People of Distinction # 46: The Motown band Rare Earth!

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Peter Rivera – lead vocalist and drummer for the Motown band Rare Earth! Although not the first white band signed to Motown, Rare Earth was the first big hit-making act signed by Motown that consisted only of white members. (The Rustix were signed before them and were an all white act, but did not have any hits.)]

Rare Earth had a number of Top 40 hits in the 1970-1971 period, including covers of The Temptations’ “(I Know) I’m Losing You” written by Cornelius Grant – 6th Temptation and “Get Ready”. The cover of “Get Ready” was their biggest hit, peaking at #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, a more successful performance than the original. This disc
sold over one million copies and received a Gold record awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America.[2] Other hits in 1971 were “I Just Want to Celebrate”, which peaked at #7 on the pop charts, and “Hey, Big Brother”, which peaked at #19.