This letter was sent 4 years ago. I don't think Springsteen heard me. Redbone Warriors - What can you do to make the RRHF aware of this travesty? Please post what you have done or propose to do....

December 5, 2016

Mr. Bruce Springsteen

℅ Barbara Carr

Creative Artists Agency

2000 Avenue Of The Stars

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Dear Mr. Springsteen:

I watched with earnest your CBS Sunday Morning interview of September 18. While watching, I realized that you, more than anyone, could help my friend, Pat Vegas, the living rock legend of the band Redbone, who, along with his brother, Lolly and bandmates, Tony Bellamy and Pete Depoe, changed America for the better. You are clearly a student of history and perhaps this could be another way for you to help make things right.

Redbone was the first Native American rock band in history, due to a suggestion by none other than Jimi Hendrix, that made such an impact on society. This band is pioneering . . . Please consider:

"Nicki Hoeky" (1967) is perhaps the first Swamp Rock song ever written and was covered by the likes of Aretha Franklin and Tom Jones;

"Maggie" (1970) which is their second hit behind "Witch Queen," is a unique quasi-love song imbued with a funky cajun sound;

"Crazy Cajun Cakewalk Band" (1970) which, like "Niki Hoeky," was an early Swamp Rock song. 

"Witch Queen Of New Orleans" (1971) spawned so many other similar songs in that vein: "Witchy Woman," "Devil Woman," etc.;

"We Were All Wounded At Wounded Knee" (1973) was a clear protest song which came out in support of the Russell Means-led AIM occupation of Wounded Knee. Though it was number one in Holland, it was not released in the U.S. for obvious reasons; 

"Come And Get Your Love" (1974) naturally is their most famous song and a gold record - though the band is less proud of it than those songs listed above.

Yet . . . Redbone is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? For the life of me, Mr. Springsteen, I don’t get it. So - I’m writing to you, sir, for help. If anyone could “rattle the cage,” and make a wrong a right - it's you. Redbone - the first Native American rock band which, like yourself, created songs which questioned authority and what's right and wrong in society, has been cheated by history. (Interestingly, Los Lobos has been nominated this year - but not Redbone.) 

You understand more than anyone how politics can mire society for the worse. I cannot help but feel, Mr. Springsteen, that their efforts have been merely dismissed due to a social and political stigmatism. You could change that, sir. Lolly Vegas and Tony Bellamy have since passed on. Only Pat Vegas and Pete DePoe remain of the original band. Please help my friend, his brother and his bandmates get the industry recognition that they deserve - be it as pioneers or as major influencers. 

Mr. Springsteen, Redbone has not even received a whisper of being inducted into the RRHF. This, to me, is a tragedy. History, which has been deeply steeped in discrimination of all forms, has robbed this pioneer rock group of their rightful place in the history of modern music. Could you please put some pressure on the powers that be to get them this recognition - if anything the ability to be voted on?

Thank you so much for your time and the impact you’ve personally made on rock and roll and American culture. I pray you can help right this wrong.

Respectfully,

Jim Hoffmann