Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
1100 Rock and Roll Boulevard
Cleveland, OH, 44114

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is imploring the powers that be to consider the induction of one of rock’s greatest pioneers as the first Native American band (with Mexican roots), creators of a new genre, Native American Swamp Rock, and heavy influencers of many contemporary and descendant acts . . . Redbone: Lolly Vegas, Pat Vegas, Tony Bellamy, Peter DePoe, Arturo Perez and Butch Rillera. Where would rock ‘n’ roll be today without the Tribal Elders of Rock?

Lolly and Pat Vegas made huge inroads as solo artists, both as collaborative studio musicians, but also as artists in their own right. They worked with many famous acts of their time, including Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones. More importantly, during the tumultuous 1960s, their band, Redbone, became part of a cultural movement to express Native American pride (with Mexican influences) and the musical sounds associated with it - and tied it into the traditional American rock sound. So many bands today have been influenced by these rock legends whether they be classic East LA bands like the The Romancers, to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, to legendary rock bands like Led Zeppelin, all the way to alternative bands like Los Lobos.

Please consider the historical record and nominate them for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Sincerely,

Redbone Fan