Bonny B. (born Su Pheaktra Bonnyface Chanmongkhon on July 20, 1974, in Pôsat, Cambodia) is a Cambodian-Swiss blues musician and harmonica player. In 1978, his family fled Cambodia due to the Khmer Rouge, seeking refuge in the jungle. After three days and nights of running without food, they eventually found safety in Thailand. In 1979, with the assistance of Catholic sisters, the family arrived in Fribourg, Switzerland, where they applied for political asylum. Bonny began school in 1980, navigating the challenges of acceptance and community integration.
During his high school years from 1988 to 1991, he developed an interest in the harmonica and country music. He recalled, "this time I copied and listened to many country CDs." A school-organized entertainment day featured two blues musicians, one of whom played the harmonica, igniting his passion for the genre. His early influences included John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Jimmy Reed, and Otis Rush, all notable figures from the 1950s blues scene. After leaving school, he trained in pastry and candy making from 1992 to 1995, a skill that enabled him to support himself while music increasingly became a central focus of his life.
In 1992, Bonny formed his first band, Bonny B. and Spirit of the Blues, performing their inaugural gig just two months later. He subsequently founded Born to Blues in 1994, the Bonny B. Blues Band in 1996, and the Bonny B. Band in 1998. Additionally, he collaborated with his brother Michael in a guitar duo and worked as a sideman for artists such as Tom Cat Blake, JC Little, and Kevin Flynn, collectively performing 50 to 100 concerts annually both in Switzerland and abroad.
In 1994, he established a school for harmonica and singing. In May 1998, Bonny traveled to Chicago in pursuit of blues, describing the journey as a pilgrimage. Despite a limited command of English, he jammed with notable musicians such as Louisiana Red, Buddy Guy, and Jimmy Johnson at iconic venues like Blue Chicago and Buddy Guy's Legends. To fund his return ticket, he played in bars and on the streets of Chicago.
In 1999, Bonny embarked on recording an album, collaborating with drummer Sal Lombardo and guitarist Laurent Poget. This partnership produced the album "Cambodia," released in Switzerland in March 2000. The following year, he released "Something's Wrong" in Europe under the Dixiefrog label, which also featured in several blues compilations, including the Levis Blues 2002 compilation. In 2002, he worked alongside various American artists, such as Vic Pitts and Sugar Blue. His second album, "If This Is Life," was released in March 2003, followed by a signing with Universal Music and Hohner Harmonica.
By October 2004, Bonny B. was performing approximately 120 concerts per year and had signed his 1000th contract, touring extensively throughout Switzerland. In spring 2005, he released his third album, "I Got the Blues," via the Dixiefrog label and Hard Board. That same year, he introduced his debut album "Something's Wrong" in the U.S. and Canada. Claude Nobs discovered Bonny's latest album and invited him to perform at the Montreux Jazz Festival alongside Alice Cooper.
In addition to his musical pursuits, Bonny sought to promote blues education in public schools and colleges across western Switzerland. He also planned to open a school in Cambodia for underprivileged children, funded by sales from his latest album and concert support. During his "James Brown Tour" in 2007, he earned the moniker "the Asian James Brown" from the press and adopted the name Bonny B. Brown in tribute to one of his musical influences.
