“Redbone” is an old Cajun term meaning ‘dark skin’ or ‘mixed blood’. Pat and Lolly Vasques - YAQI brothers - had been around for awhile. They met, partied and played with Jimi Hendrix, who was part Native American. Hendrix persuaded the brothers to form a Native American band, thus resulting in Redbone. Along came the American Indian Movement (AIM) who had attracted the thousands of Native Youth who lived in the large urban areas where their families had been relocated by the “Bureau” - Bureau of Indian Affairs, in an effort to assimilate them. It being the 70s, it was the Movement’s heyday with its march on Washington and its takeover of the B.I.A. Redbone played continuously on 8-tracks that every old “rez” car was equipped with. “Come andGet Your Love”, “Witch Queen of New Orleans,” “Maggie” - I’ve known numerous young girls named Maggie (my daughter was named Corrina, Maggie being a close second).
Anywho, back to the band. Redbone knew how to put on a show. They would finish their sets with “Fancy Dancers” in Regalia, THE “Rock n Rollers of Pow-Wows”. The Band came to an end in the 80s. Their effort to reunite have been a loss - old age, strokes.
I still have my 8-track!
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