In the summer of 2006 a group of bluegrass
musicians decided they wanted to do more with
their musical talents than just jam from time to
time. The result was Bonafide, a high-energy
group with an eclectic range of tunes from
Bluegrass to Cajun to Celtic and traditional old
time music.
Lisa Oivanki (harmony vocals, banjo, squeezebox,
harmonica) is a native of Baton Rouge and holds
undergraduate and Masters degrees in music
from Louisiana State University. She has been
playing bluegrass and old time music since she
was “knee high to a duck.” She plays a number of
different instruments, including guitar, dobro,
mandolin, mountain dulcimer, hammered
dulcimer and strum stick.
Christine Guidry Law (lead vocals, mandolin,
percussion) is a purebred Cajun girl from Church
Point, Louisiana. She began her singing career
as a toddler at her grandfather’s feet as he played
the accordion and fiddle. She is a descendant of
the Cajun music legend, Iry LeJeune. She is also
an accomplished songwriter and has written
numerous original tunes for several Cajun bands
as well as Bonafide.
Kathryn Carlson (bass & harmony vocals) is a
native of Baton Rouge and has been singing and
playing music for most of her life. Her musical
career began in first grade with piano lessons
and eventually led her to pick up the bass in high
school. She has played bass, banjo, guitar and
harmonica in various groups and choirs around
the Baton Rouge area including "The Good News
Singers" which toured through the Arkansas and
Louisiana regions. Kathryn is married with four
great kids (all of whom play a musical instrument
or two). She is also a professional photographer
and has photographed several gospel album
covers, two of which featured her on guitar or
bass.
Alex Sherman (fiddle) is a retired native of Florida
and is a classically trained violinist. He began
playing the violin at the early age of 12 and went
on to study classical violin under the tutelage of
Mr. Lacey Coe (instructor for Ehrem Zimbalist’s
Curtis Institute of Music of Philadelphia, PA). He
served as the Concertmaster of the North Miami,
High School Symphony Orchestra and had the
honor of First Violin for Miami Youth Symphony
Orchestra. He discontinued violin playing in 1962
due to a broken arm and changed career direction
from Music to Electronics Engineering. Upon
retirement in 2006, Alex began playing violin again
after a forty-four year hiatus from music.
Wallace Law (rhythm & lead flatpick guitar, dobro)
is a native of Baton Rouge. As a resident of
Zachary, he has played with various church
groups on guitar. Wallace began playing music
as an elementary school student at Cedarcrest
Elementary and played with orchestras through
his high school years. Professionally trained, he
is also an accomplished violinist and cellist.
- Bio, September 2007
musicians decided they wanted to do more with
their musical talents than just jam from time to
time. The result was Bonafide, a high-energy
group with an eclectic range of tunes from
Bluegrass to Cajun to Celtic and traditional old
time music.
Lisa Oivanki (harmony vocals, banjo, squeezebox,
harmonica) is a native of Baton Rouge and holds
undergraduate and Masters degrees in music
from Louisiana State University. She has been
playing bluegrass and old time music since she
was “knee high to a duck.” She plays a number of
different instruments, including guitar, dobro,
mandolin, mountain dulcimer, hammered
dulcimer and strum stick.
Christine Guidry Law (lead vocals, mandolin,
percussion) is a purebred Cajun girl from Church
Point, Louisiana. She began her singing career
as a toddler at her grandfather’s feet as he played
the accordion and fiddle. She is a descendant of
the Cajun music legend, Iry LeJeune. She is also
an accomplished songwriter and has written
numerous original tunes for several Cajun bands
as well as Bonafide.
Kathryn Carlson (bass & harmony vocals) is a
native of Baton Rouge and has been singing and
playing music for most of her life. Her musical
career began in first grade with piano lessons
and eventually led her to pick up the bass in high
school. She has played bass, banjo, guitar and
harmonica in various groups and choirs around
the Baton Rouge area including "The Good News
Singers" which toured through the Arkansas and
Louisiana regions. Kathryn is married with four
great kids (all of whom play a musical instrument
or two). She is also a professional photographer
and has photographed several gospel album
covers, two of which featured her on guitar or
bass.
Alex Sherman (fiddle) is a retired native of Florida
and is a classically trained violinist. He began
playing the violin at the early age of 12 and went
on to study classical violin under the tutelage of
Mr. Lacey Coe (instructor for Ehrem Zimbalist’s
Curtis Institute of Music of Philadelphia, PA). He
served as the Concertmaster of the North Miami,
High School Symphony Orchestra and had the
honor of First Violin for Miami Youth Symphony
Orchestra. He discontinued violin playing in 1962
due to a broken arm and changed career direction
from Music to Electronics Engineering. Upon
retirement in 2006, Alex began playing violin again
after a forty-four year hiatus from music.
Wallace Law (rhythm & lead flatpick guitar, dobro)
is a native of Baton Rouge. As a resident of
Zachary, he has played with various church
groups on guitar. Wallace began playing music
as an elementary school student at Cedarcrest
Elementary and played with orchestras through
his high school years. Professionally trained, he
is also an accomplished violinist and cellist.
- Bio, September 2007
| For schedule information, bookings, and ordering CDs, visit the Bonafide website at: www.myspace.com/bonafidebluegrass or email Christine or call: 225-247-1099 225-235-8875 |
| Christine Law |
| Kathryn Carlson |
| Alex Sherman |
| Wallace Law |
| Lisa Oivanki |
| Bonafide Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
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| sample some Bonafide: |
| Pickin' & Grinnin' |
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
- Starlight
- I'm Little But I'm Loud
- Loved & Lost
- Blackberry Blossom
- Rollin In My Sweet Baby's Arms
- Wilted Flowers
- Drowsy Maggie
- I'm Little But I'm Loud
- Loved & Lost
- Blackberry Blossom
- Rollin In My Sweet Baby's Arms
- Wilted Flowers
- Drowsy Maggie
| Sabine Bluegrass |