Gary U.S. Bonds !
Born Gary Anderson in Jacksonville, Florida in 1939 , Gary U.S. Bonds moved at a young age to Norfolk, Virginia, where he sang in the Church choir, and with a group called The Turks.
He joined record producer Frank Guida's small Legrand record label and Guida changed Andersons name to U.S. Bonds in hope that it would be confused with a public service announcement advertising the sale of government bonds and thus get more airplay.
His hits had an infectious joyfulness and a unique sound: some have described them as seeming to have been recorded under water !
In the early 80's, rock superstar/Gary U. S. Bonds-fan Bruce Springsteen began to use Quarter To Three as his encore when he performed in live concerts. Together with rocker Miami Steve Van Zandt (sorry, Sylvio), Springsteen helped to revive Bonds' career !
Meanwhile, Gary U. S. Bonds continues to this day to be what he does best, a bloody bloody bloody great r&b singer !!
Gary U. S. Bonds :
* Coconut Woman *
* Minnie The Moocher *
* Quarter To Three *
This one's for me friends, fiends, family & me sweetheart...I'm doing fine folks !!!
Comments
btw...great blog and I visit it regularly.
Bruce Friedman..
p.s. the store remains in business to this day, now located in Virginia Beach Va.
Lovely to hear you are A-OK.
Strawberries and whiskey,