Bones (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Predecessor | Peppermint Trolley Company |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Founder | Jimmy Faragher, Danny Faragher, Casey Cunningham, Greg Tornquist |
| Defunct | 1973 |
| Headquarters | Riverside, California , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Number of employees | 5 |
Bones was a U.S.-based power pop ensemble that combined elements of rock, soul, and rhythm and blues. They attained chart recognition in 1972 with their rendition of Huey "Piano" Smith's track "Roberta". This group originated from the Peppermint Trolley Company after concluding their agreement with Acta Records in 1969.
The band issued two studio albums, one under Signpost Records and another through MCA Records, along with three singles. The founding members included Jimmy Faragher (vocals, bass, guitar), Danny Faragher (vocals, keyboards, brass instruments, harmonica), Casey Cunningham (drums), and Greg Tornquist (guitar, flute, harmonica). Patrick McClure (guitar, vocals) was added to the lineup for their second album released in 1973.
History
Following the end of their contract in 1969 due to both financial and artistic disagreements, the Peppermint Trolley Company relocated to Riverside, California and adopted the new name Bones—chosen from an Earl Stanley Gardner novel to distinctly separate themselves from their previous identity.
They toured extensively on college campuses including UCLA and USC. Their manager Steve Hauser arranged performances at key Sunset Strip locations such as Gazzarri's and Whisky a Go Go. Bones served as the house band at Gazzarri's for a three-month period before moving on to play at The Roxy. After numerous club appearances including at Topanga Corral, they secured a deal with Signpost Records in July 1971 under Artie Mogul’s leadership, with production by Richard Perry. Their touring schedule included opening slots for artists like Alice Cooper, Canned Heat, and Little Richard across the Midwest.
Their debut album, titled Bones, was released in early 1972 and featured cover art created by comedian Phil Hartman. The single "Roberta" climbed to number 94 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 1973, they followed up with the single "Good Luck". That same year marked the acquisition of Signpost Records by MCA Records. Under MCA, Bones released their sophomore album Waitin' Here in September 1973, produced by Vini Poncia. This release showcased a stronger soul and R&B influence but suffered from minimal promotional support during MCA’s transitional phase. The single "Undenied" was released shortly thereafter.
Bones dissolved in October 1973. Subsequently, Danny and Jimmy Faragher went on to establish the blue-eyed soul group the Faragher Brothers.
Members
- Jimmy Faragher – lead vocals, bass guitar, occasional guitar (1969–1973)
- Danny Faragher – keyboards, lead vocals, harmonica (1969–1973)
- Patrick McClure – guitar, backing vocals and occasional lead vocals (1972–1973; deceased 2014)
- Greg Tornquist – guitar, backing vocals (1969–1973)
- Casey Cunningham – drums (1969–1973)
Timeline
Album discography
- 1972: Bones
- 1973: Waitin' Here