HEARTFELT REFLECTION: Liz Mitchell Remembers the Early Days of Boney M. — A Journey of Faith, Struggle, and Triumph
Looking back on the earliest days of Boney M., Liz Mitchell speaks with the warmth and wisdom of someone who has walked through both storms and sunshine. Before the fame, before the glittering costumes and global hits, there were years of struggle, uncertainty, and quiet determination. What would later become one of the world’s most iconic disco groups began, she recalls, with little more than belief — belief in the power of music and the hope that it could reach hearts far beyond their own.
“It wasn’t easy,” Liz admitted with a gentle laugh. “People see the success, the lights, the performances — but before that, we were just a group of dreamers trying to be heard.” Rehearsals were long, travel was hard, and opportunities were few. In the beginning, they faced rejection after rejection, as producers and record companies struggled to understand the sound they were creating — a mix of Caribbean rhythm, European pop, and spiritual soul that didn’t fit into any box. “We didn’t sound like anyone else,” she said. “That was both our struggle and our gift.”
Everything changed when they recorded “Daddy Cool.” The song exploded across Europe, opening the door to a wave of success that would carry them through the late 1970s and beyond. Soon followed the unforgettable anthems “Rivers of Babylon,” “Sunny,” “Ma Baker,” “Brown Girl in the Ring,” and “Rasputin.” Overnight, Boney M. became an international phenomenon — their music filling dance floors and radio stations from London to Lagos, from New York to New Delhi.
But fame came with its own set of challenges. “We were suddenly everywhere,” Liz reflected. “It was thrilling, but it was also overwhelming. We had to learn how to live in that storm of attention without losing who we were.” Through it all, Liz remained the spiritual heart of the group — a woman guided by faith and a sense of purpose deeper than performance. “I always believed that music is a gift,” she said. “And when you are given a gift, you must use it to uplift others.”
Today, as she reflects on that journey, Liz smiles with gratitude rather than regret. “We came from humble beginnings, and we created something that still makes people dance, still makes them happy,” she said. “That’s the true miracle of it all.” She acknowledges that the path was not always smooth — there were personal sacrifices, creative disagreements, and moments of exhaustion — yet those experiences only strengthened her conviction in what music can do. “The stage was where I found my courage,” she said. “It taught me patience, faith, and the importance of love in everything you do.”
Decades later, Liz Mitchell continues to perform around the world, keeping the spirit of Boney M. alive with grace and authenticity. Each song, she says, feels like revisiting a chapter of her life — a chapter written with friends who shared not only harmonies but dreams. “We were more than a band,” she reflected. “We were a family built on rhythm, hope, and unity. That’s why our music still lives.”
For fans who grew up with those joyful beats, Liz’s reflection is a heartfelt reminder of where it all began — in faith, hard work, and an unshakable belief that music could heal, unite, and bring light to the world. And indeed, all these years later, it still does.