Photo via Grammy Museum Facebook

On Sunday night, 13-time Grammy winner Bonnie Raitt joined noted music journalist David Wild for a wide-ranging conversation at the Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles. Raitt’s sold-out appearance at the museum’s Clive Davis Theater was in support of the organization’s national music education initiatives and came on the heels of Raitt winning Song of the Year, Best Americana Performance and Best American Roots song at the 65th annual Grammy Awards.  

In an hour-long talk, Raitt discussed her upbringing as the child of a legendary Broadway performer, and her deep love of the blues that accelerated during her time as a college student at Harvard University in the early ‘70s. Raitt also honored the recent passing of David Crosby and David Lindley in recalling how many exceptional artists with whom she’s collaborated over her 50-year career; marking, in particular, her adoration of the late John Prine.  

Raitt also touched on her recent Grammy wins for “Just Like That,” saying “I was pretty damn surprised,” and noted a similar feeling over 30 years earlier when her 1989 set, Nick of Time, was a three-time winner, as well.  That album launched her career to a new level of success, Raitt recalled, “I went all over the world because of that- this unknown blues singer.”

The legendary singer, guitarist and songwriter also commented on the lack of proper compensation for artists and recognition for songwriters in the modern streaming age. “We have to fix that,” she said.   After a brief question-and-answer session with the audience, Raitt and her longtime bassist, James “Hutch” Hutchinson, performed a mini-set of four songs, including Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery,” “Nick of Time” and Song of the Year, “Just Like That.”Raitt is set to embark on a west coast tour, plus a stop in Hawaii, before a series of spring dates in Australia. More information can be found at bonnieraitt.com