Karla Bonoff

Karla Bonoff has been described as one of the finest singer-songwriters of her generation, and, in her case, the description is not exaggerated. With a career spanning four decades, Bonoff has enjoyed critical acclaim, commercial success, enduring popularity, and the unwavering respect of her peers. Bonoff’s soaring melodies and deeply personal lyrics have earned her fans worldwide. And the hits she penned for other artists like Bonnie Raitt (“Home”), Linda Ronstadt (“All My Life”) and Wynonna Judd (“Tell Me Why”) have influenced countless singer-songwriters through the years.

The talented singer/songwriter grew up in Los Angeles and briefly attended UCLA. Emerging from the Monday night hootenanny scene at the Troubadour nightclub, she was a member of Bryndle, a folk-rock group also featuring Wendy Waldman, Andrew Gold, and Kenny Edwards, that formed in 1969, signed to A&M, and cut an album that was never released. Edwards, a former member of the Stone Poneys (a band featuring Linda Ronstadt), and Gold were later part of Ronstadt's backing band, and they brought Bonoff to her attention. Ronstadt recorded three of Bonoff's songs on her 1976 album, Hasten Down the Wind, leading to a recording contract for Bonoff and the release of three albums on Columbia Records, the last of which, Wild Heart of the Young (1982), featured the Top 40 hit "Personally." Bonoff worked on movie soundtracks during the '80s, notably on Footloose (1984) and About Last Night (1986). She released her fourth album, New World, in 1988. Karla continues to perform all over America and Japan.