Redbone (band) facts for kids

Redbone is an American rock band that started in 1969. It was formed by two brothers, Pat and Lolly Vegas. The band members, especially during their most popular years, had Mexican American and Native American backgrounds. This heritage was a big part of their music, their stage outfits, and their album covers.

In 1974, Redbone's song "Come and Get Your Love" became a huge hit, reaching the top 5 on the U.S. Billboard music chart. Over a million copies of the song were sold, earning it a "Gold" award. This made Redbone the first Native American band to reach the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Other popular songs by Redbone include "We Were All Wounded at Wounded Knee", "The Witch Queen of New Orleans", "Wovoka", and "Maggie". These songs were very successful, especially in other countries.

Since Lolly Vegas passed away in 2010, Pat Vegas has been the only original member still with the band.

The Story of Redbone

Early Days of Pat and Lolly Vegas

The brothers Patrick (who played bass and sang) and Candido "Lolly" Vasquez-Vegas (who played guitar and sang) were born in Coalinga, California. In 1959, they moved to Los Angeles. For ten years, they performed in clubs as "Pat and Lolly Vegas."

Pat won a singing contest sponsored by Coca-Cola in 1958 when he was 17. He won a recording contract but decided to move to Los Angeles with Lolly instead. They played at clubs on Hollywood and Sunset Boulevard. They also wrote and played music for famous artists like Tina Turner, Sonny & Cher, James Brown, Little Richard, and Elvis.

How Redbone Got Its Name

The word "redbone" is a term from the Cajun culture for a person of mixed race. The band chose this name to show their own mixed heritage. The Vasquez-Vegas brothers had Yaqui, Shoshone, and Mexican roots. Their music and performances often included elements from Cajun and New Orleans culture.

Before Redbone, the brothers played surf music as the "Vegas Brothers." Their agent thought the world wasn't ready for Mexican musicians playing surf music. Later, they were known as the "Crazy Cajun Cakewalk Band." They performed throughout the 1960s on the Sunset Strip.

In October 1965, Pat and Lolly released an album called Pat & Lolly Vegas at the Haunted House. Six of the twelve songs on the album were written by the brothers. They also appeared many times on the 1960s TV show Shindig!. They released several singles in the early 1960s, like "Robot Walk."

In 1967, P.J. Proby had a hit song called "Niki Hoeky," which Lolly and Pat Vegas helped write. The next year, Bobbie Gentry performed this Cajun-style song on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Pat Vegas also wrote songs for other legendary artists, including Aretha Franklin.

Forming Redbone and Early Success

According to Pat Vegas, Jimi Hendrix inspired them to form an all-Native American rock band. (Hendrix himself said Lolly Vegas was his favorite guitarist). In 1969, they signed with Epic Records as the band 'Redbone'. The first members were Pat Vegas, Lolly Vegas, Peter DePoe, and Robert Anthony Avila, also known as Tony Bellamy. Their first album, Redbone, came out in 1970.

Redbone's music was mostly rock music, but it also mixed in sounds from R&B, Cajun, funk, country, and Latin music. Their first big international hit was the song "The Witch Queen of New Orleans" from their album Message from a Drum. This song reached No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. After that, "Maggie" from their second album, Potlatch, also became popular.

Then came "Come and Get Your Love", which was a huge hit, reaching No. 5. It stayed on the charts for 24 weeks and was certified gold by the R.I.A.A. in 1974. Redbone also performed at the very first Earth Day event in Philadelphia. Their opening song was "Chant 13th Hour."

Lolly Vegas used a special Leslie rotating speaker effect for his electric guitar. This gave Redbone's music a unique sound. Drummer Peter DePoe developed a powerful "King Kong" drumming style.

Challenges and Later Years

In 1973, Redbone released a song with a political message called "We Were All Wounded at Wounded Knee." It remembered the terrible event where Lakota Sioux people were killed in 1890. The song became No. 1 in The Netherlands and was popular in other European countries. However, it was not released in the U.S. at first because of its lyrics. Some radio stations even banned it.

Peter DePoe left the band in 1972. Arturo Perez replaced him, and later Butch Rillera joined as the drummer. Tony Bellamy (guitar, piano, vocals) left in 1977, and Rillera left soon after.

Pat Vegas continues to lead Redbone today. Many new members have joined over the years because Lolly Vegas had a stroke and could no longer tour. Pat Vegas also tours to support his solo albums, such as Ambergris and Peacepipe. He performs both his own songs and Redbone's classic hits.

Sadly, Tony Bellamy passed away on December 25, 2009, at age 63. Less than three months later, Lolly Vegas died on March 4, 2010, at age 70.

In 2018, Redbone, with Pat Vegas's son PJ Vegas and daughter Frankie Vegas, headlined the first Indigenous Peoples Day event at Los Angeles City Hall. This event celebrated the change from Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day in Los Angeles.

Redbone's Musical Style

Redbone's music was mainly rock music. But they blended in many other styles like rock and roll, funk, folk music, blues, Tex-Mex, rhythm and blues, indigenous music of North America, soul music, soft rock, hard rock, Cajun music, jazz, and Latin music. Their overall style is often called swamp rock.

Awards and Special Honors

Redbone has received many honors for their music and heritage:

• In 2008, they were inducted into the Native American Music Association Hall of Fame.
• In 2013, they were honored at the legendary NY Smithsonian museum.
• A painting of the band was included in the largest mural in the U.S. in Fresno, California.
• On August 30, 2014, Pat Vegas received the Lifetime Achievement "Legend" Award from the "West Coast American Indian Music Awards."
• In 2018, Pat Vegas was given the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the Indigenous Music Awards.

"Come and Get Your Love" in Pop Culture

The song "Come and Get Your Love" became popular again in 2014. It was featured in the Marvel Studios movie Guardians of the Galaxy. It was on a special mixtape for the main character, Peter Quill. The movie's soundtrack album, which included the song, reached the top of the Billboard 200 chart.

In 2015, "Come and Get Your Love" was used as the opening theme song for the Netflix cartoon series F is for Family. In 2018, it was featured in a TV commercial in France. In 2021, the song appeared in an episode of the FX show, Reservation Dogs.

Band Members

• Pat Vasquez-Vegas – bass, vocals (1969–1977, 1997–present)

Former members

• Lolly Vasquez-Vegas – guitars, vocals (1969–1977, 1997–2010; his death)
• Tony Bellamy – guitars, vocals (1969–1977, 1997–1998, 2008; died 2009)
• Peter DePoe – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1969–1972)
• Arturo Perez – drums (1972)
• Butch Rillera – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1973–1977)
• Aloisio Aguilar – guitar and keyboards (1977)
• Thunderhand Joe – drums (1981–1998)

Albums by Redbone

• Redbone (1970)
• Potlatch (1970)
• Message from a Drum (1971)
• Already Here (1972)
• Wovoka (1973)
• Beaded Dreams Through Turquoise Eyes (1974)
• Cycles (1977)
• Peace Pipe (2005)