Primary Instrument: Vocal
Versatile and melodic, from Pop to Jazz and Broadway to Classical, the lilting voice of Coloratura Soprano Bonnie Bowden has graced stages and media across the globe. Born in Bessemer, Alabama, Bonnie began singing at the age of three. Throughout her Texas childhood she performed in schools, churches, talent shows and beauty contests. Her budding talent and promising young spirit were recognized with accolades as a four time gold medalist in Solo Classical Performance at the University of Texas Austin Interscholastic League competitions.
Bonnie’s first professional singing job was at Six Flags Over Texas. Moving to California, she landed a solo position at Disneyland on the Sound Castle Stage in Tomorrowland. From there she joined Sergio Mendes and toured the world many times over. Her TV credits include several appearances on Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas, Dinah Shore and the Midnight Special.
Throughout her career she has had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of musicians, producers and entertainers. Among them are: her husband guitarist David Amaro, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Michel Legrand, Stevie Wonder, Bones Howe, Bob Alcivar, Dave Grusin, Steve Allen, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Lou Rawls, George Duke, Hubert Laws, Paul Smith, Peter Marshall, The Mills Brothers, Pete Barbutti, Robert Klein, Guy Marks, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gormé, Plas Johnson, Andy Simpkins, Paulinho Da Costa, Paul Humphrey, Peter Graves, Frank Capp, Don Shelton, Llew Matthews, Luther Hughes, Ralph Penland, Arthur Duncan, Tom Scott, Ira Nepus, John Hammond, Carl Saunders, Dave Pell, Med Flory, Brian O’Rourke, Jim Hughart, Kendall Kay and Sergio Mendes.
Equally at home on stage or in studio, her vocal solos have been featured on many recordings throughout the years. A multilingual performer, she sings in Spanish, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Latin and Portuguese. Her recording of Victor Herbert's “Indian Summer”, a big band arrangement by Sammy Nestico was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Female Pop Vocal category. In recent years Bonnie’s performances include the San Jose Jazz Festival, L.A. Jazz Institute Festival, Sweet & Hot Music Festival, La Vida Music Festival, Frank Capp Juggernaut Big Band, Brentwood Westwood Symphony and Camerata Of Los Angeles Orchestra. She also performs her one woman show at various performing art centers, theatres, country clubs and resorts.
