Weldon H. Philip Bonner, better known as Juke Boy Bonner (March 22, 1932 – June 29, 1978)[1] was an American bluessinger, harmonica player, and guitarist. He was influenced by Lightnin' Hopkins, Jimmy Reed, and Slim Harpo. He accompanied himself on guitar, harmonica, and drums in songs such as "Going Back to the Country", "Life Is a Nightmare", and "Struggle Here in Houston".[2]
Born in Bellville, Texas,[3]: 47 Bonner was one of nine children; his parents died when he was very young. Raised by a neighbor's family, he moved in with his older sister in 1945. At the age of twelve he taught himself to play the guitar.[1] He gained the nickname "Juke Boy" as a youth, because he frequently sang in local juke joints.[3]: 47 Starting a musical career as a teenager, he won the first prize at local disc jockey Trummie Cain's weekly talent show at the Lincoln Theater in Houston, Texas in 1948. Through this he secured a 15-minute radio slot on a show operated by the record retailer Henry Atlas. After having three children with his wife, she left him to look after the children by himself.
In 1963 Bonner was diagnosed with a large stomach ulcer, and almost half of his stomach was removed by surgery. The shock of the operation, plus the social climate of the times (which included civil rights riots and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy), led Bonner to begin writing poetry, some of which was published in the Houston Forward Times, a weekly newspaper.[3]: 50 Recovering from surgery, Bonner worked as an RCA record distributor in Houston. Once his strength returned he began playing gigs again in that area.
In 1967, Bonner recorded his first album for the Flyright Records. Chris Strachwitz's Arhoolie label released two albums, I'm Going Back to the Country (1968) and The Struggle (1969) (Arhoolie would later issue some of Bonner's unreleased 1967–1974 recordings on Ghetto Poet, in 2003). Bonner recorded mostly original song material through his recording career. He was a guest at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival, the American Folk Blues Festival, and the Montreux Blues and Rock Festival.[3]: 51 He toured Europe in 1969 with Clifton Chenier and Magic Sam.[3]: 51
In 1972, he released an LP for Sonet Records, and in 1975 another one for the Houston-based Home Cooking Records. However, he was not able to support himself from his music, because of a lack of demand for his work. He continued to perform and record sporadically, but he had no choice but to take a minimum wage job at a chicken-processing plant in Houston.[1]
Deathedit
Bonner's last performance was at a Juneteenth festival at Houston's Miller Outdoor Theatre.[3]: 51 Less than two weeks later, on June 29, 1978,[3]: 51 he died in his apartment, aged 46, of cirrhosis.[1]
Discographyedit
Studio albumsedit
The One Man Trio (Flyright, 1967)
I'm Going Back to the Country (Arhoolie, 1968)
The Struggle (Arhoolie, 1969)
Things Ain't Right (Liberty, 1969)
The Legacy of the Blues, vol. 5 (Sonet, 1976)
Live albumedit
Last Live Recording (Juneteenth Blues Festival 1978) (Lunar, 1981)
Compilationsedit
The Adventures of Juke Boy Bonner in AuthentiCity (Home Cooking, 1980)
^Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 94. ISBN1-85868-255-X.
^ abcdefghThomas, Lorenzo (2008). Don't Deny My Name: Words and Music and the Black Intellectual Tradition. University of Michigan Press. pp. 47–52. ISBN978-0-472-06892-0.
Strachwitz, Chris & Skoog, Larry. (1968, 1992). Life Gave Me A Dirty Deal Audio CD (Liner notes). Arhoolie CD375.
April 11, 2024
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Juke Boy Bonner news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message Weldon H Philip Bonner better known as Juke Boy Bonner March 22 1932 June 29 1978 1 was an American blues singer harmonica player and guitarist He was influenced by Lightnin Hopkins Jimmy Reed and Slim Harpo He accompanied himself on guitar harmonica and drums in songs such as Going Back to the Country Life Is a Nightmare and Struggle Here in Houston 2 Juke Boy BonnerBonner on the cover of Arhoolie CD 9040Background informationBirth nameWeldon Philip BonnerBorn 1932 03 22 March 22 1932Bellville Texas U S DiedJune 29 1978 1978 06 29 aged 46 Houston Texas U S GenresTexas bluesOccupation s Singer one man bandInstrument s Guitar harmonica drumsYears active1948 1978 Contents 1 Career 2 Death 3 Discography 3 1 Studio albums 3 2 Live album 3 3 Compilations 4 See also 5 References 6 External links 7 SourcesCareer editBorn in Bellville Texas 3 47 Bonner was one of nine children his parents died when he was very young Raised by a neighbor s family he moved in with his older sister in 1945 At the age of twelve he taught himself to play the guitar 1 He gained the nickname Juke Boy as a youth because he frequently sang in local juke joints 3 47 Starting a musical career as a teenager he won the first prize at local disc jockey Trummie Cain s weekly talent show at the Lincoln Theater in Houston Texas in 1948 Through this he secured a 15 minute radio slot on a show operated by the record retailer Henry Atlas After having three children with his wife she left him to look after the children by himself Between 1954 and 1957 he recorded several singles for the Irma record label based in Oakland California 3 48 but not all were released at the time In 1960 he recorded again for Goldband Records Storyville Records and Jan amp Dill Records In 1963 Bonner was diagnosed with a large stomach ulcer and almost half of his stomach was removed by surgery The shock of the operation plus the social climate of the times which included civil rights riots and the assassination of President John F Kennedy led Bonner to begin writing poetry some of which was published in the Houston Forward Times a weekly newspaper 3 50 Recovering from surgery Bonner worked as an RCA record distributor in Houston Once his strength returned he began playing gigs again in that area In 1967 Bonner recorded his first album for the Flyright Records Chris Strachwitz s Arhoolie label released two albums I m Going Back to the Country 1968 and The Struggle 1969 Arhoolie would later issue some of Bonner s unreleased 1967 1974 recordings on Ghetto Poet in 2003 Bonner recorded mostly original song material through his recording career He was a guest at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival the American Folk Blues Festival and the Montreux Blues and Rock Festival 3 51 He toured Europe in 1969 with Clifton Chenier and Magic Sam 3 51 In 1972 he released an LP for Sonet Records and in 1975 another one for the Houston based Home Cooking Records However he was not able to support himself from his music because of a lack of demand for his work He continued to perform and record sporadically but he had no choice but to take a minimum wage job at a chicken processing plant in Houston 1 Death editBonner s last performance was at a Juneteenth festival at Houston s Miller Outdoor Theatre 3 51 Less than two weeks later on June 29 1978 3 51 he died in his apartment aged 46 of cirrhosis 1 Discography editStudio albums edit The One Man Trio Flyright 1967 I m Going Back to the Country Arhoolie 1968 The Struggle Arhoolie 1969 Things Ain t Right Liberty 1969 The Legacy of the Blues vol 5 Sonet 1976 Live album edit Last Live Recording Juneteenth Blues Festival 1978 Lunar 1981 Compilations edit The Adventures of Juke Boy Bonner in AuthentiCity Home Cooking 1980 The Texas Blues Troubadour Home Cooking 1989 They Call Me Juke Boy Ace 1989 Juke Boy Bonner 1960 1967 Flyright 1991 Life Gave Me a Dirty Deal Arhoolie 1993 Jumpin with Juke Boy Collectables 1993 I Live Where the Action Is Rockin Blues 1997 Ghetto Poet Arhoolie 2003 Nowhere to Run Blues Factory 2004 See also editList of Texas blues musicians List of West Coast blues musicians List of electric blues musiciansReferences edit a b c d AllMusic biography Russell Tony 1997 The Blues From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray Dubai Carlton Books p 94 ISBN 1 85868 255 X a b c d e f g h Thomas Lorenzo 2008 Don t Deny My Name Words and Music and the Black Intellectual Tradition University of Michigan Press pp 47 52 ISBN 978 0 472 06892 0 External links editIllustrated Juke Boy Bonner discography Bonner biography at Allmusic website Arhoolie Records discography Archived 2008 05 13 at the Wayback MachineSources editSheldon Harris Blues Who s Who Strachwitz Chris amp Skoog Larry 1968 1992 Life Gave Me A Dirty Deal Audio CD Liner notes Arhoolie CD375 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Juke Boy Bonner amp oldid 1208495672, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
