BONNIE GUITAR, 1923-2019

Bonnie Guitar (Bonnie Buckingham) would have been 101 years old today.  She came close to making that milestone, having died at age 95 in 2019.  She was one of the first female country music artist to have crossed over into pop music with the release of the 1957 hit "Dark Moon," which peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, and at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100.; at the time,. only Patsy Cline had managed such a crossover feat.  (The song was later recorded by Gale Storm [reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1957], by Tony  Brent [#17 on the UK Singles Chart in 1957], Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, Frank Ifield, Patti Page, Chris Isaak, Anna Wilson, and Jim Reeves. In Season 1, Episode 1 of the Marvel/Disney+ series Loki, it was used in the closing credits.)

In addition to her musical career, she co-founded Dolton Records, which launched the careers of The Fleetwoods and The Ventures.  She later moved to the short-lived Jerden Records, which was later reestablished by her former partner and launched the Kingsmen's "Louis, Louie."

Although she had the wild success of "Dark Moon" later in her career, she continued performing and recording.  Although she announced her official retirement in 1996, she was still performing weekends with her band at the age of 92.

Let's check out some of her songs, shall we?

"Dark Moon"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP0T5FBsaxU

"Mr. Fire Eyes"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLqREGoQ9xA

"Born to Be with You" (with Don Robertson)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvIxs59xX8E

"Fool"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez5a3tDCq2s

"I'm Living in Two Worlds"

\https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C3FGC83JtY

"Get the Lie the Way You Want It"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_h8xWKsFPo

"A Woman in Love"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYLASYWeHWQ

"Stop the Sun"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-Na91Na9UM

"I Believe in Love"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwuK-2zs0Jk

"From This Moment On"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4mnLFWCQTc

"Still the Same"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kqZi3ScZgI

"The Kickin' Tree" (anathema to the Me Too movement)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgnIrkeyWis

"Johnny Vagabond"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEMRovXydbg

"Outside Looking In"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQi6InGNMe4

Happy 101st, Bonnie Guitar!