The Bongos, an American power pop band from Hoboken, New Jersey, emerged from the New York City arts scene, primarily active in the 1980s, led by Richard Barone. The group initially included Rob Norris on bass and Frank Giannini on drums. Their early performances at Manhattan's new wave venues established them as effective live performers. The band released their debut EP Time and the River through British label Fetish Records in 1982. Their first U.S. album, Drums Along the Hudson (1982), was compiled from British singles and received favorable reviews. In 1983, they signed to RCA Records, releasing the mini-album Numbers with Wings. The title track's inventive MTV video was nominated for Best Direction at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards. Their follow-up album, Beat Hotel (1985), continued their success with a devoted cult following. In 1987, while recording Phantom Train in the Bahamas, the band unofficially split up. The album was later released in 2013. In 2025, the live album The Shroud of Touring: Live in 1985 was released through Jem Records in May, followed by a streaming release from RCA in September.
