Rhinoceros was an American rock band established in 1967 through auditions conducted by Elektra Records, rather than organic formation by musicians.
Finley and Hodgson were both former members of Jon and Lee & the Checkmates, a band which Rothchild had expressed an interest in signing as early as 1965 that had broken up in September 1967.
Based on Finley's recommendation, Fonfara was brought into Rhinoceros, following the completion of his obligations to the Electric Flag.
John Keleihor, former drummer for The Daily Flash, contributed to some of the group's initial recordings, but departed early on.
However, the instrumental "Apricot Brandy", written by Weis and Fonfara, reached #46 on the Billboard Charts and was later used as a signature tune by BBC radio,[6] and covered by Danny Gatton for the 1990 compilation Rubáiyát.
Bassist Jerry Penrod abruptly departed from the band after the album's completion; he was briefly replaced by Danny Weis' brother, Steve, and later by Finley's cousin and former bandmate in Jon and Lee & The Checkmates Peter Hodgson.
Three more band members would leave before the recording of the third album: first was guitarist Doug Hastings, who left that summer to be replaced by another Checkmate, Larry Leishman, who had played with Freedom Fair and The Power Project until mid-1968 and then with Bobby Kris & The Imperials.
[7] The lineup of John Finley (vocals), Danny Weis (guitars), Michael Fonfara (organ), Peter Hodgson (bass), Larry Leishman (guitars) and Duke Edwards (drums, vocals) moved to New York and recorded the third and last Rhinoceros album, Better Times Are Coming, in 1970.