The Washington Times
  • Subscribe
  • Times News Services
  • RSS
  • Mobile Headlines
  • e-edition
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • REGISTER
  • LOG IN
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • WELCOME
  • Your Profile
  • Log Out
  • Front Page Image
  • Classifieds
  • Autos
  • Real Estate
  • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Customer Service
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • NFL
    • NBA/WNBA
    • MLB
    • NHL
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsports
    • Soccer
    • NCAA
    • Olympics
    • Outdoors
    • Other
  • Culture
    • Home & Living
    • Family & Kids
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Washington Visitors
    • Books
    • Military History
    • Life
    • Auto
    • TV Listings
    • Movie Listings
    • Death Notices
    • Entertainment
  • Themes
  • Communities
  • Shopping
    • Stores
    • Coupons
    • Daily Double
    • Promotion
    • How It Works
  • Videos
    • Two Guys
    • Birnbaum on Washington
    • Liz Glover
    • Amanda Carpenter
    • Morning Briefing
    • Documentaries
    • Joe Giganti
    • Video Game Minute
  • Podcasts
    • About Headlines
    • Audio and Radio
    • America's Morning News
  • National

    Green energy stimulus growing few jobs

  • National

    9/11 defendants eye platform

  • Entertainment

    Jackson wins 4 American Music Awards

  • Politics

    Unemployment taxes hit small firms hard

  • Sports

    Redskins' loss like a kick in the gut

  • Politics

    Dem senators at odds over health bill

  • Local

    Company that repaired Gray's house lacked license

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Bonds swung to music

Rate this story

Average 0.00
after 0 votes
Login or register to rate this story

  • Font Size -+
  • Print
  • Email
  • Comment
  • Tweet this!
  • Share
  • Article
  • Comments ()
  • Click-2-Listen
  • Videos

More Stories

  • 9/11 defendants eye platform
  • Dem senators at odds over health bill
  • Cleric asked Rep. Kennedy to forego communion
  • 'Boring choices' make up new European leadership

By

MELBOURNE, Fla. -- Before Tiger Woods, who came to the District this week to announce his tour stop, the list of recognized black golfers in the history of the PGA Tour was a short one -- Charlie Sifford, Lee Elder and Calvin Peete.

If circumstances had been slightly different, there could have been one more name on that list from the early 1960s -- a young black man from Norfolk named Gary Anderson. But "New Orleans" -- the top 10 song, not the city -- changed all that.

You might know him better as Gary "U.S." Bonds, who developed one of the most distinctive rock and soul sounds of the 1960s but could have wound up a professional golfer instead.

Bonds was in Melbourne, Fla., recently, just a few miles from the Washington Nationals spring training complex, to perform at a concert at Cocoa Village. Unfortunately, he said, he wouldn't have any time for golf on this trip. He is busier than he has been for years, he said.

"I built a studio in the house [in Long Island], and have been working more, so I don't get out as much as I used to," the 67-year-old Bonds said. "I still do a few of major celebrity tournaments. I used to get out two or three days a week. Now I probably get out there four or five times a year, so needless to say, I am not doing that good right now."

On the golf course, maybe. But on stage and in recording studios, Gary U.S. Bonds has managed to stay relevant from the time in 1960 when he emerged a star with the song "New Orleans" and his beach party infectious style of music, to nearly 20 years later, when he recorded the album "Dedication" with Bruce Springsteen, which featured the hit song, "This Little Girl is Mine," and then, in 2005, winning the W.C. Handy music award from the Blues Foundation for his album "Back in 20."

Generations of music lovers would have missed out on the joy of the Bonds sound, if he had pursued what was another love of his -- golf.

"We lived by a public course in Norfolk," he said. "I was about 13 years old, and found a club one day. I started hitting balls around. I got interested in it, and finally the pro at the golf course gave me a set of clubs to play with. I used to hang out with him every day and play some holes until I learned how to play. There weren't many kids who played golf then. I was the only one in my neighborhood."

He got pretty good at it -- good enough for qualifying school for the PGA Tour -- a remarkable achievement for a young black man in the early 1960s. And he was good enough to win there.

"At the same time, I had just recorded 'New Orleans,' so I had to make a decision as whether I wanted to play golf or be a star," Bonds said.

12Next »

Post a comment

There are comments on this article, submit your opinion!

Commenting is disabled for this entry.
If you feel there is still something worth mentioning about this entry please contact the author or the site admin.

Ask a Question

You Report

Do you have another point of view, photos, audio, video or more information about a story?

Top Stories

Most Read

  1. Massive bill steals show in health care debate
  2. Report: D.C. schools chief Rhee mishandled sexual misconduct scandal
  3. Islamic center in Maryland keeps ties to Iran
  4. Religious leaders vow civil disobedience on anti-life issues
  5. EDITORIAL EXCLUSIVE: On terrorists, Justice recused
More Top Stories »
  1. KELLNER: New Apple mouse really is 'Magic'
  2. EXCLUSIVE: Hoffman considering recount claim
  3. Senate health care bill creates new marriage penalty
  4. EDITORIAL: Gunning for Sarah Palin
  5. Report: ACORN mismanaged grant money

Most Shared

  1. EDITORIAL EXCLUSIVE: On terrorists, Justice recused
  2. Islamic center in Maryland keeps ties to Iran
  3. Religious leaders vow civil disobedience on anti-life issues
  4. EDITORIAL: Gunning for Sarah Palin
  5. EDITORIAL: Death for being a Christian
More Top Stories »
  1. Work site arrests of illegals fall dramatically
  2. Couples delay divorce, wait out recession
  3. 20-pound, 2,074-page bill steals show
  4. Misplaced Viet lessons
  5. Anglers serve time for black-market rockfish trade

Most Commented

  1. Work site arrests of illegals fall dramatically
  2. Religious leaders vow civil disobedience on anti-life issues
  3. ANALYSIS: Obama takes a bow, but applause is weak
  4. Senate Democrats win key vote on health bill
  5. Islamic center in Maryland keeps ties to Iran
More Top Stories »
  1. Obama's approval rating falls below 50%
  2. Massive bill steals show in health care debate
  3. EDITORIAL: Gunning for Sarah Palin
  4. Military academies lack minority nominees
  5. 20-pound, 2,074-page bill steals show

Listen to Washington Times Radio

  • America's Morning News

    with John McCaslin and Melanie Morgan

Blogs & Columns

  • Hot Button Blog

    RNC: Breast cancer recommendations may lead to 'rationing'

  • Belief Blog

    Evangelicals OK civil disobedience

  • Out of Context

    Foods that might kill libido

  • On the Fly

    United lifts some 'award' blocking

  • Technology

    Facebook wins round against phishing spammer

  • Redskins 360

    Rinehart looks badly hurt

  • SNOBlog

    Beyond 'Woody'

Videos

Advertising Links
TWT Store
  • e-edition
  • Print Edition
  • Weekly Washington Times
TWT Affiliates
  • Middle East Times
  • Golf
  • UPI
  • Arbor Ballroom
  • Washington Times Global
  • About TWT
  • Press Room
  • F.A.Q.
  • Work for TWT
  • Advertise
  • Sponsors
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

All site contents © Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC.