Rare Earth

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Biography

Rare Earth is an United States|American rock band affiliated with Motown Records|Motown 's Rare Earth record label (which was named after the band), who prospered in 1970–1972. Although not the first White people|white band signed to Motown, Rare Earth was the first big hit-making act signed by Motown that consisted only of white members. ( The Rustix were signed before them and were an all white act, but did not have any hits.)

History

The '60s

The group formed in 1960 as "The Sunliners" and changed their name to "Rare Earth" in 1968. After recording an unsuccessful debut album, Dream/Answers , on the Verve Records|Verve label in 1968, they were signed to Motown in 1969. The band was one of the first acts signed to a new Motown imprint that would be dedicated to white rock acts. The record company did not have a name for the new label yet and the band jokingly suggested Motown call the label "Rare Earth." To the band's surprise, Motown decided to do just that.

The main personnel in the group included: Gil Bridges ( saxophone , flute and Singing|vocals ), Peter Hoorelbeke a.k.a. Peter Rivera (lead Singing|vocals and Drum kit|drums ), John Parrish a.k.a. John Persh ( bass guitar , trombone and Singing|vocals ), Rod Richards (born Rod Cox, guitar , vocals) and Kenny James (born Ken Folcik, Keyboard instrument|keyboards ).

During 1969 the group contributed music to the movie Generation that starred David Janssen and Kim Darby . But a proposed accompanying soundtrack album was canceled after the movie bombed at the box office and many of the songs ended up on the band's next album, Ecology , in 1970.

Rare Earth had a number of Top 40 hits in the 1970-1971 period, including covers of The Temptations ' " (I Know) I'm Losing You " (which was used in the documentary video '' It's Time (skateboarding video)|It's Time ) and " Get Ready (1966 song)|Get Ready ". The cover of "Get Ready" was their biggest hit, peaking at #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 record chart|chart , a more successful performance than the original. This gramophone record|disc sold over one million copies and received a music recording sales certification|Gold record awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America .
The group gained a bit of notoriety when it was mentioned dismissively in the lyrics to Gil Scott-Heron 's 1970 poem , " The Revolution Will Not Be Televised ," which included the line, "The theme song will not be written by Jimmy Webb|Jim Webb , Francis Scott Key , nor sung by Glen Campbell , Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones , Johnny Cash , Engelbert Humperdinck (singer)|Engelbert Humperdinck , or the Rare Earth."

In late 1969 Edward "Eddie" Guzman ( congas and assorted percussive instruments) was added to the group.

The '70s

In 1971 Richards left after musical differences and James, weary of their increased touring schedule, split as well. Ray Monette (guitar) and Mark Olson (keyboards, vocals) joined to replace them.

Other hits in 1971 were "I Just Want to Celebrate", which peaked at #7 on the pop charts, and "Hey, Big Brother", which peaked at #19. They did not chart significantly after 1971, although they continued to record into the 1990s.

By 1972 Motown had decided to relocate from Detroit to Los Angeles and Rare Earth soon followed suit. Persh, however, decided not to make the move and was succeeded in the band by Mike Urso (Persh later died from a hospital staph infection on January 27, 1981).

Their 1973 album, Ma , written and produced by Norman Whitfield , is considered one of their best overall works, and features their version of " Hum Along and Dance ".

Rare Earth was the opening act at California Jam festival in Ontario, California on April 6, 1974. Cal Jam attracted over 250,000 fans, and the band appeared alongside 70's rock giants Black Sabbath , Emerson, Lake & Palmer , Deep Purple , Earth, Wind & Fire , Seals & Crofts , Black Oak Arkansas , and Eagles (band)|Eagles . Portions of the show were telecast on American Broadcasting Company|ABC Television in the US, exposing the band to a wider audience.

In 1974 the group divided after Hoorelbeke had severe personal and business disagreements with their manager, Ron Strasner, and departed after the other members sided with Strasner against him. Mike Urso left the group along with Hoorelbeke and they formed a new outfit, HUB, with Rare Earth's 1970-1972 co-producer, Tom Baird, using the initials of their surnames (Hoorelbeke, Urso and Baird). HUB went on to record two albums for Capitol Records but came to a sudden end in November 1975 after Baird was killed in a boating accident.

The others (minus Olson who left to join the backup band for Jennifer Warnes ) decided to continue as Rare Earth and brought in new players: Jerry La Croix (vocals, sax, harmonica, formerly of Edgar Winter's White Trash and Blood Sweat and Tears ), Paul Warren (guitar, backing vocals), Bartholomew ("Frosty") Eugene Smith-Frost (formerly with Sweathog and Lee Michaels , drums), Reggie McBride (ex- Stevie Wonder , bass) and Gabriel Katona (keyboards).
The new lineup put out Back to Earth in 1975 and went back on the road. However, both Paul Warren and Frosty left during this tour and new drummer Chet McCracken (who would go on to join the Doobie Brothers ) was hired to finish out their '75 tour. The band then recorded Midnight Lady (minus Warren, McCracken and Katona), which was released in 1976. Frank Westbrook replaced Katona on keyboards and Ollie Brown was brought in as session percussionist for Midnight Lady . But neither of these releases sold in the big numbers the band had been used to and they soon found themselves bogged down and unable to tour when they brought a lawsuit against former member Hoorelbeke, falsely claiming that he'd tried to make off with the group's name and retirement monies. The lawsuit was eventually settled in Hoorelbeke's favor and he was given a settlement.

In late 1976 a former Motown bigwig and vice president, Barney Ales, an earlier champion of Rare Earth, returned to the company to head up one of their new offshoot labels, Prodigal Records. He made an offer to the group to reunite with Peter Hoorelbeke. So the 1972-1974 lineup of the band (Hoorelbeke, Bridges, Urso, Olson, Monette and Guzman) were slated to gather together to record a new album on Prodigal. However, Monette & Olson did not agree to the reunion's terms and decided to sit out. Session players Dan Ferguson (guitar) and Ron Fransen (keyboards) were brought in instead to play on Rarearth , which was produced by James Anthony Carmichael (who would go onto huge success with The Commodores and Lionel Richie ) and released in 1977. But it failed to live up to expectations.

Later in 1977, the group assembled again with Chicago based producer John Ryan (who'd worked with Styx (band)|Styx and others) to begin work on two new albums. This time Monette & Olson agreed to join in and the results were Band Together and Grand Slam , both released in 1978 and featuring more of a late 70s disco sound, with the former providing the Bee Gees penned hit " Warm Ride ", which peaked at #39. Other than the one fluke hit, neither album was a big seller and the band soon found themselves without a home. Gap Band bassist Robert Wilson contributed to some of the tracks on Band Together .

In June 1979 Urso left the band again. On Urso's recommendation, and after hearing several bass players, the group recruited bassist , who joined the group's road tours for two years until June 1981. Johnston had just completed a stint with jazz singer Maxine Weldon and had rejoined Las Vegas comedian/songster Kenny Laursen. He interrupted his tour with Laursen to join Rare Earth in Florida.

The '80s & '90s

Former Motown writer Dino Fekaris, who'd penned the band's hits "I Just Want to Celebrate and "Hey Big Brother", was next to step back into the group's life in 1980. He'd just come off back to back successes with Gloria Gaynor and Peaches & Herb and had won a Grammy for Gaynor's huge hit "I Will Survive". RCA expressed interest in the band's new project and gave them an advance to go ahead and start recording. The project was originally to be titled King of the Mountain , with the title track slated to be the theme of a 1981 movie of the same name that starred Harry Hamlin . But the movie people passed on the song, and when the record was done, RCA was not happy with Fekaris' production, so they passed as well. This album, retitled Tight & Hot , saw a very limited release in 1982 in Canada only.

By the summer of 1981, Mike Urso had returned to Rare Earth after a two year absence, but he left for good by mid-1983. Tim Ellsworth was then brought in as new bassist/vocalist in September 1983. By the tail end of that year, Peter Hoorelbeke was gone from the band as well after disagreements with Gil Bridges (Hoorelbeke went on to form The Classic Rock All-Stars in 1992). Drummer Tony (last name unknown) replaced Hoorelbeke on drums. After Hoorelbeke's departure, Ellsworth and Olson took over lead vocals. By that time most of the members of the band had moved back to Detroit and the group continued to tour playing mostly clubs despite the lack of a recording contract.

Personnel shuffles abounded in the mid-80s: In September 1984 Bob Weaver took over the drum throne and played with the group until late spring of 1986. He was temporarily succeeded by Bob Brock, whose professional name was Bobby Rock (not Bob Rock, the famous Hard rock / Heavy metal music|Heavy metal producer from Canada), Also in September of '84, Andy Merrild replaced Tim Ellsworth as bassist until the end of June 1985. Ellsworth then returned and toured with the group until the end of August of '85. The group's road manager, Randy "Bird" Burghdoff, took over as Rare Earth's bassist in September of '85. Jerry LeBloch joined on drums in April of 1986. Mark Olson was let go in 1986 after increasing personal and substance abuse troubles (Olson died on April 14, 1991, at the age of 41, from liver disease). Rick Warner was then rolled in as the band's new keyboardist and Wayne Baraks, who was brought in in 1987 on rhythm guitar, took over much of the lead vocals as well.

In the late 80s and early 90s the musical chairs slowed down somewhat as things stabilized and the band found itself in demand to play on "oldies" bills with other acts of the 60s and 70s.

Drummer Dean Boucher replaced LeBloch on drums in 1990 and RE signed with the small label Koch International and began work on a new album. The result was Different World (released in February 1993) which was a collection containing a few covers of older songs and new material. It was mostly overlooked by the public.

On July 29, 1993, the band suffered the loss of another member when long time percussionist Eddie Guzman (age 49) died at his home in Howell, Michigan after complications from diabetes and alcoholism.

The group kept going, though, and brought in new drummer Floyd Stokes Jr., who also took over for the departing Boucher, and took on lead vocal duties too after guitarist Baraks pulled out of the group in 1994.

Other than Mike Bruner's succeeding Rick Warner in January 1998 and Ivan Greilich's filling in for Ray Monette for five years (beginning in 2004), the lineup has been stable overall during the last decade or so.

Rare Earth continues to perform at corporate events and on the oldies circuit. Bits from their recordings have been used as sampling (music)|samples on recordings as diverse as Beck 's "Derelict", UNKLE , and DJ Shadow 's "GDMFSOB (feat. Roots Manuva - U.N.K.L.E. uncensored version)", Black Sheep (hip-hop group)|Black Sheep 's "Try Counting Sheep", Peanut Butter Wolf 's "Tale of Five Cities", Scarface (rapper)|Scarface 's "Faith", N.W.A|NWA 's "Real Niggaz Don't Die" and Eric B. and Rakim 's "What's Going On".

2000 and beyond

In 2005, Rare Earth was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends online Hall of Fame. The band's first big hit, "Get Ready", was voted a Legendary Michigan Song in 2011.

Their hit "I Just Want to Celebrate" has been used in major national advertising campaigns by Ford Motor Company and AT& T . It appeared in the final episode of the TV show Six Feet Under (TV series)|Six Feet Under and has also been prominently featured in the movies Arthur , Three Kings (1999 film)|Three Kings , '' A Knight's Tale (film)|A Knight's Tale and Land of the Lost (film)|Land of the Lost , as well as in the trailer for the movie Tropic Thunder and in the end credits music in episode 24 ("One Day in the Valley") of Entourage (TV series)|Entourage .
It was sampled in the opening song, "Sirens", on the 2007 Little Brother (band)|Little Brother album Getback and was done as "We Celebrate" on the new Ghostface Killah album The Big Doe Rehab .

On October 27 & 28, 2007, Heavy metal music|heavy metal band Metallica performed "I Just Want to Celebrate" during their acoustic performances at Neil Young 's Bridge School Benefit show.

Members

;Current members

Gil Bridges – saxophone, flute, lead vocals (1968–present)

Ray Monette – lead guitars, vocals (1971–1976, 1977–2004, 2009–present)

Randy "Bird" Burghdoff – bass, vocals (1985–present)

Floyd Stokes Jr. – drums, lead vocals (1993–present)

Mike Bruner – keyboards (1998–present)

;Former members

Peter Hoorelbeke (a.k.a. Peter Rivera) – drums, lead vocals (1968–1974, 1976–1983)

John Persh (a.k.a. John Parrish) – bass, trombone, vocals (1968–1972; deceased)

Rod Richards (born Rod Cox) – lead guitars, vocals (1968–1971)

Kenny James (born Ken Folcik) – keyboards (1968–1971)

Eddie Guzman – percussion (1969–1993; deceased)

Mark Olson – keyboards, lead vocals (1971–1974, 1977–1986; deceased)

Mike Urso – bass, vocals (1972–1974, 1976–1979, 1981–1983)

Jerry LaCroix – vocals, saxophone, harmonica (1974–1976)

Reggie McBride – bass (1974–1976)

Gabriel Katona – keyboards (1974–1976)

Paul Warren – rhythm guitars, backing vocals (1974–1975)

Barry "Frosty" Frost – drums (1974–1975)

Chet McCracken – drums (1975–1976)

Frank Westbrook – keyboards (1976-1977)

Ken Johnston – bass, vocals (1979–1981)

Tim Ellsworth – bass, lead vocals (1983–1984, 1985)

Tony (last name unknown) - drums (1983-1984)

Bob Weaver – drums (1984–1985, 1986)

Andy Merrild – bass, (1984–1985)

Bobby Rock – drums (1986)

Jerry LeBloch – drums (1986–1990)

Rick Warner – keyboards (1986–1998)

Wayne Baraks – rhythm guitars, lead vocals (1987–1994)

Dean Boucher – drums (1990–1993)

Ivan Greilich – lead guitars, vocals (2004–2009)

;Session musicians

Ollie Brown – percussion (1976)

Dan Ferguson – lead guitars (1976–1977)

Ron Fransen – keyboards (1976–1977)

Robert Wilson – bass (1977)

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Album	US
1968	Dreams/ Answers	-
1969	Get Ready (Rare Earth album)	12
1970	Ecology (Rare Earth album)	15
1971	One World (Rare Earth album)	28
1972	Willie Remembers	90
1973	Ma (Rare Earth album)	65
1975	Back to Earth (Rare Earth album)	59
1976	Midnight Lady	-
1977	Rare Earth	187
1978	Band Together	156
1978	Grand Slam	-
1982	Tight and Hot	-
1993	Different World	-
2008	A Brand New World	-

Live albums

Year	Album	US
1971	Rare Earth in Concert	29
1974	Live in Chicago	-
1989	Made in Switzerland	-
2004	''Rock 'n' Roll Greats RARE EARTH In concert!	-
2008	Rare Earth Live	-

Singles

Year	Name	US
1969	"Generation, Light Up the Sky"	-
1970	" Get Ready (The Temptations song)	4
1970	" (I Know) I'm Losing You "	7
1970	"Born to Wander"	17
1971	" I Just Want to Celebrate "	7
1971	"Someone to Love"	-
1971	"Any Man Can Be a Fool"	-
1971	"Hey Big Brother"	19
1972	"What'd I Say"	61
1972	"Good Time Sally"	67
1972	"We're Gonna Have a Good Time"	93
1973	"Ma"	108
1973	"Hum Along and Dance"	110
1973	"Big John Is My Name"	-
1974	"Chained"	-
1975	"Keepin' Me Out of the Storm"	-
1975	"It Makes You Happy"	106
1976	"Midnight Lady"	-
1978	" Warm Ride "	39

Compilations

1975 Masters of Rock

1976 ''Disque d'Or

1981 Motown Superstar Series, Vol. 16

1988 Get Ready/Ecology

1991 Greatest Hits & Rare Classics

1994 Earth Tones: Essential

1995 Anthology: The Best of Rare Earth

1996 Rare Earth featuring Peter Rivera

1998 The Very Best of Rare Earth

2001 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Rare Earth

2004 The Collection

2005 Get Ready and More Hits

2006 Best of Rare Earth

2008 Fill Your Head: The Studio Albums 1969-1974

Copyright Citations

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