Karla Bonoff

Karla Bonoff (born December 27, 1951)^[1] is an American singer-songwriter, primarily known for her songwriting. As a songwriter, Bonoff's songs have been interpreted by other artists such as "Home" by Bonnie Raitt, "Tell Me Why" by Wynonna Judd, and "Isn't It Always Love" by Lynn Anderson.

Linda Ronstadt has recorded a number of her songs, notably three tracks on the 1976 album Hasten Down the Wind ("Someone To Lay Down Beside Me", "Lose Again" and "If He's Ever Near"), which introduced Bonoff to a mass audience, and "All My Life", a 1989 duet with Ronstadt and Aaron Neville.

Biography

She was born to Dr. Chester Bonoff and Shirley (Kahane) Bonoff, and named after her paternal grandfather Karl Bonoff. Her family was Jewish. Her paternal great-grandparents and one of her maternal great-grandfathers were immigrants from the Russian Empire. One of her mother's grandmothers was born in Pennsylvania to Hungarian Jewish parents, while her mother's other grandparents were born in Austria and Germany. ^[2]

In her early career, Bonoff sang background vocals for Ronstadt and Wendy Waldman before releasing her debut album in 1977, titled Karla Bonoff. Her other albums include Restless Nights (1979), Wild Heart of the Young (1982), New World (1988) and All My Life (a greatest hits collection) in 1999. Bonoff is best known as a songwriter, but she is also noted for her hit recording of "Personally", which became a #19 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart in the summer of 1982. She also recorded "Somebody's Eyes" for the Footloose (1984) soundtrack and "Standing Right Next To Me" on the 8 Seconds (1994) soundtrack.

Bonoff's first live album was released in September 2007. This double CD includes many of her best-known songs performed live in concert on October 24, 2004 in Santa Barbara, California (except for one song recorded July 30, 2005 in Japan). She is backed by her touring band, which includes the late Kenny Edwards (guitar, bass, mandolin, cello, vocals) and Nina Gerber (guitar) plus long-time associate Scott Babcock (drums and vocals).

She was also a member of the group Bryndle, which included Wendy Waldman and Kenny Edwards (Edwards also produced Bonoff's first three albums). The band also included Andrew Gold until he left it in 1996. The group first formed in the late 1960s, but did not release any albums until twenty years later with two studio albums and a live album between 1995 and 2002.

Bonoff continues to tour throughout the US and Japan.

Discography

Studio albums

Bonoff performing in 2010

• Karla Bonoff (1977)
• Restless Nights (1979)
• Wild Heart of the Young (1982) (US #49)^[3]
• New World (1988)

With Bryndle

• Bryndle (1995)
• House of Silence (2002)

Singles

References

External links

• Karla Bonoff's website