Biography
The Boneshakers center on the abilities of Was (Not Was) guitarist Randy Jacobs and singer Hillard "Sweet Pea" Atkinson, who together produce an exuberant fusion of blues, funk, contemporary rock, and R&B. Their initial showcase arrived with the 1997 album Book of Spells, after which the pair periodically reconvened between Was (Not Was) projects, enlisting saxophonist Mindy Abair for the 2015 release Live in Seattle and the 2017 effort Eastwest Sessions.
Jacobs and Atkinson first encountered each other in Detroit during 1980 while assisting Donald "Don Was" Fagenson and David "David Was" Weiss on the debut Was (Not Was) album. Over the subsequent decade they toured and recorded with the band, a span that reached its high point with the 1988 breakthrough What Up, Dog? and its Top Ten hit "Walk Like a Dinosaur," co-written by Jacobs. Atkinson also issued his 1982 solo album Don't Walk Away in this period, and both musicians became sought-after session players and sidemen, separately supporting B.B. King, Tears For Fears, Seal, Paul Abdul, Keb' Mo', Bob Seger, and others.
The Boneshakers assembled in Los Angeles in the early '90s once Was (Not Was) entered hiatus following a European tour with Dire Straits. Jacobs had already begun a solo album and needed a vocalist when Atkinson phoned to express interest in the project. Their partnership strengthened further during work on Bonnie Raitt's 1994 album Longing in Their Hearts; Raitt is said to have coined the name Boneshakers. After signing with Point Blank/Virgin Records they delivered Book of Spells in 1997 and followed it two years later with Shake the Planet, both sets extending their Was (Not Was) approach while exploring blues and funk territory.
Atkinson departed in the early 2000s to tour as a backing singer with Lyle Lovett. Jacobs then collaborated with singer Malford Milligan on 2001's Pouring Gasoline and again on the 2002 concert album Put Some Booty on It, Vol 1. Milligan left around 2003 to launch his own band, clearing the way for Atkinson's return. Jacobs and Atkinson celebrated the reunion with 2006's Put Some Booty On It, Vol 2., which captured the group's first live performance, recorded in San Francisco in 1997. In 2015 they teamed with saxophonist Mindi Abair for the concert album Live in Seattle and joined her again two years later for the studio album Eastwest Sessions. Also in 2017 Atkinson released his sophomore solo album Get What You Deserve, which included contributions from Abair, Jacobs, Keb' Mo', and others.
Jacobs and Atkinson first encountered each other in Detroit during 1980 while assisting Donald "Don Was" Fagenson and David "David Was" Weiss on the debut Was (Not Was) album. Over the subsequent decade they toured and recorded with the band, a span that reached its high point with the 1988 breakthrough What Up, Dog? and its Top Ten hit "Walk Like a Dinosaur," co-written by Jacobs. Atkinson also issued his 1982 solo album Don't Walk Away in this period, and both musicians became sought-after session players and sidemen, separately supporting B.B. King, Tears For Fears, Seal, Paul Abdul, Keb' Mo', Bob Seger, and others.
The Boneshakers assembled in Los Angeles in the early '90s once Was (Not Was) entered hiatus following a European tour with Dire Straits. Jacobs had already begun a solo album and needed a vocalist when Atkinson phoned to express interest in the project. Their partnership strengthened further during work on Bonnie Raitt's 1994 album Longing in Their Hearts; Raitt is said to have coined the name Boneshakers. After signing with Point Blank/Virgin Records they delivered Book of Spells in 1997 and followed it two years later with Shake the Planet, both sets extending their Was (Not Was) approach while exploring blues and funk territory.
Atkinson departed in the early 2000s to tour as a backing singer with Lyle Lovett. Jacobs then collaborated with singer Malford Milligan on 2001's Pouring Gasoline and again on the 2002 concert album Put Some Booty on It, Vol 1. Milligan left around 2003 to launch his own band, clearing the way for Atkinson's return. Jacobs and Atkinson celebrated the reunion with 2006's Put Some Booty On It, Vol 2., which captured the group's first live performance, recorded in San Francisco in 1997. In 2015 they teamed with saxophonist Mindi Abair for the concert album Live in Seattle and joined her again two years later for the studio album Eastwest Sessions. Also in 2017 Atkinson released his sophomore solo album Get What You Deserve, which included contributions from Abair, Jacobs, Keb' Mo', and others.
Albums
Singles
Live
