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Total Living Network is television programming for “entertaining, educating and empowering you to live a full, enriched life”. In March 2004, TLN broadcast a half hour programme in which Bonnie candidly shared some of her gospel roots and beliefs with host and network president, Jerry Rose.
Bonnie’s “Step By Step” album (1981) was her only overtly Christian recording. It was a cry from the soul. “I was wounded, scared, alone and I wanted my Daddy to come and get me, take me home. Step by step, I’m getting closer to you, Jesus”. Instead of encouragement however, Bonnie experienced some hurtful rejection. “The message was ‘just as I am’. I came, wounded and dirty, beat up and everything and they went, ‘not good enough’… it really hurt me bad”.
One of the most distinctive features of Bonnie’s style derives from the gospel influence, so it was encouraging to hear “Charlie Daniels promised that sometime in the future he’s gonna produce a gospel album on me”. Don’t let him forget, Bonnie!
Note : this interview has been re-broadcast several times (including on April 7, 2007) and may be aired again - see TV schedule
See also: Bonnie's interview with Southound Beat, 2003 Go to page top
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Total
Living With Jerry Rose
Bonnie
related how she grew up amongst a family of gospel singers, how her
foundation of faith helped her survive some early pitfalls and how it
continues to give her strength. Bonnie shows a clear awareness of her
special gift and how, through surrendering to the song, she can act
as a kind of vessel. “I always knew I was a singer. My great grandmother
always said ‘you’ve got this little extra’. I feel
an anointing; I don’t know what I’m going to do with that.
There’s something that happens when I sing, people get blessed”.
Although
there was a trickle of some fine session work as Bonnie
explored a new interest in acting, it was over twenty years till she
made her next album, “I’m Still The Same”. This time,
the point was to prove that, musically, she really was good enough.
The title almost begged the comment, “not the same, even better”.
Those fortunate to have seen Bonnie live in recent years can testify
that the gift is intact, the vessel working as well as ever.
