Lolly Vegas

Lolly Vegas (born Candido Albelando Vasquez-Vegas; October 2, 1939 – March 4, 2010) was a Mexican American musician of Indigenous descent.[1] He played in numerous ensembles with his brother, Pat, including Pat & Lolly Vegas, The Avantis and Redbone. The brothers have Yaqui, Shoshone and Mexican heritage.

Lolly Vegas
Birth nameCandido Albelando Vasquez-Vegas
Born(1939-10-02)October 2, 1939
Coalinga, California, U.S.
OriginFresno, California, U.S.
DiedMarch 4, 2010(2010-03-04) (aged 70)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)
  • guitar
  • vocals
Years active1960s–2000s
Labels

Background

Candido Albelando Vasquez-Vegas was born in Fresno, California.[2][3] He and his brother, Pat played in bands around the Fresno area. They shortened their last name to Vegas when they relocated to Los Angeles in 1963 to pursue their musical career.[4]

The brothers performed as the Vegas Brothers before changing the name of their group to Redbone.[5] Their 1974 hit "Come and Get Your Love" charted at No. 5 in the U.S.[6]

Career

Together with brother Pat, Lolly led a band called The Avantis. The ensemble also consisted of drummer Mike Kowalski and guitarist Danny Hamilton. They became a support act for the Beach Boys.[7][8] The Avantis did some work with Judd Hamilton (older brother of Dan Hamilton[9]) who was the arranger and co-composer on their records.[10][11] In 1963 The Avantis had a minor hit with "Wax 'Em Down".[12][13] The single was distributed in Canada by Sparton of Canada Ltd where it made the charts. On October 12, 1963, Canada's C-FUNTASTIC FIFTY recorded the single's chart status as having moved up one notch from the previous week's position of 36 to 37, putting it right behind "Fools Rush In" by Rick Nelson.[14][15]

Vegas co-wrote the Rick Lancelot & The Peppermint Sticks single "Sick Chick" / "Ain't That Soul" which was released in 1964. Rick Lancelot was in fact Ricky Lancelotti.[16][17] Vegas also wrote "Love Will Make You Crawl" for Cliff Wagner which was the B-side to his 1966 single, "Exception to the Rule".[18]

In 1969, along with his brother Pat, rhythm guitarist Tony Bellamy and drummer Pete DePoe he formed the band Redbone, for which he was the lead singer. The band produced the singles "Maggie", "The Witch Queen of New Orleans", and their biggest hit "Come and Get Your Love".[19]

Death

Vegas died of lung cancer in the Reseda neighborhood of Los Angeles on March 4, 2010, at age 70. He had been in poor health after suffering a stroke 15 years earlier.[1][20]

Solo discography
List of recordings as solo/lead act
Act Title Label and cat Year Ref
Lolly Vegas with the Downbeats "I'm Gonna Say We're Thru" // "It's Love" Audio A-202 1960 [21]

References
  1. "PASSINGS: Lolly Vegas, Ron Banks". Los Angeles Times. March 6, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  2. "The official Redbone site". www.redbone.be. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  3. Wright-McLeod, Brian (2005). The Encyclopedia of Native Music: More Than a Century of Recordings from Wax Cylinder to the Internet. University of Arizona Press. p. 157. ISBN 9780816524488.
  4. Berglund, Jeff; Johnson, Jan; Lee, Kimberli (2016). Indigenous Pop: Native American Music from Jazz to Hip Hop. University of Arizona Press. p. 99. ISBN 9780816509447.
  5. Murtha, Tara (2014). Bobbie Gentry's Ode to Billie Joe 33 1/3 (Revised ed.). Bloomsbury Publishing, USA. p. 46. ISBN 978-1-62356-342-4.
  6. "Come And Get Your Love". Songfacts. Songfacts, LLC. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  7. 45Cat - The Avantis (Los Angeles) - Discography, sleeve back notes for Sundazed / Chancellor S 287
  8. Written in Music, 22 februari 2017 - Pat ‘Redbone’ Vegas heeft nog steeds een droom - Ans van Heck
  9. AllMusic - Dan Hamilton, Biography by Bruce Eder
  10. Walk-Don't Run - The Story of the Ventures, By Del Halterman - Page 102
  11. 45Cat - The Avantis (Los Angeles) - Discography
  12. Ask Mr Music - FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 15, 2003
  13. Walk-Don't Run - The Story of the Ventures, By Del Halterman - Page 102
  14. Cashbox, October 5, 1963 - Page 13 MR. DEALER-MR. ONE STOP MR RACK JOBBER look what ABC PARAMOUNT just cooked up !
  15. Vancouver Top 40 Radio - C-FUNTASTIC FIFTY, WEEK OF OCTOBER 12, 1963
  16. Discogs - Ricky Lancelotti Writing & Arrangement
  17. 45Cat - Rick Lancelot And The Peppermint Sticks - Discography
  18. 45Cat - Cliff Wagner - Discography
  19. Redbone's Official Website - Redbone Forever Archived 2016-05-11 at the Wayback Machine
  20. Variety, March 9, 2010 - Guitarist and vocalist Lolly Vegas dies
  21. 45Cat – Lolly Vegas With The Downbeats – Discography

Further reading
  • Come And Get Your Love: A Celebratory Ode to Redbone (1939–Present) by Pat "Redbone" Vegas, Rehbon Publishing, 2017, 280 pps.
  • King Kong Pete: Redbone and Beyond by Peter "Last Walking Bear" DePoe, King Kong Beat Publishing, 2017, 292 pps.
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