One day in 1958 three brothers: Angelo, Carmine, and Nick Bonagura recorded a song called "You and I". The lyrics were written by Angelo (a song for his wife) and the music was written by his brothers. Though the trio performed now and then, they weren’t professionals. The recording was made just for themselves with Angelo as lead vocalist.
Angelo and his wife had a son named Russ.
"My dad passed away when I was seven, " said Russ Bonagura, a Budd Lake resident.
And the 45 record the brothers had made?
"It was always hanging around my house," Russ Bonagura explained. Though he’ll tell you as the years passed, the 45 record wasn’t in the greatest shape. It wasn’t usable.
Flash forward. Russ Bonagura is now a professional singer, songwriter and musician. He’s released seven CDs and his songs fill the background of popular network soap operas such as Young and the Restless, One Life to Live and All My Children.
On Christmas 2006, Bonagura received a special gift from his cousin, Dennis. Dennis’ father, Carmine, had passed away and in going through his dad’s things, Dennis found a copy of the record that the three elder Bonaguras had made in the late 1950s. The cousin was able to clean up the record, make it usable, and then give copies as Christmas presents to the family. Hearing the song, Russ Bonagura was inspired.
"You and I" now appears on Russ Bonagura’s newest CD, "Songs for People" which is released this month. However, it is not just the three Bonaguras of the past that the listener will hear. Through the use of technology, three generations of Bonaguras join in on the song, including the remaining member of the original trio: 82 year old Nick Bonagura.
The family effort of "You and I" is not surprising given the type of music that Russ Bonagara does and what inspires his songs. He doesn’t go with the trends.
"I’ve always stuck to my guns…always just done what I felt was right," he said.
As a result, Bonagura said that, "[my music] appeals to a very wide audience."
His music is inspired by his life. For example, on the new CD is "Before These Jeans Were Faded". It is a song which Bonagura said was inspired by what happened after his mom’s funeral. (His mom died in 2000.) After coming home from the funeral, he remembers changing from his suit into some worn jeans. He recalled when the jeans were new and that his mother was still with him at that time.
Bonagura took the concept and made it into a love song, to make it more of a universal theme.
Another song on the new CD is "Door #3". In that song, he talks of coming home late at night, opening the bedroom doors and looking in on his sleeping children, then going through door number three and seeing his wife, Sally, who as he sings is , "the only one for me".
It was in the same spirit of family that he recorded the new version of "You and I".
"I didn’t do it to be newsworthy. I did it for myself and my family. I did it for my dad," he said.
The song, which is on a bonus track, begins with the original version, sung by the three Bonagura brothers: Angelo, Carmine, and Nick. After a minute, the old version fades down as Russ enters as new lead vocalist singing with a new track. His background vocals are done by his brother Tom, his three children (Micaila, Jordan, and Devan) and his Uncle Nick. For the last thirty seconds of the song, the original version is brought back but with Russ singing along on lead vocal with his dad plus all the Bongura back-up vocalists young and old. Also, this means that 82 year old back-up singer Nick Bonagura is singing at the same time that the Nick of 50 years ago is.
"All three generations[ sing together on the song]," said Russ Bongagura.
Although music seems to be in the Bonagura blood, Russ Bonagura is the only one in his family who has made a career of it. The New York City Release Party Show of his "Songs for People" CD will be Wednesday, March 26th at 8pm at Crash Mansion, 199 Bowery at Spring Street, New York City
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The cover graphic of "Songs for People" is a corkboard with many pictures on it. On the back, is a picture of a seven year old Russ Bonagura with his father. It was taken just one week before his father died.
Reflecting on the song he shares with his dad on the CD, Russ Bonagura said "It was amazing to be singing with my father."
For more information on Bonagura’s CD "Songs for People" visit: www.russbonagura.com, www.songsforpeople.com or www.myspace.com/russbonagura.
