March 2007: Vince was delighted to meet Gary US Bonds over the airwaves having always liked New Orleans and Quarter to Three....just 2 of Gary's fabulous worldwide hits

Gary U.S. Bonds s more than just a legendary vocal interpreter and fiery, vital concert performer. For over twenty-five years, Bonds has been a songwriter and arranger. A man who has written hits and been nominated for awards. Early in his career, Gary U.S. Bond sang and had a heavy role in the arrangement of his first hit "New Orleans." In order to draw attention to the record, promotional copies were sent to radio stations in sleeves inscribed "Buy U.S. Bonds" – hence at age 19, Gary Anderson became Gary U.S. Bonds. The following-up to "New Orleans" was the now legendary ‘party’ record entitled "Quarter to Three," which became the number one hit that would eventually inspire Bruce Springsteen to say of Bonds, "there’s some guys out there…what they do is forever." Over the next three years, Bonds co-wrote and recorded his after hit, "School Is Out," "School Is In," "Twist, Twist Senora," "Not Me" and many more, rising to the status so high that on a 1962 tour of Europe, he headlined above a group of relative newcomers called The Beatles. Another rare distinction for Gary is that he managed to transcend the decades with hits. His inspiration for Bruce Springsteen and Steve Van Zandt, who had grown up on Bond’s music ("Quarter to Three" was one of Bruce’s famous concert encores), led to a chance meeting in 1980. A friendship developed and shortly after, a musical collaboration, which resulted in Bond’s "Dedication" and "On The Line" LP’s, with singles: "This Little Girl of Mine," "Out of Work," "Jole Blon" and "Daddy’s Come Home", among others, produced by Springsteen and Van Zandt. Without question, Gary was back on the concert stage. His gritty, soulful and powerful vocals even better than before. While he has continued to perform, Gary also keeps active as a songwriter. Some of those songs are hits for others. Most notably the number one Johnny Paycheck record, "Friend Don’t Take Her, She’s All I’ve Got," that was nominated for a Grammy and earned Gary the nomination of Country Music Association’s "Songwriter of the Year." The song was also a number one R&B fit for Freddie North, and reentered the Top Ten Country charts for Tracy Byrd, in 1997. From a recent appearance in the movie, BLUES BROTHERS 2000 (where everyone sings "New Orleans"), to his pioneering involvement with "Global Village", an organization led by Mohammed Ali, that brings for and medical supplies to the needy throughout the world. Gary is one of those rare artists who have both a rich history and an unlimited future.