The Christmas season is all about coming together as family and friends, worshipping the Savior, Jesus Christ and so much more. The Bonner family has made that both a reality and a career.
You may have heard of them. With over 31,000 YouTube subscribers, 43,000 Facebook followers, 26,000 Instagram followers and 24,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, the Bonner family has made an impact around the world through music.
The family of 11 sings several types of music, including Broadway and Gospel music. In an interview with BYU-Idaho Radio, Nolong and Yahosh Bonner talked about their family’s music. Yahosh says his mother, Nolong, influenced him and his siblings early on.
“My mom was very intentionally about us having the gift of music,” Yahosh said. “When she would teach voice lessons since she’s a vocal coach, she taught all of us how to teach and sing and we’ve kept up with it.”
Yahosh’s father, grandmother and uncles and aunts began a singing group in Cincinnati, Ohio, called “The Bonner Singers,” which Yahosh says his family has carried on today.
The Bonner family has participated in multiple events and done multiple projects, including helping with the 95th birthday celebration for President Russell M. Nelson, the late prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, partnering with the hit historical Christian TV series “The Chosen” for a Christmas program, and helping with the Giving Machines for the NFL team Kansas City Chiefs.
The Bonner family was first noticed after coming together to make a song for Nolong’s mother for her birthday. It was a rendition of “I Need Thee Every Hour.”
“My mom was like, ‘Put it on YouTube! Put it on YouTube!’ Yahosh said. “So, we put it on YouTube, and it had like 80 views, but one of those views was someone who worked at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and they were like, ‘We love this. Can we get you guys to come out and do a full music video?’ So, we said, ‘Deal. It’s a deal.’”
Yahosh outlined the main goal of the Bonner family’s music.
“To prepare the world for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ,” Yahosh said. “We want people to know who He is. We sing this music joyfully. We know that there are so many different ways that God’s children can feel the Spirit, and for us, music hits to the center.”
As for the best part of making music goes, it’s a no-brainer for the Bonner family.
“Being together,” Nolong said. “We love the music, we love the people we’ve met along the way. It’s been such a blessing to meet so many beautiful spirits that we get to share life with, but it’s always a treat when we know we get to get together.”
For more about the Bonner family, including their upcoming Christmas concert in West Valley, Utah, visit their Facebook page.