Barrelhouse Bonni

Nonprofit FOUR Blues to regrow music in the community

Reconnect generations

Barrelhouse Bonni and her new nonprofit, FOUR Blues Inc. NFP, are striving to re-grow more better blues to benefit disinvested neighborhoods where the music once thrived. Blues can help reconnect generations, give people outlets for their feelings, create a sense of history and community, and attract tourists and locals for economic development. See Austin (West Side) Weekly News story HERE and The Culture newspaper podcast HERE Learn more and donate https://fourbluesmusic.org

The Rhythm and the Blues movie (click photo)

Larry Taylor's life Written by Barrelhouse Bonni , Produced and directed by Darryl Pitts

Austin (Chicago) Weekly News Writeup

News Link

Sharing Blues at Hermitage Garden

History workshop all ages

South Side, 2018--Bonni brings blues history scrapbook to show youngsters the blues artists who've moved Chicago--Howlin' Wolf, Memphis Minnie, Muddy Waters--and simple ways to make up your own blues tune. Everybody has their own story to tell in a three-line blues verse

About Bonni

For Barrelhouse Bonni McKeown-- neighborhood blues music promoter and educator, piano player, transportation activist, film producer --blues music is a bridge between city and country, between ethnic groups and generations. She helps local arts, history and business bring people together in our challenging times. In music, she's available to play the blues with you, lead singalongs, help you learn to make up your own blues tune. In the literary department, she serves as an editor and as an organizer of history archives.

WRITINGS

Read Bonni's blues and Chicago West Side community writings in the Austin Weekly News

Bonni's writing contributed to the music history webpage with Maxwell Street Foundation

Bonni's book Peaceful Patriot: The Story of Tom Bennett" featured in West Virginia Encyclopedia

CLICK on BLOG page, left for excerpts from Bonni's upcoming novel "Delta Song"

Need Bonni to Edit Your Writing?

Over 40 years experience a journalist, copyeditor and fiction writer--Bonni knows a thing about words, and can help you use them to tell your best story. Email her for info. Developmental and line/copy editing for short stories, novels, memoirs, and pieces to promote your business.( No porn or graphic violence; too much of that around already.) Rates are roughly $25-35/hour, total job quoted before we start. Read here to learn What's an Editor Do?

Bonni's Corona Quarantine Song (not quite G rated): Let'sExercise!

DONATE TAX DEDUCTIBLE to Bonni's "Boogie for Survival" Project to sponsor Bonni's next book, film project or community concert with 501c3 fiscal Sponsor FRACTURED ATLAS

Blues Heritage with Larry Taylor

West Side Blues Ambassador

Bonni has presented, publicized and played keys with Chicago heritage blues singer and drummer LARRY TAYLOR since 2004, and co-wrote his autobiography "Stepson of the Blues." Larry is one of 13 artists of various disciplines around Chicago to receive the city's Esteem Artist Award for 2020-21.

Larry Taylor website