Producer Frank Farian created Boney M. as a studio project in 1975. On the first output, "Baby Do You Wanna Bump", Farian performed all vocals himself. Soon, however, TV stations started to demand 'Boney M.' to perform the track on TV shows, which made Farian form an actual group. After some initial changes, Frank Farian arrived at the lineup with which the group had their biggest successes: Maizie Williams, Marcia Barrett, Bobby Farrell and Liz Mitchell. The group's major break came in 1978 with "Rivers Of Babylon", the second highest selling single of all time in the UK. Boney M. enjoyed over a dozen hit singles throughout Europe between 1976 and 1981. After Farrell was replaced by Reggie Tsiboe, Boney M. had two more hits in 1984.
Frank Farian announced the end of Boney M. in 1986, but the group has continued in some form or other ever since. No new material has been released, except for a couple of singles and the odd new track on compilations. Numerous "best of" compilations and remix albums have been released. All members continue performing with their own Boney M. formations even today, except for Tsiboe – and Farrell, who passed away in late 2010.
Origin
Germany
Formed
1976
Members
Marcia Barrett, Bobby Farrell, Liz Mitchell, Maizie Williams