Bonnie Baldwin Born:  August 19, 1924 Died:  July 30, 2008 WWVA Original Jamboree WMDO Moundsville, WV WMOD Moundsville, WV WWVA Wheeling, WV

About The Artist Ruth Evelyn Baldwin was a native of Coolville, Ohio, but moved several counties northward to the river town of Bridgeport, across the Ohio River from the city of Wheeling. She first joined forces with the WWVA group known as the Chuckwagon Gang led by Joe and Shirley Barker. But soon she became part of a duet with another young lady known as Millie Wayne, a sister (or perhaps half sister) of Calvin "Curley" Miller who led another Jamboree group. About the same time, she married a man named Benjamin R. Peters (on December 28, 1942 in Belmont, Ohio) who (born in Wheeling, WV) hailed from Monroe County, Ohio, several miles downriver from Bridgeport. The couple had a daughter Shirley Jean. Ruth always used her nickname "Bonnie" on radio. Bonnie and Millie became known as the Radio Rangerettes and were quite popular, especially during the war years. The two also did solo work on WWVA as well. Bonnie's regular Jamboree years extended from 1943 until 1960, and sporadically thereafter. Millie left WWVA in 1952, but remained friends with Bonnie and a decade or so later they recorded an album together on Norman Kelly's Country Star label. Meanwhile, Bonnie did deejay work at WMOD Moundsville, West Virginia, south of Wheeling and also hosted a children's TV program in Steubenville where she sang between showing cartoons. In addition to her radio work and album with former partner Millie Wayne, Bonnie recorded a number of 78 and 45 rpm singles over the years. Sadly, none ever came close to being hits, although one single came out on the King label in 1969. One of her songs, "I'm the Children's Mother." was also recorded by fellow Jamboree artist Karen McKenzie (daughter of Doc Williams). Bonnie was active on the club scene well into the 1980s; David Allen Coe who later had several major hits was once a member of her band. Bonnie also appeared at numerous Jamboree Reunion shows over the years. At her death, she was buried in her husband's, home county, Monroe. Her husband was buried in a military grave; her headstone indicates she was buried with the Baldwin family. Credits & Sources Hillbilly-Music.com would like to express its thanks to Ivan M. Tribe, author of Mountaineer Jamboree — Country Music in West Virginia and other books that can be found on Amazon.com and numerous articles in other publications for providing us with information about this artist.

Printer Friendly Version

Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)   Bon Win Rec. No. Side Song Title   15043 A I'm the Children's Mother   15044 B The Mockingbird   Country Star Rec. No. Side Song Title   1049 A Give Me a Chance to Be True   1049 B Pills Won't Do You Any Good   1068 A It's Pickle Time Again   1068 B Big Mouth Martha Raye   5004 A Darkness Paints the Picture   5004 B Long Black Train-Comin?   5007 A I'm the Children's Mother   5007 B I Close My Eyes   Cozy Rec. No. Side Song Title   294 A I'll Just Yodel and Forget About You   295 B I'll Never More Be Shackled to a Fool's Paradise   355 A I Love the Way You Say Goodnight (with Fred Clark)   356 B It Don't Cost Anything to Dream   King Rec. No. Side Song Title   55-6227 A You Talk with Your Eyes   55-6227 B Move Over There Woman   Mountain Airs Rec. No. Side Song Title   MMMA=0001 A Cheat If You Must   MMMA=0003 B Tales Of West Virginia   Polly Bee Rec. No. Side Song Title   309 A I Close My Eyes   309 B Move Over There Woman (w/June and Evelyn)   Rangerette Rec. No. Side Song Title   NONE A I Close My Eyes   NONE B It's So Wonderful