Rare Earth
- Type: Band/Group
- Country: United States
- Born: 1968 in Detroit, Michigan, United States
- Active: 1968 - present
Biography
Detroit band formed in 1968 from the Sunliners, and the act that gave #Motown# the name of its #Rare Earth Records# rock imprint. Fronted first by drummer Peter Rivera and anchored for over fifty years by saxophonist Gil Bridges, Rare Earth blended psychedelic rock, funk and soul on albums including 'Get Ready', 'Ecology', 'One World' and 'Ma', with extended readings of *The Temptations* material alongside original songs. The band continues with a post-2021 lineup led by keyboardist Mike Bruner and guitarist Wayne Baraks.
Genres
Rare Earth Discography
- Dreams / Answers (1968) - Album - rated 3.45/5
- Get Ready (1969) - Album - rated 3.71/5
- Ecology (1970) - Album - rated 3.75/5
- One World (1971) - Album - rated 3.71/5
- In Concert (1971) - Album - rated 3.83/5
- Willie Remembers.. (1972) - Album - rated 3.53/5
- Ma (1973) - Album - rated 3.69/5
- Band Together (1978) - Album - rated 2.47/5
- 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection - The Best of Rare Earth (2001) - Compilation - rated 3.76/5
Members
- Gil Bridges - saxophone, flute, vocals (1968–2021)
- Peter Rivera - drums, lead vocals (1968–1974; 1976–1983)
- John Parrish - bass, trombone, vocals (1968–1972)
- Rod Richards - guitar, vocals (1968–1971)
- Kenny James - keyboards, vocals (1968–1971)
- Eddie Guzman - congas, percussion (1969–1993)
- Ray Monette - guitar, vocals (1971–2004; 2009–2017)
- Mark Olson - keyboards, vocals (1971–1974; 1977–1986)
- Mike Urso - bass, vocals (1972–1974; 1976–1979; 1981–1983)
- Jerry LaCroix - lead vocals, saxophone, harmonica (1974–1976)
- Reggie McBride - bass, vocals (1974–1976)
- Barry "Frosty" Smith - drums, percussion (1974–1975)
- Randy "Bird" Burghdoff - bass, vocals (1985–2021)
- Floyd Stokes Jr. - drums, vocals (1993–2021)
- Mike Bruner - keyboards (1998–2021; 2023–Present)
- Ivan Greilick - guitar, vocals (2004–2009)