DPAC Ambassadors at Bonnie Raitt Blog

By Mollie

 

Blasting The Best of Bonnie Raitt, I parked in the American Tobacco North Deck and walked the short distance to DPAC, whose bright lights and bustling entrance could be seen from a mile away. As I entered the theater humming “Thing Called Love”, I had no idea I would be making that very trip from the parking deck to DPAC’s entrance many, many times that night–but on wheels!

 

On Tuesday night, I had the pleasure of attending Bonnie Raitt’s Just Like That tour featuring special guest James Hunter and shadowing Sherman, one of DPAC’s Courtesy Shuttle drivers. Sherman and I chatted and jammed out to his impeccably curated playlist as we greeted and drove audience members to DPAC’s entrance. How lucky our shuttle riders were to have Sherman as their first smiling face and warm welcome of the night! “Classic R&B,” he told me as we drove back to the parking deck through downtown Durham. “Go to whatever music app you use and type in Classic R&B.” A huge fan of music, singing, storytelling, and Bonnie Raitt, Sherman was my DPAC, life, and music guide for the evening. “I love giving the customers that laugh and some good music… that’s my favorite thing about it,” Sherman told me when I asked what his favorite thing about driving the shuttle was. These customers hailed from Maryland, Oklahoma, and counties all over NC, but they all had one thing in common: they were there to see Bonnie.

 

If I had to describe Bonnie Raitt in one word, it would be “firecracker." She had DPAC’s packed house in tears one moment, on their feet the next, and dancing in the aisle before they knew it! With a lifetime of stories to have experienced off stage and share on stage, Bonnie honored the lives and legacies of long-time friends, musicians, and collaborators as she blew us away with her instantly recognizable and lovable voice. With generations of fans, Bonnie Raitt’s music, voice, and passion have stood the test of time, and I feel so lucky to have seen her rock the house with some classics, some covers, and lots of fun!