麻豆约拍

Suzi Quatro continues to profile figures from the rock 'n' roll era. This week, she's in conversation with Gary "U.S." Bonds, in a programme first broadcast in 2007.

He chats about his career, in particular two eras of hits: the infectious party records of the early 60s; and those of the early 80s, when he was helped by a famous fan - Bruce Springsteen. It was no coincidence that Bruce's E-Street Band featured a saxophonist playing licks next to the lead singer just like on the records by Gary.

The first hits were characterised by a raw sound and an energetic atmosphere. His debut record New Orleans made it to the Top Ten, and, as Gary recalls, he spent all of his first royalties on a Cadillac. He topped the American chart with another rabble-rousing record, Quarter To Three; then followed with two topical songs School Is Out and School Is In, which hit the charts in July and September of 1961.

As his discs were always aimed at the dance floor, he easily embraced the twist craze with two Top Ten hits in 1962 -Dear Lady Twist and Twist Twist Senora. By the mid-60s the hits had dried up but he enjoyed a surprising comeback in the early 80s with Bruce Springsteen producing and writing for him. The Number Eleven hit, This Little Girl, launched a string of hit singles and he released two successful albums Dedication and On The Line.