Few latter-day feminine artists turned trade authorities broke down limitations the way in which that Bonnie Guitar did – not simply as a star in her personal proper however as one of many first in-demand feminine session guitarists, or as a label co-owner and A&R head. Her under-publicized story is nicely value telling in some element.
The lady born Bonnie Buckingham in Seattle on March 25, 1923 is exceptional not just for a recording profession that took her into the Billboard pop Top 10 in 1957 with “Dark Moon.” She then made the nation Top 10 on three events and had a parallel government profession wherein she co-founded the Dolton label. They made nationwide and worldwide stars of vocal trio the Fleetwoods and instrumental group the Ventures. What’s extra, Bonnie was nonetheless often taking part in dwell into her 90s, earlier than her passing on the age of 95 on January 12, 2019.
Flying the flag of equality
Buckingham took up the instrument that would offer her skilled surname at 13, when her brothers handed on their flat-top Gibson to her. After taking part in within the Tutmarc Trio in Seattle along with her husband and erstwhile guitar tutor Paul Tutmarc, she was flying the flag for sexual equality by the Fifties.
Eventually relocating to Los Angeles with Tutmarc and their younger daughter, she signed an unique deal as an in-house session guitarist with Fabor Records. The label was run by producer Fabor Robison, instrumental within the early careers of Jim Reeves, Floyd Cramer, and Ferlin Husky. Bonnie went on to play on tracks by such names as Reeves and Dorsey Burnette, and rose to grow to be assistant engineer on periods, one other uncommon achievement for a girl in these days.
But she hankered after a recording profession of her personal, and Robison let her minimize some 45s on his Radio label. For her second single in her personal proper, she minimize “Dark Moon,” written by Ned Miller, one of many singers she had performed behind. He discovered fame himself on Fabor with 1962’s “From A Jack To A King.”
‘Dark Moon,’ brilliant future
“Dark Moon,” that includes Bonnie not solely singing however taking part in the enticing Gretsch Country Club characteristic, was ultimately licensed to Dot. Initially a West Coast hit, the tune soared after she sang it in June 1957 on The Ed Sullivan Show. It grew to become a significant US hit, at No.6 on the pop chart and, briefly, No.14 nation.
Soon the artist was touring with such stars because the Everly Brothers, Gene Vincent and his Blue Caps, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Sam Cooke. She had one other Top 20 nation hit quickly afterwards in “Mister Fire Eyes.” She was named “Most Promising New Vocalist” together with Johnny Mathis and Polly Bergen in a Billboard ballot. But she resisted presents of labor to concentrate on her studio endeavors, moved again to Seattle and, nonetheless solely in her mid-30s, started to pay attention a few of her consideration on enterprise issues.
Guitar and Bob Reisdorff shaped Dolphin Records, which they renamed Dolton. It grew to become a car for her personal singles however then for the large success of Washington highschool trio the Fleetwoods. They gave Dolton not one however two pop No.1s in 1959, “Come Softly To Me” and “Mr.Blue,” including the additional Top 10 hit “Tragedy” in 1961 and 11 US chart entries in whole.
From 1960, the Dolton title was additionally repeatedly on the charts by way of the Seattle instrumental rock’n’roll outfit the Ventures. They hit No.2 within the States, and later the Grammy and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame, with the atmospheric “Walk Don’t Run,” and charted repeatedly with singles and albums for years to come back. A remake of their debut hit adopted it into the US Top 10 in 1964.
Bonnie continued to be forward of her time with the thought of a sadly unreleased idea album in 1963, years earlier than different rock and pop artists adopted the notion of such themed releases. Then she opened one more door that had been closed to ladies when she was employed as head of A&R for RCA’s nation division. She continued her personal recording, additionally touring with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and others.
Bonnie returned to Dot, and to the bestsellers, from 1966, when “I’m Living In Two Worlds” hit the nation Top 10. “A Woman In Love” did the identical in 1967 and “I Believe In Love” in ’68, amongst many different Top 40 hits. Bonnie was named the Academy of Country Music’s Female Vocalist of the Year for 1966.
She later recorded for such labels as Paramount, Columbia and MCA, and achieved her final nation chart single as late as 1989. Then, on the age of 66, she had a minor entry throughout her time on Playback Records with a canopy of Bob Seger’s “Still The Same.” Guitar introduced her official retirement in 1996. Four years later, the newly-opened Seattle music museum the Experience Music Project featured her achievements in its Northwest Passage exhibition.
With thanks for extra biographical element to Peter Blecha.
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