Bonnie Buckingham, better known as Bonnie Guitar, was an unusual personality in the world of pop music, in that she was not only rarity, in that she was a female country session guitarist, but was also a successful hit-making crossover country and pop singer. Hailing from Seattle in Washington state, far from the fashionable centres of the industry, she helped put the north-west on the map as a source of country music. She was also had a career as a producer and label-owner, launching Dolton Records, the label which released The Fleetwoods’ No.1 Come Softly To Me.
She began performing at age 16, having taken up playing the guitar as a teenager, which led to her stage name, Bonnie Guitar and this 61-track set includes A & B sides from her releases on the Morrison, Rainier, Fabor, Dot, Radio, Dolton and RCA labels during this era, including early recordings as Bonnie Tutmarc.
All the titles from her Dot album Moonlight And Shadows feature alongside selected titles from her gospel-flavoured album Whispering Hope/ This collection features all her hits from these years, including the pop Top 10 entry Dark Moon, along with Mr. Fire Eyes and Candy Apple Red.
Throughout the Sixties she began a brief stint as one of the most successful female soloists in the country music field before recording for Columbia Records and MCA Records in the 1970s, where she still scored occasional minor hit, and continued to chart in 80s. Officially retiring in 1996, she started producing and writing music. She still performed on weekends at the age of 92 with her band before her passing in January 2019, at the age of 95.
She made excellent records across the pop and country spectrum, and this collection is a great showcase for her talents.
TRACKS
Disc 1 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
Sailing Thru The Sunny San Juan Isles |
Bonnie Tutmarc |
2
|
Don’t Bring Me Roses Red |
Bonnie Tutmarc |
3 |
The Cherry Tree |
Paul Tutmarc & The Morrison Recording Orchestra |
4 |
Don’t Keep Me Waitin‘ |
Paul Tutmarc & The Morrison Recording Orchestra |
5 |
Ain’t You Ashamed |
Bonnie Tutmarc |
6 |
Bronco Buster’s Rag |
Bonnie Tutmarc |
7 |
Robin In The Pine |
Bonnie Tutmarc |
8 |
I Couldn’t Believe It Was True |
Bonnie Tutmarc |
9 |
Midget Auto Blues |
Paul Tutmarc & The Wranglers |
10 |
Everybody Knew But Me |
Paul Tutmarc & The Wranglers |
11 |
Cowboy Serenade |
Paul Tutmarc & The Wranglers |
12 |
I Lost My Turkey (In The Depot Of Albuquerque) |
Paul Tutmarc & The Wranglers |
13 |
If You See My Love Dancing |
Bonnie Guitar |
14 |
Hello, Hello, Please Answer The Phone |
Bonnie Guitar |
15 |
Clinging Vine |
Bonnie Guitar and Lee Gotch |
16 |
Dream Dreamers |
Bonnie Guitar |
17 |
Dark Moon |
Bonnie Guitar |
18 |
Big Mike |
Bonnie Guitar |
19 |
Half Your Heart |
Bonnie Guitar |
20 |
If You See My Love Dancing |
Bonnie Guitar |
21 |
There's A New Moon Over My Shoulder |
Bonnie Guitar |
22 |
Mister Fire Eyes |
Bonnie Guitar |
23 |
I Saw Your Face In The Moon |
Bonnie Guitar |
24 |
Making Believe |
Bonnie Guitar |
25 |
A Very Precious Love |
Bonnie Guitar |
26 |
Johnny Vagabond |
Bonnie Guitar |
27 |
I Found You Out |
Bonnie Guitar |
28 |
If You'll Be The Teacher |
Bonnie Guitar |
29 |
Whispering Hope |
Bonnie Guitar |
Disc 2 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
Rocky Mountain Moon |
Bonnie Guitar |
2 |
Baby Moon |
Bonnie Guitar |
3 |
Solitude |
Bonnie Guitar |
4 |
Please My Love |
Bonnie Guitar |
5 |
Love Is Over, Love Is Done |
Bonnie Guitar |
6 |
Shanty Boat |
Bonnie Guitar |
7 |
Only The Moon Man Knows |
Bonnie Guitar |
8 |
Candy Apple Red |
Bonnie Guitar |
9 |
Come To Me, I Love You (Akaka Falls) |
Bonnie Guitar |
10 |
I'll Step Down |
Bonnie Guitar |
11 |
Tell Her Bye |
Bonnie Guitar |
12 |
Broken Hearted Girl |
Bonnie Guitar |
13 |
Who Is She |
Bonnie Guitar |
14 |
Moonlight And Shadows |
Bonnie Guitar |
15 |
Carolina Moon |
Bonnie Guitar |
16 |
Get Out And Get Under The Moon |
Bonnie Guitar |
17 |
By The Light Of The Silvery Moon |
Bonnie Guitar |
18 |
Moonlight On The Colorado |
Bonnie Guitar |
19 |
Shine On Harvest Moon |
Bonnie Guitar |
20 |
Moonlight And Roses |
Bonnie Guitar |
21 |
Paper Moon |
Bonnie Guitar |
22 |
The Moon Is Low |
Bonnie Guitar |
23 |
Roll Along Prairie Moon |
Bonnie Guitar |
24 |
Roll Along Kentucky Moon |
Bonnie Guitar |
25 |
The Sweet Bye And Bye |
Bonnie Guitar |
26 |
Bringing In The Sheaves |
Bonnie Guitar |
27 |
Softly And Tenderly |
Bonnie Guitar |
28 |
Peace In The Valley |
Bonnie Guitar |
29 |
In The Garden |
Bonnie Guitar |
30 |
Let The Lower Lights Be Burning |
Bonnie Guitar |
31 |
Rock Of Ages |
Bonnie Guitar |
32 |
God's Tomorrow |
Bonnie Guitar |