Bonnie St. Claire

Bonnie St. Claire started about five years ago as a solo singer and her first record "Tame me, Tiger" was a small hit. But in her country, Holland, it is rather difficult for a girl to be successful. She reached the top in the World Top Song Contest in Tokyo in 1971, and made hits like "Let Me Come Back Home, Mama", "I Won't Stand Between Them" and "Manana Manana," but the international breakthrough was still eluding her, and sometimes Bonnie was wondering if it ever would come. Peter Koelewijn, her songwriter/producer, always believed in the talents of his now 24-year-old pupil from Amsterdam, and when Bonnie told him that she had met the group Unit Gloria, he decided to write a rock song for the new combination, a step he has never regretted. For "Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet" climbed high in the charts in Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Germany and made the group Bonnie St. Claire & Unit Gloria immediately one of the best-selling items for Philips, Holland. It was a pity that several cover-versions of "Clap Your Hands..." reached the charts in countries like South Africa and in South America.

The follow-up, "Waikiki Man", was as successful as the first hit, and naturally the group had to tour, which they did in nearly every country in Europe with great success.

The third single "Voulez-Vous (Yes I Do, I Love You)" meant the hat trick had worked, and of course the world was waiting for an album. In 1973 Philips released an LP, "The Best Of Bonnie St. Claire", with a lot of "old" material from her solo period, but this album also contains original Bonnie & Unit Gloria material, including the hits.

It is a pity that B-sides of singles are seldom listened to, for the group did some very nice songs that "disappeared" on flip sides. Titles like "That's My Music" and "Will It Help Me" are wonderful and you'll find them on this album. And fantastic versions of real Rock'n'Roll classics like "Tallahassee Lassie" which made Freddy Cannon famous, and "Telephone Baby" the Johnny Otis "oldie," will make it clear why Bonnie St. Claire and Unit Gloria have called this LP "The Rock Goes On".

The group Left Side, which reached the international charts with "(Like A) Locomotion" even congratulated Unit Gloria (Albert "Muis" Hol - guitar / Gerry "Miep" Hol - drums / Ed "Swanny" Swanenberg - bass-guitar) on their version of "Locomotion", and said that it sounds even better than the original one! The same praise came from the composer/ producer of the Jackpot hit "Is Everybody Happy".

Listen to Bonnie St. Claire & Unit Gloria, it's your music, and everybody is happy, and when you hear this group you will agree: The Rock Goes On!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ST. CLAIRE, BONNY
Bonny, born Cornelia Swart, in Rozenburg, started her career in the music business in 1966 as a member of an all-girl folk trio, the Topsys. In 1967, she was discovered by Peter Koelewijn. During the course of the next few years, she was accompanied by the Jets (first single), the Nicols (till 1969), Clover Leaf, Lotusland (1969-1972) and Unit Gloria (1972-1976).

She also recorded together with D.C.Lewis, as Alias Bonny & Lewis, in 1972 and Bonny & Martin in 1970.

Discography: