Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

OWENS, Bonnie

(b Bonnie Campbell, 1 May '32, Blanchard OK) Country singer; a farm girl who married two country superstars and became one of the best-known backup singers in the business. Married Buck Owens; one of their two sons is singer Buddy Alan (b 22 May '48, Tempe AZ); a talented yodeller, she teamed with Buck on The Buck And Britt Show on radio KTYL in Mesa '48--50. They moved to Bakersfield '51 where Bonnie took a back seat, raising the boys; they divorced '55 and she appeared occasionally on The Trading Post on KERO TV Bakersfield '55--62. Teamed with Merle Haggard, recorded with him on Tally '63--5; she had solo hits 'Why Daddy Don't Live Here Anymore' and 'Don't Take Advantage Of Me', duet hit with Haggard 'Just Between The Two Of Us' '64; they married '65, signed with Capitol. She sang backup and toured with his band the Strangers for ten years; they were named Most Promising Duet '66 by Billboard, Best Vocal Group '65 and '67 by ACM; acted in film Killers Three '68. They divorced '76; she continued to work handling Haggard's business affairs, occasionally singing backup. LPs incl. Just Between The Two Of Us '65 (duet), Don't Take Advantage Of Me '65, Lead Me On '66, Mother's Favourite Hymns '68, all on Capitol.