Pablo Cruise achieved some measure of success during the latter part of the '70s with its mellow, easygoing California pop. The band was formed in 1973 by former members of Stoneground and It's a Beautiful Day: guitarist Dave Jenkins, keyboardist Cory Lerois, bassist Bud Cockrell, and drummer Steve Price. The group was praised for the compositional and instrumental skill on the albums Pablo Cruise and Lifeline, and were rewarded with the Top Ten hit "Whatcha Gonna Do?" in 1977 from A Place in the Sun. Cockrell left and was replaced by former Santana bassist Bruce Day.