Boney M.
Biography
Boney M. was a German-Caribbean vocal group specializing in disco and funk, created by German record producer Frank Farian. Originally based in West Germany, the four original members of the group's official lineup were Liz Mitchell and Marcia Barrett from Jamaica, Maizie Williams from Montserrat, and Bobby Farrell from Aruba. The group was formed in 1976 and gained popularity during the disco era of the late 1970s.
Formation and Early Success
In December 1974, German singer-songwriter Frank Farian recorded the dance track "Baby Do You Wanna Bump". When the song was released as a single, it was credited to "Boney M.", a pseudonym Farian created for himself. After the song became a hit in the Netherlands and Belgium, Farian decided to hire a group of performers for TV appearances. The initial lineup consisted of Maizie Williams, Sheila Bonnick, a girl named Nathalie, and a man named Mike. Later, Claudja Barry and Liz Mitchell joined, with the final and most famous lineup being established with Marcia Barrett, Liz Mitchell, Maizie Williams, and Bobby Farrell.
The group's first album, Take the Heat off Me, was released in 1976. A performance of "Daddy Cool" on the German TV show "Musikladen" propelled the single to No. 1 in Germany, with weekly sales of around 100,000. The follow-up single, a cover of Bobby Hebb's "Sunny," also reached No. 1 in Germany. The group's popularity spread across Europe, with "Daddy Cool" topping charts in several countries and both singles becoming Top 10 hits in the UK.
Peak of Popularity
1978 marked the zenith of Boney M.'s popularity. Their single "Rivers of Babylon"/"Brown Girl in the Ring" became a massive hit across Europe and was the second-biggest selling single in UK chart history at the time. It was also their only US Top 40 hit. The album Nightflight to Venus topped the UK charts and featured other hit singles like "Rasputin" and "Painter Man". Later that year, their Christmas single "Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord" became another huge seller in the UK. Their fourth album, Oceans of Fantasy (1979), also reached number one in the UK and included hits like "Gotta Go Home" and "El Lute".
Later Years and Lineup Changes
In 1982, Bobby Farrell was replaced by Reggie Tsiboe. The group's seventh album, Ten Thousand Lightyears (1984), and the singles from this period were less commercially successful. Farrell rejoined the group in 1984. After their 10th anniversary in 1986, Boney M. officially disbanded following the release of the commercially unsuccessful single "Young, Free and Single".
Following the split, various lineups of the band have performed, sometimes with Farian's cooperation and sometimes without. The classic lineup reunited in 1988 for a remix album, but tensions led to Liz Mitchell's departure. Legal disputes over the use of the "Boney M." name followed among the former members and Farian.
Legacy
Boney M. has sold over 100 million records worldwide. Their music, a blend of disco, reggae, and pop, continues to be popular and has seen a resurgence, with tracks like "Rasputin" gaining new fans through platforms like TikTok. Bobby Farrell passed away from heart failure on December 30, 2010. Liz Mitchell and Maizie Williams continue to tour with their own versions of Boney M. Marcia Barrett has faced health challenges but has also continued her music career.
Discography
Studio Albums
- Take the Heat off Me (1976)
- Love for Sale (1977)
- Nightflight to Venus (1978)
- Oceans of Fantasy (1979)
- Boonoonoonoos (1981)
- Christmas Album (1981)
- Ten Thousand Lightyears (1984)
- Eye Dance (1985)
Major Hit Singles
- "Daddy Cool"
- "Sunny"
- "Ma Baker"
- "Belfast"
- "Rivers of Babylon"
- "Brown Girl in the Ring"
- "Rasputin"
- "Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord"
- "Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday"