Oh Johnny! - Bonnie Baker

 

The Bongo Song

Oh Johnny!

Bonnie Baker

Orchestra Conducted by Wilbur Hatch

Arrangements by Carl Brandt

Cover Photo: Tom Tucker/Tommy Mitchell

Warner Bros. Records 1212

1958

From the back cover: From deep in the heart of Texas straight to the hearts of all America might be a one sentence summation of the career of Bonnie Baker. But it would be most inadequate. The complete story must tell a lot more about the experiences of this wee miss whose uncomplicated yet most provocative style of singing has made her one of the most successful and most imitated singers ever to step before a microphone.

Though Wee Bonnie was born in Tremendous, Texas, her first professional singing experience began in Macon, Georgia where, just out of high school, she joined a local band and sang on week-ends at the country club dances. Later, when her family returned to Houston, Bonnie went to work for the famous Doc Ross who had also discovered the Teagarden boys and many other stars. At this time the was singing nothing but jazz and glowing from the Phil Harris remark that she was a "miniature" of her idol, Mildred Bailey. But regardless of how many singers she might idolize, she was different, fresh, a new singer with a new style all her own... in short, she was Bonnie Baker.

It was inevitable that Bonnie was discovered by those seeking entertainment outside the boundaries of Texas. Her first such stop was at the Claridge Hotel in St. Louis as featured singer in the floor show where the accompanying orchestra was led by Orrin Tucker. The ovations given Bonnie at the Claridge prompted Tucker to ask her to join his band and thus started an association that was to last for some years during and after which Bonnie Baker would make entertainment and, especially, recording history.

There came the night when Bonnie and company opened at the famous Empire Room of the Palmer House in Chicago. This opening coincided with the world premiere of the motion picture "In Old Chicago" and all hotels and clubs presented shows with a "gay nineties" motif to celebrate the event. The producer of the Palmer House show (little realizing show business history was about to be made) dressed Bonnie in a Gibson Girl outfit and asked her to sing a song in the show... said song having first introduced by Anna Held in 1914. But to all intents and purposes this song had its real introduction that night in Chicago when less than a hundred pounds of transplanted Texas miss stepped into the spotlight and sang for the first time her song. The song was "Oh, Johnny!" and the singer our Bonnie.

It was just a short time before Bonnie belonged to everyone. "Oh, Johnny" was quickly recorded and found its way into the juke boxes and hearts of all America. More Bonnie Baker records were demanded and they followed in quick succession. There were "Especially For You" (especially written for Bonnie,) "Billy," "You'd Be Surprised." "Stop, It's Wonderful." Each was a hit and each increased the demand for more and more Bonnie records.

There was much more. Bonnie won every available award for girl singers in 1940 and 1941. She still holds the attendance record at Chicago's Palmer House with twenty six consecutive weeks and reservations sold out six weeks in advance. For years she held the record at the New York Paramount. There were movies, appearances throughout all the land in hotels, clubs, and the stages of all theaters.

These appearances, all this success, continues as this is written and Bonnie Baker continues to sing the same style she brought to America not so long ago... that provocative yet "girl next door" style, once called "the most imitated but, as usual, the imitated is inimicable... only Bonnie Baker sings and sounds like Bonne Baker! – Larry Cotton

Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!

Aggravatin' Papa, Don't Try To Two Time Me

You'd Be Surprised

Billy

Stop! Its Wonderful

Come Back

Ma (He's Makin' Eyes At Me)

The Bongo Song

Especially For You

Charley, My Boy

Texas Tornado