Juke Boy Bonner

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Weldon H. Philip Bonner , known as Juke Boy Bonner (* 22. March 1932 in Bellville , Texas ; † 29. June 1978 in Houston , Texas) was an African American blues - singer - guitarist and - harmonica player ( "The One Man Trio").

Weldon Bonner started playing guitar as a teenager. In 1947 he won a talent competition in Houston that got him an appearance on a local radio station. In 1956 he traveled to Oakland , where he made his first record on Bob Geddins ' record label Irma with Lafayette "Thing" Thomas on lead guitar (" Rock with Me Baby " / " Well Baby "). He next recorded for Eddie Shuler's Goldband Records with Katie Webster on piano in 1960 , but that didn't really result in great success either.

It was not until the mid-1960s that the editor of the British blues magazine "Blues Unlimited", Mike Leadbitter , became aware of him and launched a single on the label of the same name in 1967/68 as well as his first own long-playing record on Flyright Records that he began his international career Career with performances in the United States, Great Britain and continental Europe (for example at the American Folk Blues Festival 1969).

His best recordings were made in the late 1960s from poems that he wrote during his numerous hospital stays and then set to music ( Ghetto Poet ). They were mostly released on Chris Strachwitz ' Arhoolie Records and Bruce Bastin's Flyright label.

Juke Boy Bonner died of cirrhosis in 1978 .

Discography

  • 1965 Louisiana Blues Storyville (8 tracks by Juke Boy Bonner)
  • 1967 One Man Trio Flyright (UK)
  • 1968 Going Back to the Country Arhoolie
  • 1969 The Struggle Arhoolie
  • 1969 Things Ain't Right Sequel (UK)
  • 1972 The Legacy Of The Blues Vol. 5 Sonet
  • 1980 Adventures of Juke Boy Bonner in Authentic City Collectables Records
  • 1981 Last Live Recording Lunar
  • 1989 The Texas Blues Troubadour Home Cooking
  • 1989 They Call Me "Juke Boy" ACE
  • 1991 American Folk Blues Festival '69 L&R Music / Records
  • 1991 Juke Boy Bonner 1960-1967 Flyright
  • 2004 Ghetto Poet Arhoolie
  • 2004 Nowhere to Run Sbf
  • 2006 The Sonet Blues Story Verve
  • 2007 Things Ain't Right-1969 London Sequel
  • 2009 Life Gave Me a Dirty Deal Arhoolie

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Bonner, Juke Boy
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Bonner, Weldon H. Philip (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player
DATE OF BIRTH March 22, 1932
PLACE OF BIRTH Bellville , Texas
DATE OF DEATH June 29, 1978
Place of death Houston , Texas