14 Mar I Got You, Sonny
I’ve been performing a Sonny and Cher routine professionally for over three decades. I impersonate Cher, Celine Dion, Liza Minnelli, Madonna, Marilyn Monroe and more in a quick-change stage show. While I’m performing as Cher, I dress an audience member up as Sonny Bono. Years after they’ve been my Bonos, people come up to me and say, “Tracey, Do you remember me? I was your Sonny! You were Cher!”
I smile. I laugh. I love it. I wish I could remember all of them, but there have been hundreds and they look different older and without the wigs and mustaches.
My first Sonny was Colleen Tillotson. We performed at recess in 5th grade. We took turns being Cher, so I had to be Sonny when it was her turn to be Cher. Over the years, several other gals have been happy to wear a stick-on mustache, wig and fur vest on stage with me.
My professional career began in 1985. I performed at Goose Loonies Nightclub in Edmonton. Mike Lupien was my main Sonny back then. Gary Cosgrove was Sonny Bono a few times but he was too tall. I couldn’t believe that I was making a living doing the same thing that I did at recess when I was ten years old.
I was an in-house performer for Triple Five Corporation for three years and then I moved to Calgary and started my own business. During one memorable show back in Edmonton; my high school drama teacher, Millard Foster, made a great Sonny Bono and thrilled my old drama pals.
I’ve had Sonny Bonos in cities all over Canada; Yellowknife, Halifax, Niagara Falls, Whistler, Surrey, Hamilton and London to name a few. At the Calgary Stampede I dressed a lot of drunk guys as Sonny Bonos.
In Bella Coola I had a First Nations’ Chief on stage pretending to be Cher’s husband. I’ve also had Sonny’s in California, New York and Shanghai.
At one corporate event, my Sonny’s real wife cried laughing after I brought her husband on stage. A shy guy, he’d never done anything like that.
I’ve recruited Sonny Bonos on at least four different television shows in Toronto and Vancouver – the most recent being Marke Driesschen of CTV.
When I first arrived in Vancouver, I performed regularly on a TV show called U-Tonight. Award-winning journalist and comedian, Dave Gerry, made a great Sonny Bono. We’ve worked together for over 20 years.
So, I want to thank all of my Sonny Bonos. You’ve been a highlight in my show. Please be proud that you were a good sport and please continue to stop and remind me that you were my Sonny.
If you’ve been my Sonny Bono or have a picture of one, please send it to tracey@traceybell.com