Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie "is as known for her lifelong commitment to social activism as she is for her music. She has long been involved with the environmental movement, doing concerts around Forest, Oil, Mining and Water protection since the mid-70s. She was a founding member of MUSE (Musicians United for Safe Energy) which produced the historic concerts, album and movie, NO NUKES in 1979. She has been especially active in the fight to preserve our Ancient Forests, performing numerous concerts, lobbying in Washington and getting arrested twice in support of a change in forest policy.
"She has also supported groups working for Native American, women's and human rights, as well as the fight against apartheid in South Africa and U.S. involvement in the war in Central America in the 80s.
"As one of the founding members of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation she continues to work for increased recognition, health benefits and royalty reform for the pioneer generation of R&B artists to whom we owe so much. In 1995, she helped establish the Bonnie Raitt Guitar Program, which now provides free guitar lessons to kids in over 180 Boys and Girls Clubs around the world.
"On her 2002 Summer Tour, Bonnie initiated Green Highway, a travelling eco-village providing information to concert-goers about alternative energy solutions (solar and wind power,) displaying Honda Hybrid vehicles and connecting fans to local environmental issues and organizations. Carrying the message of change to the national energy policy, Bonnie participated in the historic Vote For Change Tour, co-headlining a bill along with Jackson Browne and Keb’ Mo’. In October 2004, this multi-artist, multi-city tour through the battleground states aimed to get voters to the polls on Election Day to vote for a change. After an historic 40 shows in 30 cities in 9 battleground states over the course of 10 days, all 20+ artists and bands on the tour gathered for a rousing finale concert in Washington, DC bringing the message of change home to the nation’s capital." [1]
- Honorary Director, Rainforest Action Network
- Funder, Citizen Works
- Advisory Board, Liberty Hill Foundation [2]
