Barrelhouse Bonni and Larry Taylor are asking for help to support their blue music, history and ltierature efforts. Read and DONATE HERE: https://barrelhousebonni.com/campaigns/657193
Bonni's "Nonessential Bizness" song joins a soundscape
JoVia Armstrong and Stephan Moore created this soundscape out of interviews and vocalizations of people from Chicago's Austin community reflecting on their experiences in the Corona pandemic. . The original Barrelhouse Bonni song "Nonessential business" boils up out of the relaxing drone from time to time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwY2KG8g5lc
Generations Learn Blues: Videos
During 2018-19 Barrelhouse Bonni brought blues education to several SouthSide community groups. Teens, youth and elders created a theme at the Peace House, I Grow in Bonni'sblues class. sponsored by Old Town School of Folk Music They also imagined backyard alligators.
Bonni played in the band as Larry Taylor entertained in Hubbard Park on the West Side during summer 2018, sponsored by the neighborhood organization BUILD, bringing out all generations fora series peaceful and fun evenings.
In 2019…
Read moreLarry Taylor, Bonni on CAN-TV
Chicago bluesman Larry Taylor goes on Chicago public access channel CAN-TV 27 with Bonni to talk about his blues history and music. Directed by cameraman Chris Wilkins, first aired July 26, 2019.
Blues for a New Mayor
AustinTalks, the internet newsletter sponsored by Columbia College, printed Bonni's blues recommendations for incoming Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot.
Larry Taylor series at Water Hole
During the Feb/March 2019 Black History series at the Water Hole - Chicago's Juke Joint at 1400 S. Western, Bonni shared the stage with Blues Legend Larry Taylor. Guests West and South Side blues singers Mzz Reese and Merv Murphy; blues masters and visiting local Blues Legends/sons of blues including such as Elmore James Jr., Eddie C. Campbell Jr., Bobby Slim James. in this VIDEO, Larry sings/howls "Tell Me Baby", in Howlin Wolf's "Smokestack Lightning / Commit a Crime" groove, March 11 with Odie Payne…
Read moreNonprofit Blues with Valerie Leonard
On a cold day in January 2019 nonprofit and neighborhood development consultant Valerie Leonard of Nonprofit Utopia interviewed each other at Chicago Hope Cafe about how they can help make things better.
Bonni on Blues education
Valerie and Bonni on James Crow!
Blues for good in the Hood
Can live blues music make a park safer? It sure helps! Check out Bonni's Austin Weekly News Blog and watch s VIDEO of her playing with Larry Taylor's band in Hubbard Park with the BUILD nonprofit program "Light in the Night."
Bonni gives annual IL Quaker lecture
Each year one of the members of meetings gathered in the regional Illinois Yearly Meeting of Friends gives a talk about their life's spiritual journey. In her Plummer Lecture June 24, 2018 at ILYM, Bonni talked about how we can choose , every minute, to follow our ego or the Divine. Text of the whole thing posted by Oak Park Friends Meeting, where Bonni is a member.
She also led blues workshops and singalongs during the annual meeting at McNabb, IL.
Bonni writes about cool people on West Side
In the fall of 2017, Bonni added freelance stories to her Austin Weekly News writings. She had a chance to interview the iconic couple Charlie Joe and Marie Henderson and their Out of the Past Records shop on Madison Street; Rosemarie Rodriguez at her Tee Snack Shop; and Dr. Rashad Saafir who talked about the effect of hardships in the hood on people's mental health.
Blues for West Side Tourism
In summer 2017 Bonni helped organize a series of public discussions about blues, arts and culture for neighborhood development and tourism. Guest speakers have included Dr. Janice Monti, professor at Dominican who has led blues tours and symposia; State Reps. LaShawn K Ford and Camille Lilly; community and nonprofit guru Valerie Leonard; and bluesman Larry Taylor. Hosted by Crystal Dyer at Gone Again Travel and Tours. Bonni and Larry also appeared on Valerie Leonard's "Nonprofit U" podcast . of June…
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