Tent told us.
Doug is the owner/operator of Doug Deutsch Publicity Services, which since 1995 has been servicing nationally touring acts, and working record release campaigns for clients. Doug can be reached at ShoreLocalDoug@gmail.com
