California Raisins

California Raisins were a fictional rhythm and blues musical group as well as advertising and merchandising characters composed of anthropomorphized raisins based on black caricatures. Lead vocals were sung by musician Buddy Miles. The California Raisins concept experienced high popularity in the mid-to-late 1980s principally through claymation TV commercials and animated specials, winning an Emmy Award and one nomination.

The concept was originally created for a 1986 commercial on behalf of the California Raisin Advisory Board. The commercial became wildly popular, paving the way for several future commercials including one with Ray Charles and another with a raisinized incarnation of Michael Jackson. The following year, the Raisins appeared in the Emmy Award-winning Claymation Christmas Celebration, singing the classic Christmas carol, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."

The California Raisins had four albums released under Priority Records through 1987 to 1988, and their signature song, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," landed on the Billboard Hot 100.

Music Videos

 * I Heard It Through the Grapevine
 * Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer