Redbone

Redbone is an American rock and funk band formed in the late 1960s by brothers Pat and Lolly Vegas, notable for being one of the first all-Native American lineups to achieve mainstream chart success. According to Pat Vegas, Jimi Hendrix, himself of part-Cherokee heritage, encouraged the brothers to form a band that proudly foregrounded their Native identity, and the group signed to Epic Records in 1969.

The band blended rock, funk, R&B and elements of Native American musical tradition into a distinctive, danceable sound. They are best remembered for «Come and Get Your Love», a funk-rock anthem that became a huge crossover hit and has endured for decades through film and television placements. Other notable tracks include «The Witch Queen of New Orleans», which showcased their knack for atmospheric storytelling, and «We Were All Wounded at Wounded Knee», a protest song reflecting on the Wounded Knee massacre and addressing Native American history and rights directly.

Redbone stood out in the early-1970s rock landscape both for its musical fusion and for using its platform to spotlight Indigenous identity and history at a time when few mainstream acts did so. Their catalog remains a touchstone for Native American representation in popular music, and «Come and Get Your Love» in particular has introduced the band to new generations of listeners.