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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZBONDS, Gary 'US'(b Gary Anderson, 6 June '39, Jacksonville FL) Moved to Virginia as a child, sang in church and high school group the Turks. Local record shop owner Frank Guida asked him to join his Legrand label with Guida song 'New Orleans'; smash hit USA/UK '60. Earthy voice brought soul to white pop audience; Guida's deliberately muddy production contributed raunchy sound: 'Quarter To Three' no. 1 '61, three more top ten hits '61--2; then reduced to small time for 20 years. Bruce Springsteen incl. 'Quarter To Three' as encore at concerts; saw Bonds perform '80; Springsteen and Steve Van Zandt produced Bonds LP Dedication '81; good voice, good songs and lavish production recalled best of Springsteen's E Street Band. Standout tracks incl. Springsteen's title tune and 'This Little Girl', Jackson Browne's 'The Pretender', Beatles' 'It's Only Love', cover of Cajun 'Jole Blon'. Sequel On The Line not as successful, though Bonds's singing good, notably on 'Rendezvous'. Concerts in UK '81 were joyous affairs; then less active until self-produced Standing In The Line Of Fire '84 got good reviews: satisfying mixture incl. tribute to 'Fred Astaire', revival of Richie Valens's 'Come On Let's Go'. Compilations on Rhino, later best-of stuff on EMI. |