Bonnie Lou

Country and rockabilly performer Bonnie Lou was born Mary Joan Kath in Towanda, Illinois, on October 27, 1924. The signal from Chicago's AM powerhouse WLS reached loud and clear into central Illinois, and Bonnie grew up listening to Prairie Ramblers recordings featuring the yodeling cowgirl vocals of Patsy Montana. Mary also learned to yodel, both through those old records and the influence of her Swiss grandmother. She also studied violin and guitar as a child. By 16, Mary was singing on a radio show in Bloomington, Illinois; two years later, she was performing as Sally Carso...