Weldon H. Philip Bonner
b. March 22nd, 1932 in Bellville (Texas)
b. June 29th, 1978 in Houston (Texas)
OAKLAND BLUES
Arhoolie
1950's OAKLAND BLUES
Wolf
RURAL BLUES vol.2
Document
BOB GEDDINS' IRMA RECORDS STORY
Acrobat
1957
Dernier des neuf enfants de Carrie et Emanuel Bonner, il nait dans une ferme de la région de Houston. Ses parents meurent alors qu'il est encore très jeune. Weldon est donc pris en charge par un ami voisin puis par sa grande soeur en 1945. C'est à cette époque qu'il apprend la guitare en autodidacte. On surnomme, d'ailleurs, le jeune homme "Juke Boy" pour ses qualités de musicien. Après avoir remporté un concours musical organisé par le disc-jockey Trummy Cain en 1948, il intervient régulièrement dans une émission radiophonique (sur KLEE). Alors qu'il se trouve en Californie, il est repéré par Bob Geddins qui lui fait graver ses premiers morceaux pour son label Irma ("Well baby" et "Rock with me baby") avec la guitare de Lafayette Thomas.
Last of the Carrie and Emanuel Bonner's nine children, he was born on a farm in the Houston area. His parents died when he was very young. Weldon therefore supported by a friendly neighbor then by his older sister in 1945. It was at this time that he taught himself guitar. Moreover, the young man is soon called "Juke Boy" for his musical qualities. After winning a music contest organized by the disc-jockey Trummy Cain in 1948, he regularly performs in a radio broadcast (on KLEE). While he is in California, he was spotted by Bob Geddins who makes him cut his first tracks for his Irma label ("Well baby" and "Rock with me baby") with guitarist Lafayette Thomas.
BLUES SCENE USA vol.2 : LOUISIANA BLUES
Storyville
GOIN' DOWN TO LOUISIANA
Ace
January - December 1960
A partir de janvier 1960, Juke Boy enregistre pour le label Goldband dirigé par Eddie Shuler à Lake Charles (Louisiane). En trois séances, il définit ce que sera son style : un blues terrien, efficace, souvent excitant où il joue guitare et harmonica (porté sur un rack) sur le modèle de Jimmy Reed. De nombreux titres remarquables - mais qui n'obtiendront aucun succès - émergent de ces sessions comme par exemple "Let's boogie", "Blues river rising", "Can't hardly keep from crying". Sur certains titres, Juke Boy est accompagné du superbe piano de Katie Webster. Grâce au soutien de Mike Leadbitter, ces faces pour Goldband furent rassemblées pour la première fois en microsillon en 1965 avec l'édition de "Blues scene USA vol.2". La firme Ace proposera ces morceaux en CD dans l'anthologie "Goin' down to Louisiana".
From january 1960, Juke Boy records for Goldband, a label run by Eddie Shuler in Lake Charles (Louisiana). In three sessions, he defines what will be his style : a down-home efficient blues, often exciting, playing guitar and harmonica (fixed on a rack) on the model of Jimmy Reed. Many notable titles - but will not get any success - emerge from these sessions such as "Let's boogie", "Blues river rising", "Can't hardly keep from crying". On some songs, Juke Boy is accompanied by the beautiful piano of Katie Webster. Thanks to Mike Leadbitter's support, these sides for Goldband were gathered for the first time in 1965 with the "Blues scene USA vol.2" LP issue. The Ace firm will propose these tracks on CD in "Goin' down to Louisiana" anthology.
THE ONE-MAN TRIO
Flyright
January - August 1967
JUKE BOY BONNER 1960 - 1967
Flyright
January - March 1960 / January - December 1967
Fin 1963, on lui diagnostique un grave ulcère à l'estomac qui le conduit à une opération chirurgicale. Celle-ci consistera à lui enlever une moitié de l'estomac et le laissera terriblement diminué. Pendant sa longue convalescence, il publie des poèmes dans le journal Houston Forward Times (il en aura écrit environ 350). Ce n'est finalement qu'après une traversée du désert de plusieurs années qu'il peut à nouveau être enregistré. Le label anglais Flyright créé par Mike Leadbitter, Simon Napier et Bruce Bastin permit à Juke Boy Bonner d'enregistrer substantiellement tout au long de l'année 1967. Dans ce disque, on peut trouver des faces gravées à divers endroits à Houston (au Jungle Lounge, dans un studio non-identifié peut-être celui de Gold Star, à son domicile sur Hamblen Street) ainsi que deux morceaux Goldband datant de 1960 ("Life is a dirty deal"). Son style terrien, âpre et brut, aux paroles souvent pessimistes, est parfaitement illustré dans les titres suivants : "Three ring circus", "Look out your window", "Don't cry on my shoulders", "Bad breaks", "Why do you treat me like you do". On note aussi les superbes reprises de "Dust my broom" et de "Nine below zero".
End of 1963 he was diagnosed with a serious stomach ulcer which led him to surgery. This surgical operation, taking away half of his stomach, will terribly diminished him. During his long convalescence, he published poems in the Houston Forward Times newspaper (he has written about 350). It is finally, after crossing the desert several years, that he can again be recorded. English label Flyright founded by Mike Leadbitter, Simon Napier and Bruce Bastin allowed Juke Boy Bonner to record substantially throughout the year 1967. On this record, we can find sides cut in various locations in Houston (Jungle Lounge, in an unidentified studio perhaps the Gold Star, at his home in Hamblen Street) and two Goldband tracks dating from 1960 ("Life is a dirty deal"). His down-home style, rough and raw, often with pessimistic words is best illustrated in the following titles : "Three ring circus", "Look out your window", "Don't cry on my shoulders", "Bad breaks", "Why do you treat me like you do". There is also the stunning covers of "Dust my broom" and "Nine below zero".
THOSE OLD HAPPY DAYS
Arhoolie
January - August 1967
CHICKEN STUFF
Flyright
June - December 1967
Cette anthologie propose quatre morceaux inédits de Juke Boy Bonner parmi lesquels une reprise puissante du "Baby please don't go" de Big Joe Williams renommée "I love you so" pour l'occasion, ainsi que le blues lent "Lonesome house blues".
This anthology features four unreleased tracks of Juke Boy Bonner including a powerful cover of Big Joe Williams' "Baby please don't go" renamed for occasion "I love you so" and the slow blues "Lonesome house blues".
THEY CALL ME JUKE BOY
Ace
July 1967 - December 1969
Recueil de plusieurs séances gravées principalement pour le label Home Cooking dirigé par Roy C. Ames. Il s'agit d'un recueil inégal présentant parfois Juke Boy en solitaire, parfois en leader d'un petit groupe. Plusieurs moments intéressants comme "Nowhere to run", "Don't ever get down", "It don't take too much", "What the blues has done for me", "Boone's farm", "Gettin' low down" mais on reste assez loin de ses meilleurs travaux.
Collection of several sessions recorded mainly for the Home Cooking label managed by Roy C. Ames. This is an uneven collection sometimes presenting Juke Boy alone, sometimes as leader of a small group. Several interesting moments like "Nowhere to run", "Don't ever get down", "It don't take too much", "What the blues has done for me", "Boone's farm", "Gettin' low down" but we are far away from his best work.
NOTHING BUT THE BLUES
CBS
December 1967
Ce double microsillon est le pendant sonore du livre "Nothing but the blues" écrit par Mike Leadbitter et ses collaborateurs de la revue Blues Unlimited. Il y a un excellent morceau de "Juke Boy" Bonner dans cette anthologie intitulé "Runnin' shoes".
This double LP is the sound part of the "Nothing but the blues" book written by Mike Leadbitter and Blues Unlimited's collaborators. There is an excellent "Juke Boy" Bonner's track in this anthology titled "Runnin' shoes".
I'M GOING BACK TO THE COUNTRY
Arhoolie
LIFE GAVE ME A DIRTY DEAL
Arhoolie
December 1967 - January 1968
Grâce à l'appui de Chris Strachwitz, Juke Boy Bonner put enregistrer substantiellement pendant plusieurs années. Ses faces Arhoolie peuvent être considérées comme étant ses plus abouties. Seul à la guitare et à l'harmonica, son feeling est brillant lorsqu'il s'agit d'entremêler les deux instruments à la manière de Jimmy Reed. Tous les morceaux (ou presque) sont des compositions personnelles. Gravé au ACA studios de Houston, on peut signaler de nombreuses pépites parmi lesquelles "Going back to the country", "Sad sad sound", "Trying to be contented", "Life is a nightmare", "Stay off Lyons Avenue". L'ensemble du matériel - excepté deux titres - a été repris sur le CD "Life gave me a dirty deal".
With the support of Chris Strachwitz, Juke Boy Bonner could record substantially for several years. His Arhoolie sides can be considered as his most achieved. Alone on guitar and harmonica, his feeling is brilliant when it comes to entangle the two instruments in the Jimmy Reed style. All songs (or almost) are original compositions. Cut in ACA studios in Houston, we can point out many gems including "Going back to the country", "Sad sad sound", "Trying to be contented", "Life is a nightmare", "Stay off Lyons Avenue". The whole album - except for two titles - was taken on the "Life gave me a dirty deal" CD.
GHETTO POET
Arhoolie
December 1967 - May 1974
En 2003, Chris Strachwitz publia ce CD reprenant diverses séances inédites situées entre 1967 et 1974. Mais, ces morceaux éditées tardivement ne sont pas pour autant des seconds choix. En effet, "Ghetto poet" apparait dense et varié, dressant un bon panorama de l'oeuvre mésestimée de Juke Boy Bonner. On trouve plusieurs excellents titres délivrés dans son style caractéristique entre Jimmy Reed et Lightnin' Hopkins : "Daylight won't catch me here", "Blues for Elmo", "Sportman's luck", "All the lonely days", "Rainin' in my room" ainsi que des curiosités comme "Zodico jump" et "Childhood dreams".
In 2003, Chris Strachwitz issued this CD containing various unreleased sessions located between 1967 and 1974. However, these sides belatedly edited are not second choices at all. Indeed, "Ghetto poet" appears dense and varied, painting a good overview of the Juke Boy Bonner's underestimated work. There are several excellent titles issued in his characteristic style between Jimmy Reed and Lightnin' Hopkins : "Daylight won't catch me here", "Blues for Elmo", "Sportman's luck", "All the lonely days", "Rainin' in my room" and some curiosities like "Zodico jump" and "Childhood dreams".
THE STRUGGLE
Arhoolie
LIFE GAVE ME A DIRTY DEAL
Arhoolie
November 1968 - May 1969
Dans "The struggle" sont recueillies d'autres sessions organisées par Chris Strachwitz pour son propre label Arhoolie après celles de "I'm going back to the country". La seule différence est qu'ici, Juke Boy reçoit parfois le support de l'efficace batteur Alvin J. Simon. Celui-ci apporte un dynamisme et une efficacité proprement remarquables (l'excellent "Houston the action town"). Encore une fois, il semble être le compositeur de la grande majorité du programme. Excellent parolier, il n'hésite pas à s'inspirer de l'actualité sociale et politique pour composer ses propres textes (le plaidoyer "Being black and I'm proud"). Plusieurs titres magnifiques : "I got my passport", "Running shoes", "Just a blues", "Struggle here in Houston", "Railroad tracks". L'ensemble des morceaux a été repris sur le CD "Life gave me a dirty deal".
In "The struggle" are collected other sessions organized by Chris Strachwitz for his own Arhoolie label after those of "I'm going back to the country". The only difference is that here, Juke Boy receives sometimes the support of efficient drummer Alvin J. Simon. He provides a truly remarkable dynamism and efficiency (the excellent "Houston the action town"). Again, he seems to be the composer of the majority of the program. Excellent lyricist, he does not hesitate to draw on the current social and politics realities to compose his own texts (the advocacy "Being black and I'm proud"). Several beautiful titles : "I got my passport", "Running shoes", "Just a blues", "Struggle here in Houston", "Railroad tracks". All the tracks was taken on the "Life gave me a dirty deal" CD.
THE TEXAS BLUES TROUBADOURS
Home Cooking
Collectables
December 1968 - September 1969 / December 1974
Album très hétérogène et inégal composé de la moitié des titres de "The adventures of Juke Boy Bonner in Authenti-City" et de la moitié d'inédits provenant des étagères du label Home Cooking. Les premiers sont catastrophiques ("The winds came"), les autres sont bien inférieurs aux faces Arhoolie. Ces séances produites par Roy Ames s'avèrent, par conséquent, franchement dispensables.
Heterogeneous and uneven album composed of half the titles of "The adventures of Juke Bonner in Authenti-City" LP and half of unreleased sides taken from Home Cooking label shelves. The first are catastrophic ("The winds came"), others are well below Arhoolie sides. These sessions produced by Roy Ames are, consequently, frankly dispensable.
AMERICAN FOLK BLUES FESTIVAL '69
CBS
L+R
October 1969
Juke Boy Bonner aurait dû participer à une tournée internationale en 1968 mais n'avait pas réussi à obtenir un passeport à temps. L'année suivante, quand Chris Strachwitz se vit confier la programmation de la tournée de l'American Folk Blues Festival par Horst Lippmann et Fritz Rau, il invita naturellement les artistes de son label Arhoolie. Juke Boy Bonner fit donc partie du voyage. Sur l'album édité, on trouve deux de ses titres : "Jumpin' with Juke Boy" et une superbe version de "Running shoes".
Juke Boy Bonner should have participated in an international tour in 1968 but had not managed to get a passport in time. The following year, when Chris Strachwitz was entrusted with the American Folk Blues Festival tour programming by Horst Lippmann and Fritz Rau, he naturally invited artists of his own Arhoolie label. Thus, Juke Boy Bonner became part of the trip. On the issued album, we find two of his titles : "Jumpin' with Juke Boy" and a beautiful version of "Running shoes".
THINGS AIN'T RIGHT
Liberty
Sequel
November 1969
A la suite de la tournée de l'American Folk Blues Festival, Juke Boy se retrouve aux Regent Studios de Londres grâce à la National Blues Federation. L'album est constitué d'une majorité de titres où le bluesman est seul à la guitare et à l'harmonica comme souvent, et quelques autres titres dans lesquels il est accompagné d'un groupe complet. Dans l'ensemble, un disque plutôt sympathique bien qu'il n'atteigne jamais le niveau des faces Arhoolie.
Following the American Folk Blues Festival tour, Juke Boy finds himself in the Regent Studios in London thanks to the National Blues Federation. The album consists of a majority of title in which the bluesman is alone on guitar and harmonica, as often, and some other sides in which he is accompanied by a full band. On the whole, a pretty nice album though it never reaches the level of Arhoolie cuts.
BACK AGAINST THE WALL
Collectables
December 1969
LEGACY OF THE BLUES vol.5
Sonet
GNP
THE SONET BLUES STORY
Verve
1972
Cette séance produite par Chris Strachwitz fut reprise par Sam Charters pour sa célèbre série "The legacy of the blues" réalisée pour le label suédois Sonet. Beaucoup de feeling et de fraicheur transparaissent dans ces morceaux gravés à Berkeley en Californie : "I'm a bluesman", "Trying to get ahead", "Lonesome ride back home", "Funny money", Tired of the Greyhound blues". Juke Boy semble en bonne forme et brille notamment à l'harmonica.
This session produced by Chris Strachwitz was taken over by Sam Charters for his famous series "The legacy of the blues" conducted for the swedish label Sonet. Much feeling and freshness reflected in these tracks cut in Berkeley, California : "I'm a bluesman", "Trying to get ahead", "Lonesome ride back home", "Funny money", "Tired of the Greyhound blues". Juke Boy seems in fine form and particularly shines on harmonica.
THE ADVENTURES OF JUKE BOY BONNER IN AUTHENTI-CITY
Home Cooking
THE ADVENTURES OF JUKE BOY BONNER
Collectables
December 1974
Ce disque est le reflet d'une étrange séance pour Home Cooking dans laquelle "Juke Boy" Bonner est accompagné de synthétiseurs, choristes, guitares rock (jouée par Hal Howley). Au milieu de ces arrangements envahissants, on n'entend pas la guitare de Bonner. Réel désastre artistique, il est bien dommage de présenter un bluesman comme "Juke Boy" Bonner dans une telle situation.
This album reflects a strange session for Home Cooking in which "Juke Boy" Bonner is accompanied by synthesizers, choristers, rock guitars (played by Hal Howley). In the midst of these intrusive arrangements, you can not hear Bonner's guitar. Real artistic disaster, it is a shame to present a bluesman like "Juke Boy" Bonner in such a situation.
BLUES AT KERRVILLE
Silverwolf
May 1975
"Juke Boy" Bonner est à l'affiche du festival texan de Kerrville en 1975. Dans ce recueil, il joue "I've had the blues".
"Juke Boy" Bonner is featured at the Texas festival Kerrville in 1975. In this collection, he plays "I've had the blues".
LAST LIVE RECORDING
Lunar #2
June 1978
Dans cet obscur LP, on retrouve ce qui est probablement le dernier concert de Juke Boy Bonner, dix jours avant sa mort. Malheureusement, la prise de son est mauvaise et gâche un peu le plaisir. D'autant plus que le bluesman est déjà très diminué par la maladie. Quoi qu'il en soit, l'album reste assez émouvant. On le conseillera donc surtout aux fans confirmés de Juke Boy. Il décède quelques jours plus tard dans son appartement du Fifth Ward de Houston où il vivait dans un grand dénuement.
In this obscure LP, we find what is probably the last concert of Juke Boy Bonner, ten days before his death. Unfortunately, the sound is bad and spoils listening pleasure. Especially since the bluesman is already diminished by illness. Anyway, the album remains quite moving. So we advise this album to the most confirmed fans of Juke Boy. He died a few days later in his Houston Fifth Ward's apartment where he lived in destitution.