Any list of great mellophone soloists begins with Bonnie. She is the player against which all the others are measured to this day. Bonnie played with the Stockton Commodores from the late 60’s through 1973. Her performance of “Rainy Days and Mondays” at the Whitewater DCA finals was a stow stopper.

During her tenure with the Blue Devils, her fluid technique, gorgeous tone and heart-felt expressiveness were her trademarks. She owned “Legend of the One-eyed Sailor” and Chase the Clouds Away”.

When her marching career drew to a close, she continued to instruct young people in the art of playing the bugle, most notably with the Americanos.

The person who tamed the mellophone and raised it’s playing to a fine art most deservedly belongs in the BHOF – Bonnie Ott Thompson.