Another single, "Sunny" (a cover of the 1966 Bobby Hebb song) gave the group their second no.1 hit.
The group was formed in 1976 and achieved popularity during the disco era of the late 1970s.
Since the 1980s, various line-ups of the band have performed with different personnel. The band has sold around 80 million records worldwide and is known for international hits such as "Daddy Cool", "Ma Baker", "Belfast", "Sunny", "Rasputin", "Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord" and "Rivers of Babylon". == 1970s == German singer-songwriter Frank Farian recorded the dance track "Baby Do You Wanna Bump" in December 1974.
Since this had become common practice within the disco genre of the late 1970s, few people cared – unlike when Farian repeated the practice to much more severe backlash with Milli Vanilli in the late 1980s.
music market since their original releases in the 1970s). In September 2007, Boney M.'s last four original albums, Boonoonoonoos, Ten Thousand Lightyears, Kalimba de Luna - 16 Happy Songs and Eye Dance were reissued on compact disc in Europe and the United States, all including bonus tracks.
They are also one of six artists to sell a million copies with two singles in the same year. == Back catalogue == Compared to other best-selling artists of the 1970s like ABBA, Donna Summer, and the Bee Gees, the Boney M.
was hugely popular in the Soviet Union in the 1970s, although the song "Rasputin" was banned by the Soviet authorities during the group's concert in Moscow in December 1978.
Since the 1980s, various line-ups of the band have performed with different personnel. The band has sold around 80 million records worldwide and is known for international hits such as "Daddy Cool", "Ma Baker", "Belfast", "Sunny", "Rasputin", "Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord" and "Rivers of Babylon". == 1970s == German singer-songwriter Frank Farian recorded the dance track "Baby Do You Wanna Bump" in December 1974.
– The Story of Boney M. Musical groups established in 1975 German disco groups Eurodisco groups German pop music groups 1975 establishments in West Germany Atlantic Records artists Musical quartets 1986 disestablishments in West Germany Musical groups disestablished in 1986 Hansa Records artists
The group was formed in 1976 and achieved popularity during the disco era of the late 1970s.
was finalised. === Take the Heat off Me === Boney M.'s first album, Take the Heat off Me, was released in 1976.
The group's big break came when, at the end of summer 1976, German television producer Michael 'Mike' Leckebusch (of Radio Bremen) requested the group for his show Musikladen.
appeared on the live music show on 18 September 1976, after 10 pm and in their daring stage costumes, where they performed the song "Daddy Cool".
Both singles were also Top 10 hits in the UK, which would become one of their biggest markets. === Love for Sale === In 1977, Boney M.
– On Stage and on the Road featuring a live performance recorded in Vienna on 1 November 1977 (the DVD cover erroneously states it to be a live show from Hamburg), and a film from the band's 1981 visit to Jamaica (made to promote the Boonoonoonoos album that year). Bobby Farrell's Boney M.
Continuing with their success, they released "Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord", which was the 1978 Christmas number one single in the United Kingdom and became another of the biggest selling singles of all time there.
Also during 1978, Boney M.
At the end of 2017 the album "World Music for Christmas" was released along with the single and video "Like Diamonds in the Sky" featuring Liz Mitchell, based on El Cóndor Pasa. == UK sales mark == In 1978, "Rivers of Babylon", a cover of a track by The Melodians with lyrics partly based on Psalm 137 and partly on Psalm 19, became (at the time) the second highest-selling single of all time in the UK.
The single sold over 1.8 million copies, 1.6 million of which were in the four weeks the song was at No.1 in December 1978. Boney M.
was hugely popular in the Soviet Union in the 1970s, although the song "Rasputin" was banned by the Soviet authorities during the group's concert in Moscow in December 1978.
Since the 1980s, various line-ups of the band have performed with different personnel. The band has sold around 80 million records worldwide and is known for international hits such as "Daddy Cool", "Ma Baker", "Belfast", "Sunny", "Rasputin", "Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord" and "Rivers of Babylon". == 1970s == German singer-songwriter Frank Farian recorded the dance track "Baby Do You Wanna Bump" in December 1974.
Since this had become common practice within the disco genre of the late 1970s, few people cared – unlike when Farian repeated the practice to much more severe backlash with Milli Vanilli in the late 1980s.
Oceans of Fantasy reached no.1 in the UK and was certified Platinum, though their run of Top 10 singles had now ended with "Gotta Go Home" peaking at no.12 and "I'm Born Again" peaking at 35. == 1980s == In 1980, Boney M.
1 spot in the UK, reaching Gold status within six weeks of release, though it was their last big-selling album in the UK. === Boonoonoonoos === Boney M.'s fifth album had been scheduled for release in November 1980 but the recording sessions dragged on all through 1981.
Megamix" single returning the group to the UK Top 10 for the first time since 1980, and a subsequent Greatest Hits album reaching the UK Top 20 in 1993.
line-up performed live at the Royal Albert Hall, UK, to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in Africa, performing her own renditions of "Brown Girl in the Ring" and "Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday". The legal rights to the name "Boney M." have been a matter of controversy, and even court cases, between the former members of the band and producer Frank Farian ever since the late 1980s.
in Germany for a 10-year period. In January 2009, Farian released the single "Felicidad America (Obama Obama)", a version of the 1980 Boney M.
1 spot in the UK, reaching Gold status within six weeks of release, though it was their last big-selling album in the UK. === Boonoonoonoos === Boney M.'s fifth album had been scheduled for release in November 1980 but the recording sessions dragged on all through 1981.
– On Stage and on the Road featuring a live performance recorded in Vienna on 1 November 1977 (the DVD cover erroneously states it to be a live show from Hamburg), and a film from the band's 1981 visit to Jamaica (made to promote the Boonoonoonoos album that year). Bobby Farrell's Boney M.
in 1982 but the singles "The Carnival Is Over" and "Jambo" fared poorly, and the group's seventh album Ten Thousand Lightyears, issued in 1984, marked another commercial low point peaking at number 23 in the German album charts.
in 1982 but the singles "The Carnival Is Over" and "Jambo" fared poorly, and the group's seventh album Ten Thousand Lightyears, issued in 1984, marked another commercial low point peaking at number 23 in the German album charts.
The group, however, returned to the German Top 20 in the autumn of 1984 with "Kalimba de Luna" (a Top 10 hit in France) and "Happy Song" (a cover of a song by Italian Italo-disco band Baby's Gang), the latter seeing Bobby Farrell return to the group.
Both songs were carbon-copies of the original Italian hits by Tony Esposito and Baby's Gang respectively. === Eye Dance === By 1985, Farian clearly began losing interest in the group, and their final and eighth studio album Eye Dance was widely regarded as uninspired and disappointing.
After celebrating Boney M.'s 10th anniversary in early 1986, the group officially disbanded after the release of the commercially unsuccessful single "Young, Free and Single" which peaked at No.48. == Later years == From this point, different versions of the group were formed by members, some with cooperation of Farian, others without (for example by independently obtaining the rights to use the Boney M.
– The Story of Boney M. Musical groups established in 1975 German disco groups Eurodisco groups German pop music groups 1975 establishments in West Germany Atlantic Records artists Musical quartets 1986 disestablishments in West Germany Musical groups disestablished in 1986 Hansa Records artists
One version began touring in the first half of 1987 with Marilyn Scharbaai (Carrilho) taking Liz Mitchell's place.
Mitchell returned for a second leg of the tour late 1987, and Marcia Barrett soon left the band.
Mitchell and Williams completed a tour during 1987–88, adding singer Celena Duncan and Ron Gale as replacements for Barrett and Farrell.
In the Soviet film Repentance (1984, released 1987), "Sunny" is played at a party of high-ranked communist officials.
Carol Grey later replaced Celena Duncan and Curt De Daran later replaced Ron Gale. In October 1988, the classic Boney M.
Marcia Barrett has released two solo albums with a third scheduled for release in 2010. As recounted in his 1988 book Touching the Void, the British climber Joe Simpson was subsequently to find the catchy tune of "Brown Girl in the Ring" haunting him in the final hours of his struggle to survive the descent of Siula Grande in the Andes, and the song was later used in the 2003 film of Touching the Void made by Kevin Macdonald.
line-up reunited without producer Frank Farian for the album Greatest Hits of All Times – Remix '88 but tensions ran high between the members, and Liz Mitchell left in the spring of 1989 to be replaced by Madeleine Davis.
A second remix album Greatest Hits of All Times – Remix '89 – Volume II was released but fared poorly. === 1990s === 1992 saw a renewed interest in Boney M.'s music with the "Boney M.
Bobby Farrell also toured with varying trios of female performers. === 2000s === Liz Mitchell was touring the world with her line-up of Boney M., which is the only line-up officially supported by Farian (the court ruling of 1990 stated that all four members are entitled to perform their own Boney M.
Farian, the man who in effect created the group, has continued to work with Liz Mitchell and her line-up all through the 1990s and 2000s.
Megamix" single returning the group to the UK Top 10 for the first time since 1980, and a subsequent Greatest Hits album reaching the UK Top 20 in 1993.
toured the world with a line-up of Liz Mitchell, Carol Grey, Patricia Lorna Foster and Curt Dee Daran (replaced by Tony Ashcroft in 1994).
Bobby Farrell also toured with varying trios of female performers. === 2000s === Liz Mitchell was touring the world with her line-up of Boney M., which is the only line-up officially supported by Farian (the court ruling of 1990 stated that all four members are entitled to perform their own Boney M.
Farian, the man who in effect created the group, has continued to work with Liz Mitchell and her line-up all through the 1990s and 2000s.
Marcia Barrett has released two solo albums with a third scheduled for release in 2010. As recounted in his 1988 book Touching the Void, the British climber Joe Simpson was subsequently to find the catchy tune of "Brown Girl in the Ring" haunting him in the final hours of his struggle to survive the descent of Siula Grande in the Andes, and the song was later used in the 2003 film of Touching the Void made by Kevin Macdonald.
Maizie Williams released her first solo album in 2006 and her own single version of Boney M.'s "Sunny".
Simpson recalls: "I remember thinking, bloody hell, I'm going to die to Boney M". A musical based on the music of Boney M., Daddy Cool, opened in London in August 2006 to mixed reviews and sluggish ticket sales, causing it to close in February 2007.
(featuring Marcia Barrett) made a live appearance at the 37th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which took place on 23 November 2006 in Panaji, the state capital of Goa, India.
was released via BMG on 27 November 2006.
remix of "Sunny" and a brand new song from 2006, featuring Liz Mitchell, entitled "A Moment of Love". On 10 April 2007, Boney M.'s first four albums were reissued on compact disc with bonus tracks, this time also in the United States (the first time these were available to the U.S.
In 2007 her rendition of 'Daddy Cool' with Melo-M hit the number one spot in the Latvian (LMK) Charts.
Simpson recalls: "I remember thinking, bloody hell, I'm going to die to Boney M". A musical based on the music of Boney M., Daddy Cool, opened in London in August 2006 to mixed reviews and sluggish ticket sales, causing it to close in February 2007.
From April to July 2007, the show played in a mobile theatre in Berlin, which was specially designed for it. In April 2007, Australian pop singer Peter Wilson released a song co-written by Frank Farian entitled "Doin' Fine".
remix of "Sunny" and a brand new song from 2006, featuring Liz Mitchell, entitled "A Moment of Love". On 10 April 2007, Boney M.'s first four albums were reissued on compact disc with bonus tracks, this time also in the United States (the first time these were available to the U.S.
music market since their original releases in the 1970s). In September 2007, Boney M.'s last four original albums, Boonoonoonoos, Ten Thousand Lightyears, Kalimba de Luna - 16 Happy Songs and Eye Dance were reissued on compact disc in Europe and the United States, all including bonus tracks.
In November 2007, a new Christmas compilation was scheduled for release as well as the DVD Fantastic Boney M.
performed a concert at the Amphi in Ra'anana, Israel in May 2007.
On 28 June 2007 Boney M.
In September 2007, Maizie Williams' Boney M.
In January 2007, Zanillya Farrell (daughter of Bobby Farrell) and Yasmina Ayad-Saban (ex-wife of Farrell) renewed the trademark to the name Boney M.
in Germany for a 10-year period. In January 2009, Farian released the single "Felicidad America (Obama Obama)", a version of the 1980 Boney M.
Marcia Barrett has released two solo albums with a third scheduled for release in 2010. As recounted in his 1988 book Touching the Void, the British climber Joe Simpson was subsequently to find the catchy tune of "Brown Girl in the Ring" haunting him in the final hours of his struggle to survive the descent of Siula Grande in the Andes, and the song was later used in the 2003 film of Touching the Void made by Kevin Macdonald.
& Yulee B." === 2010s === In July 2010, Maizie Williams headlined a Boney M.
The band played "Daddy Cool", "Ma Baker" and "Brown Girl in the Ring", but refrained from playing "Rivers of Babylon", rumored to be at the event organizers' request because of its description of the Jewish yearning for Zion. Bobby Farrell died at the age of 61 from heart failure on 30 December 2010.
The singer was found dead in a hotel room in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where he had been performing. It was announced in February 2014 that Maizie Williams' line-up of Boney M.
They sang at Guilfest, Guildford, UK on 20 July 2014, and Watchet Live music festival UK, on 24 August 2014. In March 2015, Farian released Diamonds, a 3CD box celebrating the 40th anniversary of Boney M.
They sang at Guilfest, Guildford, UK on 20 July 2014, and Watchet Live music festival UK, on 24 August 2014. In March 2015, Farian released Diamonds, a 3CD box celebrating the 40th anniversary of Boney M.
A major DVD set was also released. In February 2017, they performed at the closing ceremony of Patras Carnival in Patras, Greece.
At the end of 2017 the album "World Music for Christmas" was released along with the single and video "Like Diamonds in the Sky" featuring Liz Mitchell, based on El Cóndor Pasa. == UK sales mark == In 1978, "Rivers of Babylon", a cover of a track by The Melodians with lyrics partly based on Psalm 137 and partly on Psalm 19, became (at the time) the second highest-selling single of all time in the UK.
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