Lolly Vegas was a Mexican American musician of Indigenous descent who co-founded the rock band Redbone with his brother Pat in 1969. He was the lead singer and guitarist of the band, which had a hit single in 1974 with “Come and Get Your Love”. He also pioneered the use of the Leslie rotating speaker effect in electric guitar amplification. He died of lung cancer in 2010 at the age of 70. Here is a brief overview of his life and career, as well as the details of his death.
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Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Lolly Vegas was born as Candido Albelando Vasquez-Vegas on October 2, 1939, in Coalinga, California. He and his brother Pat were of Yaqui, Shoshone, and Mexican heritage. They grew up in Fresno, where they played in bands around the area. They shortened their last name to Vegas when they moved to Los Angeles in 1963 to pursue their musical career.
The brothers performed as the Vegas Brothers before changing the name of their group to Redbone. They also released several singles under different names, such as Pat and Lolly Vegas, The Avantis, and The Crazy Cajun Cakewalk Band. They wrote songs for other artists, such as P.J. Proby, Rick Lancelot, and Cliff Wagner. They also appeared on the ’60s hit show Shindig! repeatedly, becoming regular performers.
Redbone and Success
In 1969, along with rhythm guitarist Tony Bellamy and drummer Pete DePoe, they formed Redbone, an all-Native American rock band that blended rock, soul, country, funk, R&B, and Cajun music. They were signed to Epic Records that same year. They wore Native American outfits and accessories on stage to emphasize their heritage and culture.
Redbone’s first hit was the single “Maggie” in 1970, which reached No. 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. They followed it with “The Witch Queen of New Orleans” in 1971, which peaked at No. 21. Their biggest hit was “Come and Get Your Love” in 1974, which reached No. 5 and sold over a million copies. It also made Redbone the first Native American band to reach the top five on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Redbone also had success with other singles, such as “Wovoka”, “We Were All Wounded at Wounded Knee”, and “One More Time”. They released several albums, such as Potlatch (1970), Message from a Drum (1971), Wovoka (1973), Beaded Dreams Through Turquoise Eyes (1974), and Cycles (1977). They toured extensively in the US and abroad, performing at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, and The Royal Albert Hall.
Illness and Death
In 1995, Lolly Vegas suffered a stroke that left him unable to tour with Redbone. He retired from the band and lived in Reseda, California, with his wife Risa. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2009 and underwent chemotherapy treatment. However, his condition worsened and he died in his sleep on March 4, 2010, at his home. He was 70 years old.
His death was announced by his brother Pat and the band’s manager Michael Stone. Stone said that Lolly was “a great musician who will be missed by all who knew him”. Pat said that Lolly was “a great brother who taught me everything I know about music”. He also said that he would continue to perform with Redbone as a tribute to his brother.
Lolly Vegas is survived by his wife Risa; his mother; three brothers, including Pat; and three sisters. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills.
Legacy and Influence
Lolly Vegas is remembered as a pioneer of Native American rock music and a talented singer and guitarist who created memorable songs with Redbone. His song “Come and Get Your Love” has been featured in several movies and TV shows, such as Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), The Postman (1997), Avengers: Endgame (2019), F is for Family (2015-2020), The Simpsons (1989-present), and Malcolm in the Middle (2000-2006). It has also been sampled by artists such as Cyndi Lauper (“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”), Real McCoy (“Another Night”), and Zedd (“Stay”).
Lolly Vegas has influenced many musicians of different genres and backgrounds, such as Carlos Santana , Slash , Lenny Kravitz , Robbie Robertson , John Frusciante , Jack White , Gary Clark Jr. , and Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas . He has also inspired many Native American artists, such as Buffy Sainte-Marie , Rita Coolidge , Jim Boyd , Keith Secola , and A Tribe Called Red .
Lolly Vegas is regarded as a legend and a hero by many fans and critics, who appreciate his musical contributions and his cultural pride. He is honored by the Native American Music Awards , the Native American Rock Hall of Fame , and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian . He is also celebrated by the Redbone Legacy Project , which aims to preserve and promote his legacy and that of Redbone.
