Bonnie Raitt--Runaway (1977)

     Bonnie Raitt was one of those folks who never had breakthrough success until much later in her career. She had developed her bluesy chops into a viable commercial sound, but it took 20 years for that to happen. Back in the 70's however, she was a very respected artist who was a staple on FM rock stations.

     The daughter of Broadway actor John Raitt and his first wife, pianist Marjorie Haydock and raised Quaker, Bonnie had no intention at all to perform, much less to play the blues. It wasn't until she was in college at Harvard's Radcliffe College that her ideas began to change. She had met blues promoter Dick Waterman doing a radio interview while in school, and soon afterward moved to Philadelphia to immerse herself in the blues scene there. Through Waterman she soon found herself jamming with the likes of Howlin' Wolf and Mississippi Fred McDowell.  

     Her career began with a blues/rock hybrid, with the emphasis on the blues. Her early work reflected the development to more of a mainstream sound, which produced several fine albums throughout the period and easily found a home with the newer FM rock format. "Runaway" which is a cover of the Del Shannon hit of the early 60's was her only single of the 1970's era, reaching #44 in 1977.