The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast Music Legend Gary U.S. Bonds Joins Tom Needham on The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame
Music Legend Gary U.S. Bonds Joins Tom Needham on The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast.
Gary U.S. Bonds had his first smash hit in 1960 with the relentless pounder "New Orleans.”
The follow-up was the now legendary 'party' record, "Quarter to Three," a number one hit with a spirit and energy that would eventually inspire and influence a generation. In fact, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame lists "Quarter to Three" as one of the 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
Over the next three years, Gary co-wrote and recorded hit after good-time hit; "School is Out," "School is In," "Dear Lady Twist," "Twist, Twist Senora," "Seven Day Weekend" and others. He performed throughout the world, rising to a status so high that on a 1963 tour of Europe, he headlined above a group of relative newcomers... The Beatles.
A rare distinction for Gary is that he managed to transcend the decades with hits. His inspiration for Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Van Zandt, who had grown up on Bonds' music led to a chance meeting in 1980. A friendship developed and, shortly after, a musical collaboration which resulted in Bonds' "Dedication" and "On the Line" LPs, with singles: "This Little Girl Is Mine," "Out of Work," "Jolé Blon" and "Daddy's Come Home". Reviews noted "...His gritty, soulful and powerful vocals... even better than before...". Gary received a Recording Academy / GRAMMYs nomination for Rock Male Vocalist in 1982 for "Dedication". In 2004, Gary released his critically acclaimed CD, "Back in 20" teaming up with Springsteen once again along with Southside Johnny, Dickey Betts and Phoebe Snow. That album went on to win The Blues Foundation's WC Handy Award for "Comeback Album of the Year".
Gary's success as a songwriter goes beyond his own Rock 'n Roll and R&B hits. He has also garnered a nomination for the Country Music Association's "Songwriter of the Year" for Johnny Paycheck’s smash hit, "Friend Don't Take Her, She's All I've Got".
Gary is an honoree of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation, an inductee of the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame and a "favorite son" of The Blues Brothers (you can see Gary in the "Blues Brothers 2000" movie, singing his classic "New Orleans" along with a multitude of music legends like Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Eric Clapton, Travis Tritt, Lou Rawls and many, many more).
Gary is also a highly respected golfer, often invited to play at celebrity/PGA events. Among his proudest tournament achievements are his two time wins at the Chrysler Cup, with renowned legends, Lee Trevino and Chi Chi Rodriguez.
Today, Gary U.S. Bonds has turned author with his acclaimed memoir "By U.S. Bonds - That's my Story," which Kirkus Reviews calls "A worthwhile Rock 'n' Roll memoir, and an inspiring story about following one's bliss."
This interview originally aired on Tom Needham’s The Sounds of Film
The Sounds of Film is the nation's longest-running film and music themed radio show. For the past 30 years, the program has delivered a popular mix of interviews and music to listeners all over Long Island, parts of Connecticut and streaming worldwide live on the internet. Previous interviewees include Laurie Anderson, Dionne Warwick, Congressman Steve Israel, Jimmy Webb, William H. Macy, Connie Stevens, Chuck D, Julie Andrews, Vanilla Fudge, and Bil
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