Bonnie Raitt

It might strike some people as odd that a red-headed Caucasian woman like Bonnie Raitt can play the blues guitar like a seasoned veteran of the blues scene. But Raitt has earned her stripes, playing shows around the country and releasing a steady stream of albums since her eponymously titled debut LP in 1971. Growing up in Southern California, Raitt learned to play the guitar when she was in high school and her parents often coerced her to play during family reunions and gatherings. While she didn't necessarily fancy playing at a young age, the time spent dedicating herself to the six-string undoubtedly helped shape the musician and instrumentalist she would grow into. With a bluesy, roots rock approach to music and a unique bottleneck guitar playing style, Raitt's characteristic songs have resonated well with a rather sizable fan base, and over the course of her long career, she has grown into one of the more recognizable voices and faces of the music scene.