Welcome to my photo memories. Please join me as I drift through the past remembering my roots, and all of the wonderful people who have contributred to my success. If I have learned anything, it's that you need a team to help you accomplish your goals. From my parents who set me on the path of my dreams and kept my ego grounded, to the support I have received from teachers, friends, musicians, and all of the people I have met in the entertainment business. I thank my husband and children for all of their sacrafice and encouragement throughout the years. I have lived my dreams and reached heights that I never thought were achievable. To you all, THANK YOU!
For as long as I can remember, my life has always been full of music. It began with my grandfather, Peter, who taught himself to play the fiddle, guitar and mandolin. Then he taught my mother, Middi, the guitar, my Uncle Paul, the guitar, and my Uncle Mack, the guitar and mandolin. There was always music and laughter in their home with many friends coming by over the weekends to sing and play music. They called them "get-togethers." Their house was always full of friends and family.
One of my earliest memories was being allowed to stay up late and sing at the get-togethers. Many times, my grandfather would put me on his knee and I would sing. One of the songs I have written is about my grandfather and grandmother called Peter Play The Fiddle and is on my album, From The Heart.
My mother tells me that I gave my first performance for the public at age 3. To the right is my first "Glam" shot. Born in Ashland, Maine, a "hotbed" of country music, gave me just the right kind of background that would set my musical roots.
By the age of seven, we were living in Durham, CT. Whenever I came in contact with a piano, I was always able to pick out a melody or two, so it was decided that I should have piano lessons. I went an entire year before the teacher realized that I was memorizing the music after she would play it for me, actually not reading the notes. The songs were getting too difficult to memorize. So, the second year found me starting all over and learning to read music. With a basic knowledge of music playing the piano, it later helped me to learn to play the trumpet and the guitar. I still find it easier to learn a song "by ear" rather than have to read the music.
Grandfather Peter Beaulieu, Middi, Paul & Mack
Bonnie Age 3
Bonnie Age 7
Bonnie's Mom - Middi
From the time I was just a little girl, I always wanted to be a star just like my mother. She toured all over the United States and Mexico performing under the name of Donna Darlin, The Yodeling Cowgirl. She shared the stage with performers such as the Sons of the Pineers, Gene Autry, Roy Acuff and Lone Pine Mountaineer, just to name a few.
As a child, she would let me dress up in all of her show costumes and imagine myself singing for big audiences just as she had done. When Mom and Dad were married, she gave up her musical career, but would sing for friends and relatives whenever we had a party.
My mother's earliest influence has always been the backbone of my own performances. By teaching me to sing melody as well as harmony and helping me learn how to "deliver" a song was some of the best musical education I have ever received.
Mom has received many accolades in her own right and continues to perform today with her band, Middi and the Country Gentlemen. Her star still burns bright!
Middi- "Donna Darlin" The Yodeling Cowgirl
Mary, Middi and Bonnie
Whenever possible, Mom would come to my shows. This photo was taken at the casual show we did at Zinger's where Mom joined me along with Mary, a guest, for a few songs. I'm sure she was singing one of her old favorites, Out Behind The Barn!
Due to a flood in the basement of our home, I lost many of my precious photos, but managed to save some like this one in particular.
I recorded my first session in Nashville, TN at RCA Studio B with Ronnie Dove as producer. Back then, the entire session was recorded live with all of the muscians and singers recording together all at once. We had a full string section along with all of the standard players. Today, everything is built in layers. You may never see all of the musicians playing on the record as they are brought in at different times as the tracks are recorded.
I recorded 4 songs during that session, Walk Into My World of Memories, A Little Boy Like You, I Let Him Know, and A Tiger At Home. The 45 record released from that session was side A: I Let Him Know, and Side B: Tiger At Home. We hit the number two spot in the Baltimore/Washington area. During a tour that took us through my birth state of Maine, we were greeted by fans and relatives with so much warmth and excitement. Prominent DJ, Larry Beckwith of WOZI in Presque Isle, invited me to the station for a personal inverview and played the daylights out of our record. I've had numerous interviews throughout my career, but the one with Larry will always hold a special place in my heart. He's a "Mainer" like me.
Not long after that, I met The Carters, one of the most gracious and talented family groups to ever hit the stage. Jimmy Carter has been involved with several of my music projects.
This photo is from the session where we put together part of the album, Back Home In Country at Creative Sound Studio where the Judds recorded most of their early material in Nashville, TN. Daughter Paula recorded all of the harmony vocals and Mom was there for support.
From that session, we released Runaway backed with The Night Life. Runaway entered Billboard's Top 100 at number 86 which was followed up by another tour.
Paula, Bonnie, Middi
Jimmy Carter during recording session
Musician and friend, Jimmy Carter, during the recording session of Back Home In Country. Jimmy is a very talented person in his own right as a singer, songwriter, musician [bass, fiddle and anything he can get his hands on], and still does a great deal of session work in Nashville today.
Bonnie plays trumpet with Al's Rascals
We had a family friend, Al Grachen, who was a fabulous piano man. He had performed for many years as a professional, but by the time we met him, he was retired from the business. He organized the first band I was in called Al's Rascals. The band members were school chums, Gary Saltus, Allen Saltus, Gary Barker and Al. I played the trumpet and sang. It was my first introduction to big band music and actually playing Dixieland. I loved it and we played locally for various events until the Saltus brothers moved away.
Our family friendship with Al continued and a few years later, he put together our Rock 'n Roll band called The Monochords with Ronnie Cologne on lead guitar singing lead and harmony, Eddie Barberi on sax, his brother Dickie on drums, and me on rhythm guitar also singing lead and harmony. We played for high school dances, college events and were on several bandstand type television shows. We recorded one record - Side A: Rocket Train and Side B: Oriental Rock, both instrumentals which were written by Ronnie Cologne. Unfortunately, photos during my days with The Monochords were damaged in the flood.
Bonnie sings with Al's Rascals
Though the years led us in different directions, we have all kept up with our music and still get together now and then to jam whenever I can get back to CT. Ronnie has a recording studio in his home where he recorded 2 albums for my Mom, and a song I wrote for my father called, These Old Eyes, as a father's day gift. The lyrics were later published in the book entitled, Write On! written by Dan Mulvey, M.A., which is available on Amazon.com. Dan Mulvey and Coach Wally Camp, two of the most influential teachers I ever had, have remained long time supporters.
Note: All artwork for These Old Eyes was created by my sister, Roxie and her company, R&D Productions.
Click Here For Song Lyrics
Sadly, on July 17, 2010, my Dad peacefully passed away. We will miss you always, Dad.
No matter what we were worrying about, Dad always made you feel that everything would be all right in the end.
Some of the most fun I can recall was when my two sisters, Roxie and Shari joined with me to perform as The Murphy Sisters. The youngest, Shari sang lead, Roxie carried the harmony, and I sang bass and accompanied us on the guitar. Our rehearsals were fun and crazy at the same time, as my sister Shari had an outrageous sense of humor, and still finds ways to make us laugh today . She would always find something funny in everything we did. Electing myself as chief boss in charge, I would fuss at her to get back to practicing and Roxie would often mediate. Roxie was our spokesperson and was excellent at announcing and talking with the audience. She has always had an eloquent way of speaking and a sharp wit.
We performed for fairs, festivals, private clubs, restaurants and Hootenannies which were the rage at the time. Our show consisted of everything from Barbershop songs and harmonies as in Wait Till The Sun Shines Nellie to all of the folk music on the hit parade. Our biggest influence was the Kingston Trio with songs like The MTA, Tom Dooley, Scarlet Ribbons, This Land Is Your Land and more. We were on television and radio and met many other perfomers from all over New England.
I still love the opportunity to join my sisters and sing the old songs. We just seem to fall back into our respective parts with ease and each of us fills in the words whenever any are forgotten. You can't beat family harmony!
Roxie and Bonnie win 1st prize
Roxie, Shari and Bonnie
My first video, Moonwalking, was produced by Coke Sams and Jim May of Studio Productions in Nashville, TN. The theme is based on a dream where with the touch of a radio dial, the person transforms back in time when life was slower and love songs were classic.
I loved making this video and wearing the vintage clothes. I never expected this song to become so popular, especially among the college circuit. Who knew? Below are a few photos taken during the production.
Jimmy Carter on upright Bass
Music Showcase in Nashville, TN
Nashville is full of showcase performances every week with songwriters trying to get their songs heard and artists trying to either get a record deal or hired by promoters for upcoming shows.
My showcase was recorded for a TNN segment called Chasin' That Neon Rainbow and featured Alan Jackson, the song's writer, and myself as a Nashville artist.
We rehearsed feverishly to get this show perfected and ready for filming. From the interview with the TNN representative to learning the new songs, it was a labor of love. Show producer, Kent Cathcart, was hired to format the show. Kent is responsible for teaching me about the best ways to utilize the space on the stage and why's and how's of performing. He had just finished a project with Tanya Tucker, so we were very lucky to get him.
Interview with TNN representative
Filming at the Hall of Fame Lounge
Kent Cathcart with Bonnie Leigh
From the Zinger's Showroom
We sure did have a lot of fun doing the dinner shows at Zinger's in CT. Though it is no longer there, we created many happy memories with our own show and bringing in other headliners to perform. When we first opened, the Gulf War had just begun and we offered prayers, love, and this one song in particular: I'm Proud To Be An American which was recorded by Lee Greenwood. We kept that song in the show, and still do it whenever we give a performance, for it seems that wars in that part of the world will go on for some time to come.
The FREEDOM band changed musicians several times due to people's schedules and commitments, but we always made good music together. It takes a good group to support the lead singer and complete the show. It goes back to what I mentioned earlier with team work.
Proud To Be An American
Bonnie Leigh at Zingers Showroom
Bonnie Signs Autographs in Beijing
Through the invitation of the Ministry of Culture in Beijing, China, I performed in several cities on mainland China. One thing I learned was that the Chinese people were a wonderful audience and so appreciative. Though English is being taught from the first grade as a mandatory languge, we had large monitors which translated all of the lyrics into Chinese so the audience could follow along. When I talked, there was an interpreter translating all of my words. I quickly realized that the Chinese people like Americans and they were absolutely delightful to us wherever we traveled.
You haven't tasted really good Chinese food until you have it authentically in China. Yes, there can be many wierd dishes served, but that is because they are not a wasteful people. The dinners where we were the guest of honor were always the most interesting in the food area, as that's when they would serve all of the specialty dishes. I have eaten many unusual items to say the least so as not to offend our host. It's always a learning experience, and my husband and I have continued to travel back to China on numerous occasions.
A Special Chinese Dinner in Beijing
Just for Fun....
Bonnie plays with a local group in San Carlos, Mexico
Family Jam at Mom's House
Bonnie Sings with the Citrus Jazz Society
Bonnie & Son Rich Sing Together
Daughter Paula & Bonnie at The Ironwood Grill
As the words go in my song, Peter Played The Fiddle, the music of my grandfather, known to us as Pepe', lives on through his children and grandchildren. Our entire family is filled with the love of music and laughter. We all share it in different ways.
If I can leave you with one thought, it is that I hope you take a chance in life, live your passion and follow your dreams. I did and I still am.
