They say a picture is worth 1000 words (and I believe that). If such a thing is true, what is a video worth? Please do not read this article before watching and listening to the linked video. It is a prerequisite for the total appreciation of this piece.

This is really about the miracle of the internet. Young people tend to take things like the world-wide web and cell phones, and even flat-screen televisions for granted. People who have been around tend to think of it more in the "miracle" category. The web allows one to reconnect with friends and acquaintances from years gone by.

For Jim Sanford, it was as simple as typing in a name on a search engine to find his answer - He quickly discovered that the colorful and multi-talented Greg Bonham is alive and well and still rockin! And that's why it is critically important for you to experience the video. On a personal note, I experienced the Jim Sanford wall presentation and I remember him describing Greg Bonham and his trip to Atlantic City. Up to this point, I had no idea who Greg Bonham was or is. After speaking with him and watching several U-Tube videos, I find the man absolutely fascinating.

The emails...

Dear Greg:

I hope you remember me, but it has been a long time. I certainly remember you. We go back to 1986 in the Catskills of New York. I was with Sid Bernstein and helping Bobby Rock with his career. After that you invited me to Atlantic City where you opened for Don Rickles. We went backstage and met with Rickles, and that night you signed a picture for me. I had it framed and it has been on all the walls I've lived in since then. I have no idea why we didn't keep in touch but I guess we all had our own roads to travel. Whenever people admired my wall of pictures they asked about you. After explaining our meeting I always said, "This guy is one of the best entertainers I have ever seen. I have no idea why he isn't a star. He certainly is in my book."

Last week I put your name into Google and to my surprise there you were as big as life. I watched your video and you proved to be as great as I've been saying all this time. I was elated at your success. It would be fun to get together again, and for all these years, I have wondered whatever happened to Greg Bonham? I hope to hear from you soon.

- Jim Sanford

"Soon" became only a few minutes and as we learned later, Greg Bonham carries a Blackberry and is a participant in the miracle of the web. Jim immediately received the following message...

Hi Jim:

What a pleasant surprise to hear from you, and what strong and wonderful memories you brought back. The Catskills and Rickles, and Sid and yourself ...Wow! Thank you so much for your positive and supportive comments, and I am still working and enjoying a pretty full and successful career. I now reside in Las Vegas with my wife Liz (yes, the same one) and our daughter, Rebel, who owns and runs a successful modeling agency in Vegas (metromodels.info). I am happy to say that the business has been kind to me Jim, and I have been enjoying the ride. Not boasting ...believe me, that is not my style, but we live in a wonderful estate in Vegas ...maybe a little pretentious ...but it also may make for a nice picture (Aussie Farm Boy to the "American Dream" type of story). I loved reading about Sid as he was such a kind and gentle man to me way back then, and I always appreciated him. I look forward to catching up with you.

Best wishes,
- Greg

A conversation with Greg:

RR: When you think about it, there is so much talent out there and so few make it. For every Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty, you literally have thousands upon thousands of talented people who never made it happen. You can understand why Jim assumed that you were part of this process.

Greg: I totally understand, and all I ever hoped for was to be like Sammy Davis Jr. Of course, that would be an impossibility. While I hardly place myself in the category of the world's great performers, I am who I am; a farm boy from Down Under who loved the world of music and discovered a way to take that passion and make a living. You do the TV appearances and the cruise ships and the clubs, and the corporate events, and whatever it takes. I know where I came from and I consider myself one of the luckiest individuals on the planet. I love what I do and as long as I can find an audience, I will find a way to get it done.

RR: One thing is for certain - you still have the accent.

Greg: That is something that will never change. I am from Australia and I will always be from Australia. In fact, my family is planning a trip to my hometown of Beckom in early October to celebrate the town's 100-year birthday. Australia was always good to me and I feel that it's very important to be there.

RR: In terms of life, it is fair to say that luck (the good and the bad) inevitably plays a major role especially in something as competitive as the entertainment business, and it seemed that you wasted little time getting started and you instinctively knew that music was your future.

Greg: Right from the beginning I was lucky because my parents supported my interest in music. Even at a very young age I saw myself as a musician and certainly not a farmer. Most parents working a sheep farm would not be too excited about a young boy more interested in playing the piano and the trumpet rather that working the farm. Without their support, I have no idea where I would be today, and it would certainly not be living and performing in Las Vegas. I picked-up a trumpet and figured out a way to play it, but it wasn't until a local resident by the name of Fred Butcher took the time to teach me how to read music and really play the trumpet. I honor him for this, and call it what you will, luck or divine intervention, he helped make my career in music actually possible. Fred Butcher was also the kindest man I have ever met.

RR: You also took the opportunity in honoring your father by writing an emotional piece called "I Am My Father's Son".

Greg: I'm a family man who appreciates the people who helped me. It's who I am and the song was easy to write and one that is near and dear to me.

RR: So it all started in Australia and somehow, someway, you found a home in Las Vegas. It does beg the question, how and why do you end-up in America, and it is interesting to note that Florida played a role in getting you to the States.

Greg: It's a good question and relatively simple to answer. Of course, it began in Australia, and at the ripe old age of eleven, I was performing in our family dance band (the Bona-Tones) with my two brothers and two sisters, and at sixteen, I won a prestigious national television talent award that jump-started my professional musical career. I did the Sydney clubs and I had over 150 television appearances in Australia. It got me on my way until such a time that I literally had to make a move.

A performer needs a stage and the stage in Australia was simply not big enough for me to make a living. I love Australia and again, it will always be a part of me, but I needed more opportunity and my first major stage (if you will) was in England. I was there for six wonderful years before I was invited to come to the United States. A Miami club owner by the name of Steve Mallock and his wife, Christine Lee saw me perform at the "Talk of London" and invited me to Miami to perform at his establishment in North Miami Beach, called Christine Lees. I fell in love with America and eventually Las Vegas became a natural destination for what I was doing. I spent eight magical months at the Sands Hotel at the legendary Copacabana Theater where the famed Sammy Davis Jr. and the Rat Pack played. I now perform for corporate bookings on the strip Hotels with Paris, Venetian, Flamingo Hilton and Mirage being my most regular venues. I am waiting for the correct venue and a deal to present my (non-corporate) show on the strip again, but the scene has changed somewhat with superstars like Bette Midler, Barry Manilow, Cher, Elton John etc, plus huge Cirque Du Soleil production shows.

Greg Bonham at his home in Las Vegas