Bess Bonnier began playing piano at an early age, taking her first professional job with a big band at 13. She joined the Detroit Federation of Musicians in 1946. Her career spanned more than six decades and included regular appearances with Jack Brokensha at his club in Detroit's New Center area, and at countless other clubs and hotels, concert and festival venues, private parties, events and local resorts. Highlights of her stage career include a performance in 1981 at the Detroit Jazz Summit in New York City. In 1994, she played in Brussels, Belgium, at the Very Special Arts Festival. In 2004, she appeared with the a cappella vocal group, “Coda," at the Jazz Cava in Terrassa, Spain and in 2006 was invited to perform a solo concert at the Library of Congress in Washington, D. C.
Ms. Bonnier was a regular guest of the Montreux/Detroit Jazz festival and the Michigan Jazz Festival at Schoolcraft College and the first artistic coordinator of the Detroit Institute of Arts Jazz at the Institute series. She taught many students as artist-in-residence at Cass Tech High School in the 1970s and for the Grosse Pointe public schools in the 1990s, privately in her home and at her own music school.
She appeared on many recordings beginning in 1958 with, “Theme for the Tall One," on Argo Records. Her last recording, a jazz opera based on the works of William Shakespeare titled, “Suite William," was released on her own label, Noteworks, in 1999 and performed at the University of Colorado. In 1986, she received the Michigan Award for Jazz; in 1990, the State of Michigan Governor's Award and in 1994 was named musician of the year by the Southeastern Michigan Jazz Association.
Over her lifetime, Ms. Bonnier served on many boards and advisory committees related to the arts, art education and to improving accessibility for people with disabilities.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church, 17150 Maumee, City of Grosse Pointe, followed by a reception at the church and a 9 p.m. gathering of friends at Blue Pointe Restaurant, 17131 East Warren, Detroit.
Donations may be made to Upshaw Institute for the Blind, 16625 Grand River, Detroit, MI 48227; the Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church, 17150 Maumee, Grosse Pointe, MI 48230 or to a local national public radio affiliate.
She was predeceased by her sisters, Toula Dirksen, Loretta Anawalt and Paula Anawalt and by her daughter-in-law, Lynette (Tosetti) Makres.
She is survived by her sister, Lita McKeehan; brother, John Bonnier; children, Dorian, Stanley and William Makres; daughter-in-law, Karen (Podsiadly) Makres and granddaughter, Marissa Makres.
Ms. Bonnier was a regular guest of the Montreux/Detroit Jazz festival and the Michigan Jazz Festival at Schoolcraft College and the first artistic coordinator of the Detroit Institute of Arts Jazz at the Institute series. She taught many students as artist-in-residence at Cass Tech High School in the 1970s and for the Grosse Pointe public schools in the 1990s, privately in her home and at her own music school.
She appeared on many recordings beginning in 1958 with, “Theme for the Tall One," on Argo Records. Her last recording, a jazz opera based on the works of William Shakespeare titled, “Suite William," was released on her own label, Noteworks, in 1999 and performed at the University of Colorado. In 1986, she received the Michigan Award for Jazz; in 1990, the State of Michigan Governor's Award and in 1994 was named musician of the year by the Southeastern Michigan Jazz Association.
Over her lifetime, Ms. Bonnier served on many boards and advisory committees related to the arts, art education and to improving accessibility for people with disabilities.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church, 17150 Maumee, City of Grosse Pointe, followed by a reception at the church and a 9 p.m. gathering of friends at Blue Pointe Restaurant, 17131 East Warren, Detroit.
Donations may be made to Upshaw Institute for the Blind, 16625 Grand River, Detroit, MI 48227; the Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church, 17150 Maumee, Grosse Pointe, MI 48230 or to a local national public radio affiliate.
She was predeceased by her sisters, Toula Dirksen, Loretta Anawalt and Paula Anawalt and by her daughter-in-law, Lynette (Tosetti) Makres.
She is survived by her sister, Lita McKeehan; brother, John Bonnier; children, Dorian, Stanley and William Makres; daughter-in-law, Karen (Podsiadly) Makres and granddaughter, Marissa Makres.
