Songwriter Gary U.S. Bonds to Release New Memoir

World-known performer, hit songwriter, influencer of Bruce Springsteen, and now published author, Gary U.S. Bonds will be celebrating his 74th birthday and first world book launch for his memoir, BY U.S. BONDS, That's My Story, written by Bonds with Stephen Cooper. The event June 5, 2013 at B.B. King's, NY, includes Gary's live performance of his newest music single "That's My Story," with after-concert book signing and party festivities. West coast launch is slated for June 17 at the iconic Book Soup, West Hollywood, Calif. Other cities for book signings to be announced as well as concert tours worldwide (John Regna/Regna Artist Management, Orlando FL).

Bonds is noted for his hits: "New Orleans" (#6 on the charts 1960), "Quarter To Three" (#1, 1961), "School Is Out" (#5, 1961), "This Little Girl" (his comeback hit in 1981, which reached #11 on the pop chart and #5 on the mainstream rock chart) from the album Dedication, followed by On the Line, both of which were collaborations with Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt and the E-Street Band. Twenty years later, Bonds released Back in 20, featuring Springsteen and recently Christmas Is On!

The book is a fascinating tale tying together the sometimes loose ends of music history, putting readers right smack in the middle of the early days of R&B and rock music.

The foreword by Steven Van Zandt, guitarist for The E-Street Band, provides the perfect start. Also included are eighty photos selected by photo editor Mark Weiss from the family's collection.

Among the many stories, Bonds recounts memories of traveling with B.B. King and Sam Cooke, his first big break with Dick Clark, music hits "New Orleans" and "Quarter to Three," the real "GArden Party" with Rick Nelson, his humorous outing with Muhammad Ali and the "comeback" album.

Bonds received a Grammy nomination (Rock Male Vocalist, 1982) for Dedication, and was nominated for the Country Music Association's "Song of the Year" ("She's All I Got") in 1972 and inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, Oct. 15, 2006.

Confirmed to attend is very special guest 86 year old Gene "Daddy G" Barge, Bond's original sax player and founding member of the Church Street Five. When Bonds sang "Blow Daddy," on his 1961 #1, "Quarter to Three," it was Barge who played the iconic horn riff, and guests will hear "Daddy G" and Bonds once again on his new release, "That's My Story."

As with his previous birthday celebrations, special guests can be expected with prior years' celebrants including:
Ben E. King (singer and co-composer of "Stand by Me,")
Darlene Love (known for 1960s for the song "He's a Rebel," a #1 American single in 1962)
Chuck Jackson (recorded Burt Bacharach and Bob Hilliard's hit "Any Day Now")
Steven Van Zandt, Vince Pastore and The Rascals Gene Cornish

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