John Raitt

Born on January 19, 1917, in Santa Ana, California, John Raitt would later become a celebrated Broadway vocalist and the father of blues-rock singer and guitarist Bonnie Raitt. He launched his vocal career through the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera before MGM placed him under contract. That association opened doors to stage roles in Flight Command, Billy the Kid, and Ziegfeld Girl.

A national touring company of Oklahoma! cast him as Curly, an appearance that drew the notice of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The composers then gave him the leading part in Carousel, which premiered on Broadway in 1945 and enjoyed a lengthy engagement. His interpretation featured the enduring numbers “If I Loved You” and “Soliloquy,” earning him the New York Drama Critics’ accolade for Best Performance of the Year By an Actor in a Musical.

Raitt continued to headline numerous Broadway productions while also appearing in film and television and recording soundtrack albums drawn from Carousel, The Pajama Game, Annie Get Your Gun, and Show Boat. His contributions to musical theater were later honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and induction into the Theatre Hall of Fame at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway.