Music
Gil Bridges
1941–2021 · saxophonist, flutist, singer
Detroit-born founder of Rare Earth, the first all-white band signed to Motown, whose 1970 version of "Get Ready" reached No. 4 on the Hot 100.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan- Died
Detroit, Michigan
aged 80- Detroit years
- 1941–2021
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Gil Bridges was born in Detroit and played saxophone in a local group, the Glo-Worms, before the band renamed itself the Sunliners after his car, a 1956 Ford Sunliner. Through the 1960s the Sunliners worked Detroit-area clubs and dances, and in 1968 they became Rare Earth, with Bridges on saxophone, flute and vocals and Peter Rivera on drums and lead vocals. In 1969 Motown signed them as the first successful act on the label made up only of white musicians; when the company had not yet named its new rock imprint, the band jokingly suggested it be called Rare Earth, and the name stuck. Their extended cover of the Temptations' "Get Ready" reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970 and went gold, and "(I Know) I'm Losing You" followed at No. 7. Bridges was the only member to stay with the band continuously from 1968 until his death in Detroit in December 2021.
Highlights
- Founded Rare Earth (formerly the Sunliners) in Detroit
- "Get Ready" reached No. 4 on the Hot 100 in 1970
- Motown named its rock label Rare Earth after the band
- Only continuous member of Rare Earth from 1968 to 2021