Rabbit MacKay & the Somis Rhythm Band played a mix of garage and folk songs, which MacKay wrote. He was an interesting, non-typical writer who followed his own heart, performing mainly at colleges and coffeehouses. His was a progressive group that showed more promise than most. As the members changed, the band's name changed from the Somis Rhythm Boyze and the Somis Rhythm Boyz.
British DJ John Peel, who played the UK release of Hard Time Woman on his show, Top Gear, wrote approvingly of Rabbit's album "Bug Cloth" in his column in International Times of August 23, 1968: "In these days of very clinical recordings it is good to hear something that radiates happiness like this."
Rabbit was still performing in 2005, contributing a track on the La Conchita... Remember compilation CD put together to raise money for the victims of the La mudslide.
Rabbit McKay passed on August 10, 2017. There is no other information at this time.
Line Up
Harry Hellings: trumpetWalt Kunnecke: flute
Rabbit MacKay: guitar, harmonica, keyboards, vocals, songwriter
Reji Pekar: guitar
Bill St. Pierre: flute
John Pilla: guitar
John Raines: drums
David Sueyrees: keyboards, vocals
Bob Thompson: drums
