Karla Bonoff
Encyclopedia
Karla Bonoff is an American singer-songwriter
, primarily known for her songwriting
.
As a songwriter, Bonoff's songs have been interpreted by other artists
such as "Home" by Bonnie Raitt
, "Tell Me Why
" by Wynonna Judd
, and "Isn't It Always Love" by Lynn Anderson
. Linda Ronstadt
has recorded
a number of her songs, notably three tracks on the 1976 album Hasten Down the Wind
– "Someone To Lay Down Beside Me," "Lose Again," and "If He's Ever Near"--which introduced the then-unknown Bonoff to a mass audience.
In her early career, Bonoff sang background vocals for Ronstadt and Wendy Waldman before releasing her debut album
in 1977, titled Karla Bonoff (1977). Her other albums include Restless Nights (1979), Wild Heart of the Young (1982), New World (1988), and All My Life (a greatest hits collection) in 1999. Bonoff is best known as a songwriter, but she is also noted for her hit recording of "Personally", which became a #19 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
as well as #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart in the summer of 1982. She also recorded "Standing Right Next To Me" on the 8 Seconds
(1994) soundtrack
and "Somebody's Eyes" for the Footloose (1984) soundtrack .
Bonoff's first live album was released in September 2007. This double CD includes many of her best-known songs performed live in concert on October 24, 2004 in Santa Barbara, California (except for one song recorded July 30, 2005 in Japan). She is backed by her touring band, which includes the now deceased Kenny Edwards
(guitar, bass, mandolin, cello, vocals) and Nina Gerber (guitar) plus long-time associate Scott Babcock (drums and vocals).
She is also a member of the currently inactive group Bryndle
, which includes Wendy Waldman and the late Kenny Edwards (Edwards also produced Bonoff's first three albums). The band has also included Andrew Gold
, who left the band in 1996. The group first formed in the late-1960s, but did not release any albums until twenty years later with two studio albums and a live album between 1995 and 2002.
Bonoff continues to tour throughout America and Japan.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, primarily known for her songwriting
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
.
As a songwriter, Bonoff's songs have been interpreted by other artists
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
such as "Home" by Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
, "Tell Me Why
Tell Me Why (Wynonna Judd song)
"Tell Me Why" is the title of a song written by Karla Bonoff and recorded by American country music artist Wynonna Judd. It was released in 1993 as the first single from Judd's album Tell Me Why. The song reached #3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in May 1993 and #1 on the RPM...
" by Wynonna Judd
Wynonna Judd
Wynonna Ellen Judd is an American country music singer. Her solo albums and singles are all credited to the singular name Wynonna. Wynonna first rose to fame in the 1980s alongside her mother, Naomi, in the country music duo The Judds...
, and "Isn't It Always Love" by Lynn Anderson
Lynn Anderson
Lynn Rene Anderson is an American country music singer and equestrian known for a string of hits throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, most notably her Grammy Award-winning, worldwide mega-hit, " Rose Garden." Helped by her regular exposure on national television, Anderson was one of the most...
. Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
has recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
a number of her songs, notably three tracks on the 1976 album Hasten Down the Wind
Hasten Down the Wind
Hasten Down The Wind is a 1976 album by singer/songwriter/producer Linda Ronstadt and was Ronstadt's third straight million-selling album. Ronstadt was the first female artist in history to accomplish this feat. The album earned Ronstadt a Grammy for "Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female" in 1977,...
– "Someone To Lay Down Beside Me," "Lose Again," and "If He's Ever Near"--which introduced the then-unknown Bonoff to a mass audience.
In her early career, Bonoff sang background vocals for Ronstadt and Wendy Waldman before releasing her debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
in 1977, titled Karla Bonoff (1977). Her other albums include Restless Nights (1979), Wild Heart of the Young (1982), New World (1988), and All My Life (a greatest hits collection) in 1999. Bonoff is best known as a songwriter, but she is also noted for her hit recording of "Personally", which became a #19 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
as well as #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart in the summer of 1982. She also recorded "Standing Right Next To Me" on the 8 Seconds
8 Seconds
8 Seconds is a 1994 biographical film about American rodeo legend and world bull riding champion Lane Frost. It details his life from his youth learning how to ride bulls, until his death in 1989. It was directed by John G...
(1994) soundtrack
8 Seconds (soundtrack)
-Chart performance:...
and "Somebody's Eyes" for the Footloose (1984) soundtrack .
Bonoff's first live album was released in September 2007. This double CD includes many of her best-known songs performed live in concert on October 24, 2004 in Santa Barbara, California (except for one song recorded July 30, 2005 in Japan). She is backed by her touring band, which includes the now deceased Kenny Edwards
Kenny Edwards
Kenny Edwards was an American singer/songwriter. He was a founding member of The Stone Poneys and a long-time collaborator with both Linda Ronstadt and Karla Bonoff.-Biography:...
(guitar, bass, mandolin, cello, vocals) and Nina Gerber (guitar) plus long-time associate Scott Babcock (drums and vocals).
She is also a member of the currently inactive group Bryndle
Bryndle
Bryndle was an American folk-rock band first formed in the late 1960s in Los Angeles.The original lineup consisted of singer-songwriters Wendy Waldman, Karla Bonoff, Andrew Gold, and Kenny Edwards ,...
, which includes Wendy Waldman and the late Kenny Edwards (Edwards also produced Bonoff's first three albums). The band has also included Andrew Gold
Andrew Gold
Andrew Maurice Gold was an American singer, musician and songwriter. His works include the Top 10 single "Lonely Boy" , as well as the singles "Thank You for Being a Friend" , and "Never Let Her Slip Away" ....
, who left the band in 1996. The group first formed in the late-1960s, but did not release any albums until twenty years later with two studio albums and a live album between 1995 and 2002.
Bonoff continues to tour throughout America and Japan.
Discography
- Karla Bonoff (1977) #52 US
- Restless Nights (1979) #31 US
- Wild Heart of the Young (1982) #49 US
- New World (1988)
- All My Life: The Best of Karla Bonoff (1999)
- New World reissue (2000)
- Live (2007)
- Columbia Collection (2008) First three albums on two CDs (UK Release)
Singles
| Year | Song | US Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US Adult Contemporary | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | "I Can't Hold On" | 76 | - | Karla Bonoff |
| 1979 | "When You Walk In The Room" | 101 | - | Restless Nights |
| 1980 | "Baby Don't Go" | 69 | 35 | Restless Nights |
| 1982 | "Personally" | 19 | 3 | Wild Heart of the Young |
| 1982 | "Please Be the One" | 63 | 22 | Wild Heart of the Young |
| 1984 | "Somebody's Eyes" | 109 | 16 | Footloose Footloose (soundtrack) Footloose is the original soundtrack of the Paramount motion picture Footloose. The original nine-track album was released in 1984 and reached Number One on the Billboard 200 Pop Album chart on April 21, 1984, where it stayed until June 30, 1984. When it was re-released in 1998, four bonus tracks... soundtrack |
| 1994 | "Standing Right Next To Me" | - | 38 | 8 Seconds 8 Seconds (soundtrack) -Chart performance:... Soundtrack |