Bonnie Leigh has performed all over the United States, Mexico, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Taiwan, and Mainland China. Her music is reflective of the many genres she enjoys, and is quite varied spanning Country, Pop, Standards, R&B, 50s/60s, Gospel, Dixieland and Folk.
Born in Ashland, Maine and spending her early years in Connecticut, Bonnie Leigh spent her free time as a child winning talent contests. The oldest daughter of "Donna" a yodeling cowgirl who performed with The Sons of the Pioneers, Gene Autry and Roy Acuff, Bonnie Leigh yearned from an early age to follow in her mother's footsteps. And she has!
Winning a spot on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour, performing as a regular on the television show, The Italian American Hour, and playing trumpet in a Dixieland Jazz band all happened for Bonnie Leigh before she was ten. Performing at local Hootenanies with her sisters Roxie and Shari singing folk music, and touring the college circuit with a rock group called The Monochords that opened for the likes of Johnny Tillotson, Bobby Vinton and Petula Clark filled her teen years.
Perfecting her show, Bonnie Leigh began to perform with great success, and word of her powerful vocals and enchanting stage presence spread internationally.
Continuing on with her career, Bonnie Leigh has opened for Mickey Gilley and Barbara Mandrell, as well as being part of shows including Emmylou Harris, Gene Pitney, and Allan Jackson to name a few. Her remake of Del Shannon's Runaway hit Billboard's Top 100 in the 1980's, and her video, Moonwalking, was one of the most played videos on TNN in 1987 and 1988. "I think the video was such a success because it is timeless," said Bonnie.
In 1987, she was featured in a Nashville Network special taped at the Landmark Hotel in Las Vegas. The spring following that performance saw Bonnie Leigh the subject of another Nashville Network special, this one titled 'Chasin That Neon Rainbow', a show describing the road aspiring stars must follow to achieve national recognition and aired on Video PM.
As the years progressed, Bonnie Leigh with her band, Freedom, began touring all around the country with her own show for fairs, festivals, USO shows, Nashville's Fan Fair, corporate events, as well as a stint at the Opryland Music Hotel in Nashville. Her last major tour was of six cities throughout mainland China.
The video MOONWALKING, which is shown at the right, was Bonnie Leigh's first video. It was aired on the Nashville Network TNN as one of the most popularly played videos when TNN first aired. Bonnie's easy style and grace comes across in this video as well as a Bluesy feel to the song.
Produced by Studio Productions, Nashville, TN, and directed by Coke Sams and Jim May, Bonnie remembers that she had a super time making this video. "It took a little time to get relaxed and understand what they wanted from me, but once I got it, it was so much fun all of the way to the end."
Bonnie Leigh has donated her time, money and music to various charities throughout her career. Here are some of her favorite charities. The links will take you directly to the named charity if you wish to donate to them. All donations are made strictly between the person giving and the named charity. We do not collect or share in any of the donated funds.
