Redbone was formed in 1969 by two brothers from Coalinga, California, Patrick Vasquez (bass and vocals) and Candido “Lolly” Vasquez (guitar and vocals). They took the names Pat Vegas and Lolly Vegas in order to downplay the Latin American origin of their real surname (even though Las Vegas is also Spanish, meaning “meadows”). Before starting Redbone, the brothers released an album on Mercury Records in the mid-1960’s called Pat & Lolly Vegas at the Haunted House; and they appeared in the 1967 film, It’s a Bikini World, which has the distinction of being the only beach-party genre movie to be directed by a woman, Stephanie Rothman.
The two brothers also had some early success as songwriters. In 1967, P. J. Proby had his biggest U. S. hit song with the Top 30 release “Niki Hoeky” that was written by Pat Vegas, Lolly Vegas and Jim Ford; Bobbie Gentry performed the song in 1968 on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.
Jimi Hendrix – who also has Native American blood – convinced them to organize an all–Native-American band. The two brothers added Peter DePoe (drums) and Tony Bellamy (lead guitar, piano, vocals).
The band name Redbone is adapted from a Cajun term for “half-breed” and highlights the mixed ancestry of the bandmembers. Pat Vegas and Lolly Vegas have Yaqui, Shoshone and Mexican heritage. Peter DePoe is descended from six different Indian tribes – Northern Cheyenne, Arapaho, Chippewa, Siletz, Rogue River Tututni, and Iroquois – and also has German and French ancestry. Tony Bellamy has Yaqui and Mexican American blood.
(August 2013)
