Rare Earth is an American psychedelic rock band from Detroit, Michigan. Formed in 1968, the group originally consisted of drummer and vocalist Peter Rivera, bassist John Parrish, saxophonist Gil Bridges, guitarist Rod Richards, and keyboardist Kenny James. As of the band's 2023 reformation following Bridges' death in 2021, the group features rhythm guitarist and vocalist Wayne Baraks (previously a member from 1987 to 1994), keyboardist Mike Bruner (a member since 1998), lead guitarist Dan Medawar, bassist Ron Cousineau, drummer Keith Christian and percussionist Ronnie Nelson (all new additions), plus saxophonist and vocalist Jay "Mocha Man" Waller (since 2025).
History
1968–1974 Rare Earth evolved from an earlier group called The Sunliners formed in 1960, going through a number of personnel changes before changing its name in 1968. The inaugural lineup of the band included Sunliners founding members Peter Rivera (on drums, percussion and lead vocals) and Gil Bridges (on saxophone, flute and percussion), alongside 1962 addition John Parrish (on bass and trombone) and 1966 arrivals Rod Richards (on guitar) and Kenny James (on keyboards). Rare Earth released its debut Dreams/Answers in November 1968, followed by Get Ready in September 1969. Shortly thereafter, the band expanded to a six-piece with the addition of Eddie Guzman on percussion. Two more albums followed – the soundtrack to the film Generation (1969) and Ecology (1970) – before Richards and James were replaced by Ray Monette and Mark Olson, respectively, in April 1971.
With its new lineup, Rare Earth issued One World and its first live album Rare Earth in Concert in 1971, before Parrish was replaced by Mike Urso after the band relocated to Los Angeles, California along with its record label Motown. The new lineup issued Willie Remembers in 1972 and Ma in 1973, before the group splintered in July 1974 due to what was described in a subsequent lawsuit as "a schism among the band members". Rivera reportedly left the group on July 11, 1974, with Urso following him out of the band. The pair later challenged the remaining members for control and use of the Rare Earth name, but their case was thrown out in 1975 after a series of lawsuits which ended with Bridges, Monette, Olson and Guzman retaining the rights. Rivera, Urso and keyboardist Tom Baird, who had produced several Rare Earth releases, subsequently formed the band HUB.
1974–1985 In August 1974, Rare Earth announced the additions of three new members to replace Rivera and Urso: former Blood, Sweat & Tears vocalist Jerry LaCroix, former Sweathog drummer Barry "Frosty" Smith, and former Stevie Wonder bassist Reggie McBride. By early 1975, Olson had been replaced by Gabe Katona, while Paul Warren had joined as a second guitarist. All five new members debuted on the 1975 release Back to Earth. After the album's release, Warren and Frost both left the band, with the drummer replaced for the subsequent tour by Chet McCracken. For the 1976 album Midnight Lady, Frank Westbrook replaced Katona, while drums were contributed by Frosty and session drummer Ollie E. Brown.
In late 1976, Rare Earth was signed to Prodigal Records by returning Motown executive Barney Ales. In preparation for the band's first album on the label, departed members Pete Rivera and Mike Urso returned to the band, joining existing members Bridges and Guzman, plus new arrivals Dan Ferguson (guitar) and Ron Fransen (keyboards), to record Rarearth. According to Monette, keyboardist Mark Olson also returned at the beginning of recording, but both members left around halfway through the process. Shortly after the album's release, Monette and Olson returned again, marking a full reunion of the 1972–1974 lineup. The reformed group released two albums, Band Together and Grand Slam, during 1978.
Urso was replaced by Ken Johnston between June 1979 and June 1981 due to contractual reasons, before returning for the recording of 1982's Tight and Hot, which received a limited release in Canada only. During 1983, both Rivera and Urso left the band again. The lineups of Rare Earth from 1983 to 1985 are not well documented, but a discussion on the band's forum in 2011 including several members concluded that bass was handled from September 1983 by Tim Ellsworth for a year, followed by Andy Merrild for nine months, then Ellsworth again for three months, before Randy "Bird" Burghdoff joined in September 1985. Rivera remained for the first few months of Ellsworth's tenure, after which drums were handled by someone called Tony (surname possibly Thomas), followed by Bob Weaver, then Bobby Rock, Weaver again, and finally Jerry LeBloch just before Burghdoff's arrival.
Since 1985 Rick Warner replaced Mark Olson in 1986 and Wayne Baraks joined the following year on second guitar and co-lead vocals with Bridges. This lineup released the live album Made in Switzerland in 1989, shortly before LeBloch was replaced by Dean Boucher. The new drummer contributed to the group's first studio album in more than ten years, 1993's Different World, before himself being replaced by Floyd Stokes Jr., who also took on co-lead vocal duties. That same year, Eddie Guzman died after spending over 20 years in the band. 1994 saw the departure of Baraks from the group. In 1998, Mike Bruner replaced Warner on keyboards.
Rare Earth's lineup remained stable until 2004, when long-time guitarist Ray Monette left to join The Funk Brothers on tour. He was replaced by Ivan Greilick. With this lineup, the band issued its first two studio albums since 1993: Rare Earth in 2005 and A Brand New World in 2008. The following year, Monette returned to the group for his final stint. He remained active until early 2017, when he retired from performing due to ongoing problems with back pain. His replacement was Jerry "Lew" Patterson. Monette later died in April 2026. Rare Earth remained active until December 2021, when sole remaining original member Gil Bridges died due to complications from COVID-19.
Following Bridges' death, Rare Earth disbanded, before his widow Johnnie Sue Bridges decided to rebuild the group in late 2022. By March 2023, the new band had been unveiled with a lineup including returning members Wayne Baraks and Mike Bruner, along with new additions Michael "Rollo" Rollin on saxophone, flute and co-lead vocals, Dan Medawar on lead guitar, Ron Cousineau on bass, Keith Christian on drums, and Ronnie Nelson on percussion. Rollin was replaced in the fall of 2026 by Jay "Mocha Man" Waller, while Cousineau was replaced by
Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsWayne BaraksMike BrunerkeyboardsDan Medawar2023–presentnone to dateRon CousineauKeith ChristianRonnie NelsonJay "Mocha Man" Waller2025–present
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsGil Bridges(1941–2021)1968–2021all Rare Earth releases from Dreams/Answers (1968) to Rare Earth Live (2009)Peter Riveraall Rare Earth releases from Dreams/Answers (1968) to Live in Chicago (1974), and from Rarearth (1977) to Tight and Hot (1982)John Parrish(1942–1981)1968–1972all Rare Earth releases from Dreams/Answers (1968) to Rare Earth in Concert (1971)Rod Richards1968–1971all Rare Earth releases from Dreams/Answers (1968) to Ecology (1970)Kenny JamesEddie Guzman(1944–1993)1969–1993all Rare Earth releases from Generation (1969) to Different World (1993)Ray Monette(1946–2026)all Rare Earth releases from One World (1971) to Different World (1993), except Rarearth (1977)Mark Olson(1950–1991)all Rare Earth releases from One World (1971) to Live in Chicago (1974), and from Band Together (1978) to Tight and Hot (1982)Mike UrsoJerry LaCroix(1943–2014)1974–1976Reggie McBrideBarry "Frosty" Smith(1946–2017)1974–1975Gabe Katona1975Back to Earth (1975)Paul WarrenChet McCracken(1946–2022)drumsnoneFrank Westbrook1975–1976keyboardsMidnight Lady (1976)Dan Ferguson1977guitarRarearth (1977)Ron FransenkeyboardsKen Johnston1979–1981noneTim EllsworthTony Thomas1983–1984drumsBobby Rock1984Bob Weaver1984–1985Andy MerrildbassJerry LeBloch(1949–2015)1985–1989drumsMade in Switzerland (1989)Randy "Bird" Burghdoff1985–2021all releases from Made in Switzerland (1989) to Rare Earth Live (2009)Rick Warner1986–1998Dean Boucher1989–1993drumsDifferent World (1993)Floyd Stokes Jr.1993–2021Ivan Greilick2004–2009Jerry "Lew" Patterson2017–2021noneMichael "Rollo" Rollin2023–2025
Timeline
Lineups PeriodMembersReleases1968–1969Peter Rivera — lead vocals, drums, percussion Rod Richards — guitar, backing vocals John Parrish — bass, trombone, backing vocals Kenny James — keyboards, backing vocals Gil Bridges — saxophone, flute, backing vocalsDreams/Answers (1968) Get Ready (1969)Late 1969–April 1971Peter Rivera — lead vocals, drums, percussion Rod Richards — guitar, backing vocals John Parrish — bass, trombone, backing vocals Kenny James — keyboards, backing vocals Gil Bridges — saxophone, flute, backing vocals Eddie Guzman — congas, percussionGeneration (1969) Ecology (1970)April 1971–summer 1972Peter Rivera — lead vocals, drums, percussion Ray Monette — guitar, backing vocals John Parrish — bass, trombone, backing vocals Mark Olson — keyboards, backing vocals Gil Bridges — saxophone, flute, backing vocals Eddie Guzman — congas, percussionOne World (1971) Rare Earth in Concert (1971)Summer 1972–July 1974Peter Rivera — lead vocals, drums, percussion Ray Monette — guitar, backing vocals Mike Urso — bass, backing vocals Mark Olson — keyboards, backing vocals Gil Bridges — saxophone, flute, backing vocals Eddie Guzman — congas, percussionWillie Remembers (1972) Ma (1973) Live in Chicago (1974)August 1974–early 1975Jerry LaCroix — lead vocals, saxophone, flute Ray Monette — guitar, backing vocals Reggie McBride — bass, backing vocals Mark Olson — keyboards, backing vocals Gil Bridges — saxophone, flute, backing vocals Barry Smith — drums, percussion Eddie Guzman — congas, percussionEarly–summer 1975Jerry LaCroix — lead vocals, saxophone, flute Ray Monette — guitar, backing vocals Paul Warren — guitar, backing vocals Reggie McBride — bass, backing vocals Gabe Katona — keyboards, backing vocals Gil Bridges — saxophone, flute, backing vocals Barry Smith — drums, percussion Eddie Guzman — congas, percussionBack to Earth (1975)Summer–fall 1975Jerry LaCroix — lead vocals, saxophone, flute Ray Monette — guitar, backing vocals Reggie McBride — bass, backing vocals Gabe Katona — keyboards, backing vocals Gil Bridges — saxophone, flute, backing vocals Chet McCracken — drums Eddie Guzman — congas, percussionLate 1975–mid 1976Jerry LaCroix — lead vocals, saxophone, flute Ray Monette — guitar, backing vocals Reggie McBride — bass, backing vocals Frank Westbrook — keyboards Gil Bridges — saxophone, flute, backing vocals Ollie E. Brown — drums Eddie Guzman — congas, percussionMidnight Lady (1976)Late 1976–early 1977Peter Rivera — lead vocals, drums, percussion Ray Monette — guitar, backing vocals Mike Urso — bass, backing vocals Mark Olson — keyboards, backing vocals Gil Bridges — saxophone, flute, backing vocals Eddie Guzman — congas, percussionEarly–late 1977Peter Rivera — lead vocals, drums, percussion Dan Ferguson — guitar Mike Urso — bass, backing vocals Ron Fransen — keyboards Gil Bridges — saxophone, flute, backing vocals Eddie Guzman — congas, percussionRarearth (1977)Late 1977–June 1979Peter Rivera — lead vocals, drums, percussion Ray Monette — guitar, backing vocals Mike Urso — bass, backing vocals Mark Olson — keyboards, backing vocals Gil Bridges — saxophone, flute, backing vocals Eddie Guzman — congas, percussionBand Together (1978) Grand Slam (1978)June 1979–June 1981Peter Rivera — lead vocals, drums, percussion Ray Monette — guitar, backing vocals Ken Johnston — bass, backing vocals Mark Olson — keyboards, backing vocals Gil Bridges — saxophone, flute, backing vocals Eddie Guzman — congas, percussionJune 1981–1983Peter Rivera — lead vocals, drums, percussion Ray Monette — guitar, backing vocals