Jazz Insights: Bonnie Mann

Three years ago we lost one of jazz’s popular cabaret singers.

Eighty-five year old Bonnie Mann (Boncorsi Wotherspoon) was born in Pawtucket. Known for her big-band style singing she regularly could be found throughout Rhode Island with many of the great performing jazz and dance groups.

Bonnie sang at the old King & Queens’ Restaurant on Mineral Spring Avenue with, at the time, the young Mike Renzi and others. Her beauty, style and professional voice continually captured local audiences. Her renditions of early American Song Book compositions became favorites among her loyal following. She was a constant worker for the Providence Musician’s Union and was known by musicians state-wide. Her friends numbered in the hundreds.

In her later years she performed quite regularly with the late Mac Chrupcala and his several jazz groups. Bonnie kept singing with her heart to her very end; she died in January 2015.

The jazz industry in Rhode Island will not forget the late Bonnie Mann.and her dynamic jazz singing voice.