Hail (hail) What’s the matter with your mind and your sign? And a oh, oh, oh-a Hail (hail) Nothing the matter with your head baby, find it, come on and find it…

He co-founded an ensemble of Native Americans whose music traversed pop, Cajun, rhythm & blues, Latin, and soul. The name Redbone is a Cajun term for a mixed-race person – all of the founding members were of mixed blood ancestry.

Redbone bassist, singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Pat Vegas honed his chops as a session player and sideman in Los Angeles in the 1960s.  Their 1973 Wovoka album, which contained their biggest hit, “Come and Get Your Love” also featured the track “We Were All Wounded at Wounded Knee” co-written by Vegas, however the song was banned from US releases due to its “controversial subject.”  

As noted by Vegas, the band referenced Cajun and New Orleans culture many times in their lyrics and arrangements, as evidenced on such tracks as “Crazy Cajun Cakewalk Band,” “Maggie,” “The Witch Queen of New Orleans,” and “Poison Ivy,” among others.

A member of the Native American Music Hall of Fame, nowadays Vegas continues as the sole founding member of Redbone.

Pat Vegas and Redbone Sound & Vision:

Crazy Cajun Cakewalk Band https://youtu.be/yaC_kX_kWs4

“Maggie” https://youtu.be/s91hvRs3_SY

“The Witch Queen of New Orleans” https://youtu.be/_Svb95SAOM8 

“Poison Ivy” https://youtu.be/xnbS0Xb8FaY

“Come and Get Your Love” https://youtu.be/OnJqFrVD3uE