Glen Bonham
Glen Bonham

Review By Steven Stone
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CD Number: Scena Records 271975-2 

  Ernest Hemingway once wrote "writing is all about beating dead guys at their own game." The same can be said for musicians attempting to record covers of bluegrass and country standards. Your work will be compared with the originals, so it had better be able to stand up to the masters. On Glen Bonham's new self-titled release he rises to the challenge and proves he can deliver a tune as well as any man, dead or alive.

Perhaps it's his background in martial arts that makes him such a fearless musician. He tackles standards that most sane performers would avoid on their first CD. His strong voice and perfect phrasing make even other artist's signature numbers like "You Don't Know My Mind" and "Fox on The Run" very much his own. It doesn't hurt his cause to have assembled a crack bunch of backup musicians including Pat Flynn on guitar, Aubrey Haney and Glen Duncan on fiddle, Rob Ikes and Randy Kohrs on dobro, Kenny Malone on drums, Terry Eldridge on bass, and Darrin Vincent and Paul Brewster on backup vocals. Glen plays guitar and bass, but this album highlights his singing. His voice sounds as if he was born to sing bluegrass. Rich and powerful, he puts just the right nuances of feeling into every phrase.

Glen's Musical career began at the ripe old age of 11, when he joined Bill Grant's band on bass. He played in various groups including a number of family bands with his brother, uncle, and dad. After an attempt to make it in Nashville as a songwriter and performer Glen moved back to Oklahoma in 1993, and turned his attention to his other love, Native American dancing. He formed "Glen Bonham and Southern Tradition" in the fall of 1993. This led to a recurring part as "White Eagle" on Chuck Norris hit series "Walker: Texas Ranger" (Chuck was also Glen's martial arts instructor while he was in the Marines.) In 1999 Buck White invited Glen to perform on the Grand Old Opera, which led to his association with Scena records owner Wayne Everett, and this current release.

Bluegrass fans are divided into two camps, those who prefer their music very traditional, and those who like modern musical influences. If you are one of the former, you owe it to yourself to hear Glen Bonham. His voice rivals any who have ever sung a bluegrass tune. He creates some powerful music.

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