Sean Bonniwell
Encyclopedia
Thomas Harvey "Sean" Bonniwell (born August 16, 1940, San Jose, CA), guitarist
, vocalist, songwriter
, is most famous as the main creative force behind the late-1960s garage rock
band, The Music Machine
.
During his teens, Bonniwell was inspired to form a high school vocal group after hearing the song "Only You
" by The Platters
. After high school, Bonniwell's first serious musical incarnation was that of clean-cut pop-folk guitarist for the quartet The Wayfarers. The Wayfarers released three LPs under the RCA
label.
As the folk music
craze died out, Bonniwell sought to create music with "fuzz and fangs." In 1965, he formed a trio called The Ragamuffins
, which quickly grew into The Music Machine
. Adopting Beatles
-style moptop hair and all-black outfits (and Bonniwell's signature single black leather glove
), Music Machine churned out a diversified style of garage rock
. After the band debut LP spawned the successful single "Talk Talk" (1966), the original line-up broke apart. Bonniwell continued on with Music Machine, now signed to Warner Bros.
and re-named The Bonniwell Music Machine (1967). Unhappy with the way thing were going, Bonniwell sold the rights to the band name to his label in order to be released from their contract.
In 1969, Bonniwell released a solo album ("Close") on the Capitol Records
label. This recording marked a change in identity for Bonniwell, who not only chose to make gentle, sensitive music (contrasting that for which he was known), but also chose to record under the name of T.S. Bonniwell. The recording received minor label support and displeased Bonniwell enough that he left the music business altogether. He entered a period of spiritual quest and internal soul-searching, grew a beard, sold everything he owned, and drove around the U.S.
In 1996, Bonniwell self-published a memoir called "Talk Talk," which was later revised and re-titled "Beyond The Garage," published by the small press Christian Vision
. A few years later, Sundazed Records
put out previously un-released Music Machine material from the 1960s, along with demo recordings from The Ragamuffins. Bonniwell claims to have written over 300 songs since 1970.
Recently in 2006, Bonniwell has written and recorded his first new material in several years as a guest musician appearing on a self-titled debut album by The Larksmen
, a garage rock group from Los Angeles
, California
. He appears on two songs entitled "Burn Like A Boy" (actually written back in 1967 for The Music Machine but never released) and "Out Of Darwin's Mind". he is still active in the music industry.
Where Am I To Go / Love Is Such A Simple Word / Who Remembers/ Something To Be / Black Snow/ She Is
/ Temporary Knife / Continue / Where It Belongs / But Not With My Heart / Sleep / King Mixer / Dark White
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, vocalist, songwriter
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...
, is most famous as the main creative force behind the late-1960s garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
band, The Music Machine
The Music Machine
The Music Machine was an American garage rock and psychedelic band from the late 1960s, headed by singer-songwriter Sean Bonniwell and based in Los Angeles. The band sound was often defined by fuzzy guitars and a Farfisa organ...
.
During his teens, Bonniwell was inspired to form a high school vocal group after hearing the song "Only You
Only You (And You Alone)
"Only You " is a pop song composed by Buck Ram. It was recorded most successfully by The Platters, with lead vocals by Tony Williams, in 1955....
" by The Platters
The Platters
The Platters were a vocal group of the early rock and roll era. Their distinctive sound was a bridge between the pre-rock Tin Pan Alley tradition and the burgeoning new genre...
. After high school, Bonniwell's first serious musical incarnation was that of clean-cut pop-folk guitarist for the quartet The Wayfarers. The Wayfarers released three LPs under the RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
label.
As the folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
craze died out, Bonniwell sought to create music with "fuzz and fangs." In 1965, he formed a trio called The Ragamuffins
The Ragamuffins
The Ragamuffins are a British indie pop band based in the North West of England, close to Manchester and Liverpool.-Biography:The band was formed by David Jaggs and Richard Nicholson in 2007 under the name The Rascallies, but they later decided to change the name to The Ragamuffins due to fellow...
, which quickly grew into The Music Machine
The Music Machine
The Music Machine was an American garage rock and psychedelic band from the late 1960s, headed by singer-songwriter Sean Bonniwell and based in Los Angeles. The band sound was often defined by fuzzy guitars and a Farfisa organ...
. Adopting Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
-style moptop hair and all-black outfits (and Bonniwell's signature single black leather glove
Leather glove
A leather glove is a fitted covering for the hand with a separate sheath for each finger and the thumb. This covering is composed of the tanned hide of an animal , though it is not uncommon in recent years for the leather to be synthetic.- Common uses :A common use for leather gloves is sporting...
), Music Machine churned out a diversified style of garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
. After the band debut LP spawned the successful single "Talk Talk" (1966), the original line-up broke apart. Bonniwell continued on with Music Machine, now signed to Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
and re-named The Bonniwell Music Machine (1967). Unhappy with the way thing were going, Bonniwell sold the rights to the band name to his label in order to be released from their contract.
In 1969, Bonniwell released a solo album ("Close") on the Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
label. This recording marked a change in identity for Bonniwell, who not only chose to make gentle, sensitive music (contrasting that for which he was known), but also chose to record under the name of T.S. Bonniwell. The recording received minor label support and displeased Bonniwell enough that he left the music business altogether. He entered a period of spiritual quest and internal soul-searching, grew a beard, sold everything he owned, and drove around the U.S.
In 1996, Bonniwell self-published a memoir called "Talk Talk," which was later revised and re-titled "Beyond The Garage," published by the small press Christian Vision
Christian Vision
Christian Vision is a large international Christian religious organization in the United Kingdom, established in 1993. It is registered charity under English law and in 2007 had an endowment of £200 million, making it one of the 100 largest charities in the UK....
. A few years later, Sundazed Records
Sundazed Records
Sundazed Records is a record label based in Coxsackie, in the Catskills of New York. It specializes in obscure and rare recordings from the 1950s to the 1970s.Label founders Bob Irwin and his wife Mary started the label in 1989...
put out previously un-released Music Machine material from the 1960s, along with demo recordings from The Ragamuffins. Bonniwell claims to have written over 300 songs since 1970.
Recently in 2006, Bonniwell has written and recorded his first new material in several years as a guest musician appearing on a self-titled debut album by The Larksmen
The Larksmen
The Larksmen are a garage rock band from Los Angeles, California fronted by founding member Eric John Leslie. They formed in 1994 as The Skylarks, changing their name later. The group are noted for their recent collaboration in 2006 with Sean Bonniwell of The Music Machine, best known for their...
, a garage rock group from Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He appears on two songs entitled "Burn Like A Boy" (actually written back in 1967 for The Music Machine but never released) and "Out Of Darwin's Mind". he is still active in the music industry.
Discography
- Bottom Of The Soul / Astrologically Incompatible (November 1967)
- Me-Myself, And I / Soul Love (January 1968)
- album "The Bonniwell Music Machine" WS 1732 / W 1732 (January 1968)
- In My Neighborhood / You'll Love Me Again (April 1968)
- To The Light / You�ll Love Me Again (May 1968)
- Time Out (For A Daydream) / Tin Can Beach (September 1968)
- Advise And Consent b/w Mother Nature, Father Earth (March 1969)
- Where Am I To Go / Sleep (June 23, 1969) (as T.S. Bonniwell)
- album "Close" (as T.S. Bonniwell) Capitol LP ST-277, June 27, 1969
Where Am I To Go / Love Is Such A Simple Word / Who Remembers/ Something To Be / Black Snow/ She Is
/ Temporary Knife / Continue / Where It Belongs / But Not With My Heart / Sleep / King Mixer / Dark White
External links
- http://www.bonniwellmusicmachine.com/ Official Site
- [ Allmusic entry]
- http://www.richieunterberger.com/bonniwell.html R. Unterberger: Interview with Bonniwell
- http://www.ready-steady-go.org.uk/music%20machine.htm Interview with Bonniwell
- Sean Bonniwell Music Machine: Bottom Of The Soul