West German vocal group, formed 1974 by producer Frank Farian
Boney M. were assembled in West Germany in 1974 by producer Frank Farian, fronted by Liz Mitchell, Marcia Barrett, Maizie Williams and Bobby Farrell. Their “Rivers of Babylon” was issued on 3 April 1978 and went to number one across most of Europe, selling over two million copies in the UK alone — one of only seven singles ever to pass two million there — and becoming one of that country’s all-time best-selling singles. The record is a genuinely inspired reworking — the only error is chronological. The first single pressings credited only Frank Farian and Reyam (Hans-Jörg Mayer); Dowe and McNaughton were added to the credit on later pressings, after an agreement.