Boney M. came into being in 1975. The group was founded by producer Frank Farian and consists of four West Indian artists from England, Germany and the Netherlands. Remarkably, Farian is white, while the rest have dark skin. With the single 'Baby, Do You Wanna Bump?' Farian immediately scored a hit. He provided the vocals himself on the song. From that moment on, the group experienced many changes.
Boney M. experienced its big breakthrough in 1976. Music and television producer Michael Leckebusch of Radio Bremen invited the group to his programme 'Musikladen'. The performance was a huge success and not long after the single 'Daddy Cool' topped the German charts.
Despite the success, producer Farian faced much criticism. Singer Maizie Williams and frontman Bobby Farrell actually had little vocal input, as Farian sang almost everything himself. This caused some internal conflicts.
Farell was replaced by Reggie Tsiboe in 1982 and began a fruitless solo career. After three years, Farian brought him back to Boney M. Years later it became clear that Farell had hardly earned any money with Boney M, as Farian claimed all (financial) rights for himself.
The goal falls
Boney M. stopped in 1986, only to make a comeback two years later. Without success, as the curtain fell again in 1989.
Unique
In a list of best-selling singles in England, published in 2002, Boney M. can be admired twice. With 'Rivers Of Babylon' and 'Mary Boy's Child' the group ranks fifth and tenth. This is unique: Boney M. is the only act to have been twice in the Top 10, something even The Beatles did not achieve.
Death of Bobby Farrell
Boney M. singer Bobby Farrell was unhappy at the time of his death on 30 December 2010. "He died unhappy. Our injustice was never rectified," says Boney M. singer Liz Mitchell. "He was portrayed as a strange little dancing man who enjoyed the attention and took pleasure in cheating the system," Mitchell says in De Telegraaf. The members also received nothing from the proceeds of the hits. Before Farrell’s death, Boney M. was still aiming for rehabilitation through a reunion tour. "That will not happen," says Mitchell. "My greatest sorrow is that he did not get to see us taken seriously as a group. We had that chance during a reunion tour. But it was not to be." The hits of Boney M. were sung by producer Frank Farian. Bobby Farrell lip-synced all the songs.
Top 2000
Boney M. has two songs in the Top 2000 of 2020: Rivers of Babylon #1486 and Daddy Cool #1915
photo: Erwin Winkelman and TROS
