Rare Earth

Hard-rockin' white-soul band from Detroit, Michigan.  I believe they were the only all-white band signed to the Motown label.  Thanks to Tom White for providing the current lineup.

The Sunliners / Rare Earth I(1964 - 1969)
  • Pete Hoorelbeke (aka, Pete Rivera) - drums/vocals
  • Gil Bridges - sax/flute/percussion/vocals
  • John Persh - bass/trombone/vocals
  • Steven Fischer - sax
  • Russ Terrana - guitar
  • Ralph Terrana - keyboards
Album:
  1. "Dreams/Answers" (1968)
Name changed to Rare Earth in 1968.
Rare Earth II (1969 - 1970)
  • Pete Hoorelbeke (aka, Pete Rivera) - drums/vocals
  • Gil Bridges - sax/flute/percussion/vocals
  • John Persh - bass/trombone/vocals
  • Rod Richards - guitar/vocals
  • Kenny James - keyboards
Album:
  1. "Get Ready" (1969) - Single: "Get Ready"
Rare Earth III (1970)
  • Pete Hoorelbeke (aka, Pete Rivera) - drums/vocals
  • Gil Bridges - sax/flute/percussion/vocals
  • John Persh - bass/trombone/vocals
  • Rod Richards - guitar/vocals
  • Kenny James - keyboards
  • Edward Guzman - conga/percussion
Album:
  1. "Ecology" (1970) - Singles: "Born to Wander", "(I Know) I'm Losing You"
Rare Earth IV (1970 - 1971)
  • Pete Hoorelbeke (aka, Pete Rivera) - drums/vocals
  • Gil Bridges - sax/flute/percussion/vocals
  • John Persh - bass/trombone/vocals
  • Edward Guzman - conga/percussion
  • Ray Monette - guitar/vocals
  • Mark Olson - keyboards/vocals
Albums:
  1. "One World" (1971) - Single: "I Just Want to Celebrate"
  2. "Rare Earth In Concert" (1971) - Single: "What'd I Say"
Rare Earth V(1971 - 1974)
  • Pete Hoorelbeke (aka, Pete Rivera) - drums/vocals
  • Gil Bridges - sax/flute/percussion/vocals
  • Edward Guzman - conga/percussion
  • Ray Monette - guitar/vocals
  • Mark Olson - keyboards/vocals
  • Michael Urso - bass/vocals
Albums:
  1. "Willie Remembers" (1972) - Singles: "Good Time Sally", "We're Gonna Have a Good Time"
  2. "Ma" (1973) - Singles: "Ma", "Hum Along and Dance"
Rare Earth VI (1975)
  • Gil Bridges - sax/flute/percussion/vocals
  • Edward Guzman - conga/percussion
  • Ray Monette - guitar/vocals
  • Jerry LaCroix - sax/flute/vocals - formerly with Edgar Winter's White Trash and Blood, Sweat and Tears.
  • Paul Warren - guitar/vocals
  • Barry Eugene Frost - percussion
  • Gabriel Katona - keyboards/vocals
  • Reggie McBride - bass/vocals
Album:
  1. "Back to Earth" (1975) - Single: "It Makes You Happy (But It Ain't Gonna Last Too Long)"
Rare Earth VII (1976)
  • Gil Bridges - sax/flute/percussion/vocals
  • Edward Guzman - conga/percussion
  • Ray Monette - guitar/vocals
  • Jerry LaCroix - sax/flute/vocals
  • Reggie McBride - bass/vocals
  • Frank Westerbrook - keyboards
Album:
  1. "Midnight Lady" (1976)
Jerry LaCroix later forms Jerry LaCroix and the Blues Krewe.
Rare Earth VIII (1977)
  • Pete Hoorelbeke (aka, Pete Rivera) - drums/vocals
  • Gil Bridges - sax/flute/percussion/vocals
  • Edward Guzman - conga/percussion
  • Michael Urso - bass/vocals
  • Daniel Ferguson - guitar
  • Ron Fransen - keyboards
Album:
  1. "RarEarth" (1977)
Rare Earth IX (1978 - 1983)
  • Pete Hoorelbeke (aka, Pete Rivera) - drums/vocals
  • Gil Bridges - sax/flute/percussion/vocals
  • Edward Guzman - conga/percussion
  • Michael Urso - bass/vocals
  • Ray Monette - guitar/vocals
  • Mark Olson - keyboards/vocals
Albums:
  1. "Band Together" (1978) - Single: "Warm Ride"
  2. "Grand Slam" (1978) - Single: "I Can Feel My Love Risin'"
Pete Hoorelbeke (aka, Pete Rivera) later joins The Classic Rock All-Stars.
Rare Earth X( ? - Present)
  • Gil Bridges - sax/vocals
  • Ray Monette - guitar/vocals
  • Randy "Big Bird" Burghdoff - bass/vocals
  • Rick Warner - keyboards/vocals
  • Floyd Stokes, Jr. - drums/vocals
Album:
  1. "Different World" (1993)
  2. "Made In Switzerland" (live) (1999)
[Ref: Tom White]
Compilations:
  1. "Greatest Hits & Rare Classics" (1974)
  2. "Earth Tones: The Essential Rare Earth" (1994)
  3. "The Best of Rare Earth" (1995)
  4. "Anthology: The Best of Rare Earth" (2-CDs) (1995)
  5. "The Very Best of Rare Earth" (1998)
Links:

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Last Revised:  October 16, 2000