Boney M - SunnyBoney M - SunnyBoney M - SunnyBoney M - Sunny

Years active 1975–1985, 1986–presentYears active 1975–1985, 1986–present

Boney M. Boney M. is a pop and disco group created by is a pop and disco group created by record producer Frank Farian. record producer Frank Farian. Originally based in West Germany, the four original Originally based in West Germany, the four original members of the group's official lineup were members of the group's official lineup were

• Bobby Farrell Bobby Farrell • Liz MitchellLiz Mitchell• Marcia BarrettMarcia Barrett• Maizie WilliamsMaizie Williams

Bobby FarellBobby Farell

Born October 6, 1949 on Aruba. He is a dancer and performer. Born October 6, 1949 on Aruba. He is a dancer and performer. He is male member of Boney M.He is male member of Boney M.Farrell left Aruba at age 15 to become a sailor. He lived in Farrell left Aruba at age 15 to become a sailor. He lived in Norway and the Netherlands before moving to Germany. There, Norway and the Netherlands before moving to Germany. There, he worked mostly as a DJ when producer Frank Farian spotted he worked mostly as a DJ when producer Frank Farian spotted him for his new Boney M. group. He became the sole male him for his new Boney M. group. He became the sole male singer in the group, although Farian later revealed that Bobby singer in the group, although Farian later revealed that Bobby made almost no vocal contributions to the group's records, with made almost no vocal contributions to the group's records, with Farian himself performing the male parts on the songs in the Farian himself performing the male parts on the songs in the studio. Farrell did, however, perform live.studio. Farrell did, however, perform live.Farrell currently lives in Amsterdam.Farrell currently lives in Amsterdam.

Liz MitchellLiz MitchellBorn Elizabeth Rebecca Mitchell 12 July Born Elizabeth Rebecca Mitchell 12 July 1952, Clarendon, Jamaica. She is the 1952, Clarendon, Jamaica. She is the former lead singer of Boney M.former lead singer of Boney M.

Early lifeEarly lifeAt the age of eleven, Mitchell and At the age of eleven, Mitchell and her family emigrated to London, her family emigrated to London, England, in 1963. By the end of the England, in 1963. By the end of the decade, she auditioned for Hair decade, she auditioned for Hair (Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock (Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical) Musical) and eventually moved to and eventually moved to Berlin to join the German cast where Berlin to join the German cast where she replaced Donna Summer. she replaced Donna Summer.

Liz MitchellLiz MitchellA phone call from fellow Jamaican Marcia A phone call from fellow Jamaican Marcia Barrett in 1975 persuaded Mitchell to return Barrett in 1975 persuaded Mitchell to return to Germany to join a new group being to Germany to join a new group being assembled by record producer, Frank Farian, assembled by record producer, Frank Farian, which would become known as Boney M. which would become known as Boney M. Mitchell became widely regarded as Boney Mitchell became widely regarded as Boney M.'s lead vocalist. Farian later stated that M.'s lead vocalist. Farian later stated that "All members (of Boney M.) could be "All members (of Boney M.) could be replaced, except Liz The departure of Bobby replaced, except Liz The departure of Bobby Farrell in late 1981 proved this was not Farrell in late 1981 proved this was not entirely true.entirely true.

Marcia BarrettMarcia Barrett Marcia Barrett (born 14 October Marcia Barrett (born 14 October

1948, St Catherine, Jamaica), is one 1948, St Catherine, Jamaica), is one of the original vocalists of Boney M.of the original vocalists of Boney M.

She was brought up in England and like many other aspiring artists, She was brought up in England and like many other aspiring artists, she moved to Germany in the late 60s where the creative she moved to Germany in the late 60s where the creative environment was blossoming at the time. environment was blossoming at the time. She joined a band and soon after found herself touring with people She joined a band and soon after found herself touring with people like Karel Gott and Rex Gildo, gaining stage routine and performing like Karel Gott and Rex Gildo, gaining stage routine and performing experience. experience. In 1971, she was signed to Metronome and released her record In 1971, she was signed to Metronome and released her record debut "Could Be Love", a song penned for her by Drafi Deutscher. debut "Could Be Love", a song penned for her by Drafi Deutscher.

The early yearsThe early years

Marcia BarrettMarcia Barrett

In 1975, she was asked to join the group Boney M. which by then In 1975, she was asked to join the group Boney M. which by then was merely a group of models and dancers to do discothèque and was merely a group of models and dancers to do discothèque and TV performances of a song recorded by producer Frank Farian, TV performances of a song recorded by producer Frank Farian, called "Baby Do You Wanna Bump". called "Baby Do You Wanna Bump". Always wanting to be a solo singer, she only reluctantly joined. Always wanting to be a solo singer, she only reluctantly joined. The single was slowly starting to take off in the Benelux countries. The single was slowly starting to take off in the Benelux countries. When singer Claudja Barry left the formation early 1976, Marcia When singer Claudja Barry left the formation early 1976, Marcia suggested a fellow Jamaican she'd met, Liz Mitchell, as her suggested a fellow Jamaican she'd met, Liz Mitchell, as her replacement. replacement. Liz Mitchell also happened to be a singer - and so Frank Farian Liz Mitchell also happened to be a singer - and so Frank Farian decided to try Liz and Marcia for a follow-up recording to "Baby Do decided to try Liz and Marcia for a follow-up recording to "Baby Do You Wanna Bump". The resulting recording was "Daddy Cool" and You Wanna Bump". The resulting recording was "Daddy Cool" and Boney M.'s first album Take the Heat Off Me, 1976. Boney M.'s first album Take the Heat Off Me, 1976.

The Boney M. yearsThe Boney M. years

Maizie WilliamsMaizie WilliamsBorn Maizie Ursula Williams, March 25, Born Maizie Ursula Williams, March 25, 1951, Montserrat, West Indies. She was a 1951, Montserrat, West Indies. She was a member of Boney M.member of Boney M.Brought up in Birmingham, Williams began Brought up in Birmingham, Williams began working as a model, eventually gaining the working as a model, eventually gaining the title Miss Black Beautiful in a contest in title Miss Black Beautiful in a contest in 1973. 1973. After this initial success she went on to After this initial success she went on to front her own band, Black Beautiful People. front her own band, Black Beautiful People. She later moved to West Germany with her She later moved to West Germany with her friend Sheyla Bonnick. One day in 1975, friend Sheyla Bonnick. One day in 1975, while at a restaurant, the two were while at a restaurant, the two were approached by an agent who asked if they approached by an agent who asked if they were interested in joining a new pop group were interested in joining a new pop group Boney MBoney M

““Sunny”Sunny”Single by Bobby Hebb (1966)Single by Bobby Hebb (1966)

"Sunny" is a cover version of Bobby Hebb's "Sunny" is a cover version of Bobby Hebb's 1966 hit, recorded by German disco group 1966 hit, recorded by German disco group Boney M., produced by Frank Farian and Boney M., produced by Frank Farian and arranged by Stefan Klinkhammer in a disco arranged by Stefan Klinkhammer in a disco arrangement. arrangement. It was taken from their 1976 debut album It was taken from their 1976 debut album “Take the Heat Off Me”“Take the Heat Off Me”

Personnel:Personnel:

Marcia BarrettMarcia Barrett – – lead vocals lead vocals Liz Mitchell – backing vocalsLiz Mitchell – backing vocalsFrank Farian – Frank Farian – backingbacking vocalsvocals

The Rhythm Machine - musicians The Rhythm Machine - musicians Gary Unwinn - bass guitar Gary Unwinn - bass guitar Keith Forsey - drums Keith Forsey - drums Nick Woodland - guitar Nick Woodland - guitar Thor Baldursson - keyboardsThor Baldursson - keyboards

Sunny - LyricsSunny - LyricsSunny, yesterday my life was filled with rain. Sunny, you smiled at me and really eased the pain. The dark days are gone, and the bright days are here, My sunny one shines so sincere. Sunny one so true, I love you. Sunny, thank you for the sunshine bouquet. Sunny, thank you for the love you brought my way. You gave to me your all and all. Now I feel ten feet tall. Sunny one so true, I love you. Sunny, thank you for the truth you let me see.

Sunny, thank you for the facts from a to c. My life was torn like a windblown sand, And the rock was formed when you held my hand. Sunny one so true, I love you.

. Sunny

Sunny, thank you for the smile upon your face. Sunny, thank you for the gleam that shows it's grace. You're my spark of nature's fire, You're my sweet complete desire. Sunny one so true, I love you.

Sunny, yesterday my life was filled with rain. Sunny, you smiled at me and really eased the pain. The dark days are gone, and the bright days are here, My sunny one shines so sincere. Sunny one so true, I love you.

I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you.

Other cover versionsOther cover versionsMany other artists have recorded versions of the song.Many other artists have recorded versions of the song.Frank Sinatra covered "Sunny" with Duke Ellington on their Frank Sinatra covered "Sunny" with Duke Ellington on their collaborative album, Francis A. & Edward K..collaborative album, Francis A. & Edward K..Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass made an instrumental version of Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass made an instrumental version of "Sunny" on the LP album "The Brass Are Comin'" launched in 1969 (A "Sunny" on the LP album "The Brass Are Comin'" launched in 1969 (A & M SP 4228). & M SP 4228). Cris Barber recorded a version of the song on her 2008 album This Cris Barber recorded a version of the song on her 2008 album This Moment to Be Free.Moment to Be Free.Christophe Willem covered the song in 2006Christophe Willem covered the song in 2006Mark Ronson did a live cover with Candie Payne at the Electric PromsMark Ronson did a live cover with Candie Payne at the Electric PromsSaxophonist Stanley Turrentine also covered the song on his album Saxophonist Stanley Turrentine also covered the song on his album "The Spoiler.""The Spoiler."Guitarist Pat Martino covered the song in 1972 on his first live album.Guitarist Pat Martino covered the song in 1972 on his first live album.