<Tr> <Th> Nationality </Th> <Td> American </Td> </Tr> <P> The California Raisins were a fictional rhythm and blues animated musical group as well as advertising and merchandising characters composed of anthropomorphized raisins . 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 . </P> <P> The concept was originally created for a 1986 commercial on behalf of the California Raisin Advisory Board when one of the writers, Seth Werner (at the time with the advertising firm Foote, Cone & Belding SF, and now with big) came up with an idea for the new raisin commercial, saying, "We have tried everything but dancing raisins singing' I Heard It Through the Grapevine"' (the 1968 song popularized by Marvin Gaye). To their surprise, the commercial became wildly popular, paving the way for several future commercials--one of which featured Ray Charles and another with a raisin caricature of Michael Jackson--and opportunities through other media . The commercials were produced by Vinton Studios using their claymation technique, with character designs by Michael Brunsfeld . The following year, the Raisins appeared in the Emmy Award - winning A Claymation Christmas Celebration, singing the Christmas carol, "Rudolph the Red - Nosed Reindeer" (voiced by The Street Corner Singers). </P> <P> The California Raisins released four studio albums on Priority Records between 1987 and 1988, and their signature song, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," landed on the Billboard Hot 100 . However, the Raisins would continue to make their strongest impression through animated endeavors . </P>

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