There, she not only recorded the three songs Linda had done, but also the hit single вЂњI CanвЂ™t Hold OnвЂќ and the tune вЂњHome,вЂќ which later wound up on one of Bonnie RaittвЂ™s albums. вЂњHey, you know thatвЂ™s real good,вЂќ Bonoff remembers Ronstadt saying, вЂњWhat else have you got?вЂќ On LindaвЂ™s вЂњHasten Down the WindвЂќ album, there were three Bonoff songs: вЂњSomeone to Lay Down Beside Me,вЂќ вЂњIf HeвЂ™s Ever NearвЂќ and вЂњLose Again.вЂќДЄs Ronstadt was scoring hits with Karla Bonoff songs, Karla herself was signed as a solo artist to Columbia Records in 1977. Karla recalled playing a tape of вЂњLose AgainвЂќ for her. Kenny and Andrew joined Linda RonstadtвЂ™s band, and through that connection, Ronstadt was to hear a demo of hers. Bryndle broke up, but it launched four very illustrious careers. вЂњIt was a hit in Santa Maria ,вЂќ Karla remembers. In the next few years, had we stayed together, I think we could have done well.вЂќ A single, with Karla singing lead, was released from those sessions, but failed to forward the bandвЂ™s career. They actually had Lou Adler produce a single to try to make us like that. We were these two girls and two guysвЂ¦ the closest thing they could compare us to was the Mamas and the Papas. This was right before Crosby, Stills and Nash, and before Fleetwood Mac. I think they didnвЂ™t really know quite what to make of it. Speaking of the A&M project, Karla says, вЂњThey didnвЂ™t release it. They were, unfortunately, a bit ahead of their time. The band made an album for A&M, but it was never released. Thus the band Bryndle was born вЂ“ one of the early songwriter groups, even before the Eagles. Something powerful in their combined sound drew them together. They were Kenny Edwards, (who had started the Stone Poneys with Linda Ronstadt and Bobby Kimmel), Wendy Waldman, and Andrew Gold. Jackson Browne, James Taylor and Elton John were around the Troubadour in those days.вЂќ There were some other writer-singers who became friends of KarlaвЂ™s, and eventually, they decided to put a band together. She talks about lining up at the legendary Troubadour at noon on Mondays to get a slot in the famous Monday night Troubadour вЂњhoot,вЂќ which was a breaking ground for many artists who went on to great success. She became friends with other singer-songwriters and musicians who were creating their own unique sound. KarlaвЂ™s sister became a teacher of history and religion, but KarlaвЂ™s passion was always music.

An 11-song demo was recorded but no deal came of this first effort. By 16, Karla and her sister Lisa auditioned for Elektra Records. She had already fallen in love with the guitar and studied with Frank Hamilton of the famous folk group, The Weavers. She and her sister Lisa were writing songs and playing as a duo titled вЂњThe Daughters of Chester PвЂќ named after their father, Dr. Born and raised in Southern California, Karla Bonoff was a songwriter by the age of fifteen.

Backup vocals for hasten down the wind