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At the El Rey, McRae doubled down on that theme in a florid yet intimate rendition of “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” the Mike Reid/Allen Shamblin tune that Bonnie Raitt turned into one of pop’s greatest anthems of dejection.

Himself the L.A.-born son of immigrants, the guitarist went on to perform with Jennifer Lopez and the Backstreet Boys, among others, and to record with Lady Gaga and Bonnie Raitt.

Bonnie Gross, who has vestibulodynia, remembers squirming on the table during her first pap smear because the speculum felt “like a hot knife digging into me” — but her doctor simply held her down and said to stay still.

The judging panel for the contribution award included critic and writer Bonnie Greer, broadcaster Vick Hope, and author Kate Mosse.

Foster’s partner Bonnie Rose Steinberg told NPR in a statement that Foster died “from a serious illness” at his home in New York City.