Bonni McKeown-- Barrelhouse Bonni onstage-- is a West Virginia writer, musician and producer working in Chicago. Her artistic mission is " to use blues to benefit the African-American community which created it—and to bring people together as a healing force for all of us."
COMMUNITY BLUES:
Bonni co-founded the Charleston WV Blues Society in 2006-07. In 2013, Fractured Atlas donations helped her sponsor free concerts on Chicago's West Side Larry Taylor and the Soul Blues Healers played in BUILD's 2018 “Light the Night” concerts for peace in Hubbard playground park.
In 2017 Bonni led discussions on
blues for Chicago West Side tourism and community development. Into the 2020s, she keeps promoting blues, art, literature and local business with the Austin neighborhood (West Side Chicago) Chamber of Commerce
BLUES EDUCATION
Bonni helps young people and adults make up and sing their own blues verses in her traveling workshop,
the Chicago School of Blues BLUESMAN LARRY TAYLOR
Bonni promotes West Side blues bandleader
Larry Taylor—Aided by Fractured Atlas donors, she helped Larry produce four original songs in 2017. Chicago Dept. of Culture, Arts and Special Events named Larry one of 13 "Esteemed Artists" for 2020-21.
Bonni has produced short blues narrative and performance films, plus a 2019 hour-long interview with Taylor on Chicago's public
CAN-TV with Chris Wilkinson.
FEATURE MOVIE
The Rhythm and the Blues. Bonni wrote and Darryl Pitts is producing a feature film, “The Rhythm and the Blues” based on true events involving Larry Taylor and his musical familyl.. The actor Leon ( "Five Heartbeats" and "The Temptations") stars as Larry’s stepfather, Eddie Taylor Sr. Acoustic bluesman/actor Guy Davis, plays Eddie’s musical partner Jimmy Reed.
LITERATURE
In 2020-22, Bonni is working on a novel, "Delta Song." and editing fiction by other writers. Bonni’
Peaceful Patriot, a biography of West Virginia conscientious objector/Vietnam War medic Tom Bennett. She wrote the blues section of the
Maxwell Street Foundation historical website plus an
Austin Weekly News blog on "West Side blues." She co-authored Larry Taylor's autobiography "Stepson of the Blues."
MUSIC
Barrelhouse Bonni’s solo blues/folk act reflects her home state, West Virginia, and bygone juke joints of the South. Great for house party singalongs.
Bonni’s model is: “Pray for Peace * Work for Justice * Boogie for Survival!”
Sponsored since Oct 25, 2009
Learn More: http://www.barrelhousebonni.com