Bonnie Paine was born and raised in Tahlequah, OK—the end of the trail of tears and the capital of the Cherokee nation. Her first instrument was the drum kit when she was 5, then came the electric guitar, bongos, congas, flute, washboard, djembe, cello, and musical saw. Since graduating from high school, Bonnie has traveled across Europe, Asia, and Africa to learn about different types of indigenous music. As a founding member of internationally touring Colorado folk band Elephant Revival, Bonnie continues to travel the world, gaining cultural experiences from each new journey.