| Karla Bonoff | |
| Background: | solo_singer |
| Birth Name: | Karla Bonoff |
| Birth Date: | 27 December 1951 |
| Origin: | Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Occupation: | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Instrument: | Vocals, piano, guitar |
| Genre: | Folk rock, soft rock, pop rock |
| Associated Acts: | Bryndle, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt |
| Website: | www.karlabonoff.com |
Karla Bonoff (born December 27, 1951)[1] is an American singer-songwriter. While Bonoff has released a number of albums, she is primarily known for her songwriting. Bonoff's songs include "Home," covered by Bonnie Raitt, "Tell Me Why" by Wynonna Judd, and "Isn't It Always Love" by Lynn Anderson.
Linda Ronstadt recorded several Bonoff songs, including three on the 1976 album Hasten Down the Wind ("Someone To Lay Down Beside Me", "Lose Again" and "If He's Ever Near"), and "All My Life", a 1989 duet with Ronstadt and Aaron Neville.
Bonoff was born to Chester and Shirley (Kahane) Bonoff, and named after her paternal grandfather, Karl Bonoff. Her family was Jewish, with ancestors from Russia, Hungary, Austria and Germany.
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 No. 19 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as No. 3 on the Adult Contemporary chart in the middle of 1982. She recorded "Somebody's Eyes" for the Footloose (1984) soundtrack and "Standing Right Next To Me" on the 8 Seconds (1994) soundtrack. Her version of the carol "The First Noel" has gotten significant airplay on Christmas radio formats in the US.[2]
Bonoff's first live album was released in 2007, including songs performed live in 2004, in Santa Barbara, California. She was backed by her touring band, which included the late Kenny Edwards (guitar, bass, mandolin, cello, vocals) and Nina Gerber (guitar) plus long-time associate Scott Babcock (drums and vocals).
Bonoff was a member of the group Bryndle, which included Wendy Waldman and Kenny Edwards (who also produced Bonoff's first three albums) and Andrew Gold (until he left in 1996). The group first formed in the late 1960s, but did not release any albums until 20 years later with two studio albums and a live album between 1995 and 2002. Bonoff also appeared on the Keiko Matsui album titled 'Sapphire'. She continues to tour throughout the US and Japan.
with Bryndle
| Year | Song | US Hot 100 | US Adult Contemporary | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | "I Can't Hold On" | 76 | align="center" | - | Karla Bonoff | |
| 1978 | "Isn't It Always Love" | align="center" | - | align="center" | - | Karla Bonoff |
| 1978 | "Someone To Lay Down Beside Me" | align="center" | - | align="center" | - | Karla Bonoff |
| 1979 | "When You Walk in the Room" | 101 | align="center" | - | Restless Nights | |
| 1980 | "Baby Don't Go" | 69 | 35 | Restless Nights | ||
| 1982 | "Personally" | 19 | 3 | Wild Heart of the Young | ||
| 1982 | "Please Be the One" | 63 | 22 | Wild Heart of the Young | ||
| 1984 | "Somebody's Eyes" | 109 | 16 | Footloose soundtrack | ||
| 1994 | "Standing Right Next to Me" | align="center" | - | 38 | 8 Seconds soundtrack |