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Biography
Refimprove|date=December 2010Infobox musical artist|name = Uncle Bonsai|image =|image_size =|caption = Performing at the Bathhouse Theater in Seattle, Washington|background = group_or_band|years_active = 1981 to 1989, and reunion concerts to present||label =|genre = Uncle Bonsai is an United States|American contemporary folk music|folk trio of Bennington College graduates living in Seattle , Washington (U.S. state)|Washington . They announced they had disbanded in 1989, but have continued to perform and record occasionally. Their better-known songs during the 1980s included "Suzy", "Charlie and Me", "Penis Envy", and "Boys Want Sex in the Morning", some of which occasionally resulted in Federal Communications Commission (FCC) problems when played on the radio. Twenty-odd songs recount the life experiences of a character named "Doug" ("Doug's First Date", "Doug at His Mom's", "Doug's First Job", "Doug Engaged", "Doug Gets Married", etc.) They are also known for their doo-wop version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" which caused controversy when performed at a baseball game in Tacoma.cite news |title=POP CONCERT 'BONSAI' IS FULL OF FUN | author=Stout, Gene |publisher=Seattle P-I, p. C5 |url= http://www.seattlepi.com/archives/1988/8801160257.asp |date=1988-06-06 |accessdate=2009-07-13
Uncle Bonsai has opened for various artists, including Bonnie Raitt , TOTO, Suzanne Vega , Christine Lavin , Loudon Wainwright III , and The Bobs . The members were Andrew Ratshin, Arni Adler, and Ashley Kristen O'Keeffe.cite news |title=Folk Music: Uncle Bonsai |publisher=New-York Daily Times |url= http://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/21/arts/folk-music-uncle-bonsai.html |date=1987-09-21 |accessdate=2009-06-29 | first=Stephen | last=Holden In March 2008 they announced that they planned to begin performing more frequently, with O'Keeffe replaced "for the foreseeable future" by Patrice O'Neill. Most of the satirical songs were written by Ratshin, but Adler revealed her own brand of absurdist wit in several songs, including fan favorite "Penis Envy". The band's songs continue to receive airplay on college radio and Dr. Demento .
Andrew Ratshin also performs and records solo as 'The Electric Bonsai Band' ("It's not electric, it's not a band."), and as part of a sextet, 'Mel Cooleys'. His records are available on the Yellow Tail Records label.
