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Grass Roots

The Grass Roots

The founding years

The name “Grass Roots” originated in 1965 as the name of a band project by the Los Angeles, California songwriter and producer duo of P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri. Sloan and Barri had written several songs in an attempt by their record company, Dunhill Records to cash in on the budding folk rock movement. One of these songs was “Where Were You When I Needed You,” which was recorded by Sloan and Barri and a now forgotten line-up of studio musicians. Sloan provided the lead vocals and played guitar. The song was released under “The Grass Roots” name and sent, as a demo, to several radio stations of the San Francisco Bay area.

When moderate interest in this new band arose, Sloan and Barri went to look for a group that could incorporate The Grass Roots name. They found one in a San Francisco group named “The Bedouins” and cut a new version with that band’s lead vocalist, Willie Fulton. In 1965, the Grass Roots got their first official airplay on Southern California radio stations, such as KGB(AM) in San Diego and KHJ in Los Angeles with a version of the Bob Dylan song, “Mr. Jones (Ballad Of A Thin Man)”. For some months, The Bedouins were the first “real” Grass Roots but the partnership with Sloan and Barri broke up when the band demanded more space for their own more blues rock-oriented material (which their producers were not willing to give them). Willie Fulton, Denny Ellis, and David Stensen went back to San Francisco, with drummer Joel Larson the only one who remained (he was to become a member of a later Grass Roots line-up, as well). In the meantime, the second version of “Where Were You When I Needed You” peaked in the top 40 in mid-1966; an album of the same name sold poorly, probably because there were no Grass Roots anymore to promote it at the time of its release.

The years of success

The group’s third and by far most successful incarnation was finally found in a Los Angeles band, called The 13th Floor (not to be confused with the 13th Floor Elevators). This band consisted of Creed Bratton, Rick Coonce, Warren Entner, and Kenny Fukomoto and had formed only a year earlier before submitting a demo tape to Dunhill Records. Rob Grill was recruited into the band when Fukomoto was suddenly drafted into the army. The band was offered the choice to go with their own name or choose to adopt a name that had already been heard of nationwide.

As The Grass Roots, they had their first top 10 hit in the summer of 1967 with “Let’s Live For Today” (an English cover of “Piangi con me”, a 1966 hit for the Italian quartet The Rokes). With Rob Grill as lead singer, they recorded a third version of “Where Were You When I Needed You.” The band continued in a similar hit-making vein for the next five years (19671972). In the beginning, they were one of many U.S. guitar pop/rock bands, but with the help of Barri and their other producers, they developed a unique sound for which they drew as heavily on British beat as on soul music, rhythm and blues and folk rock. Many of their recordings featured a brass section, which was a novelty in those days among American rock bands, with groups like Chicago just developing.

The Grass Roots songs hitting the radio in these times include “Let’s Live For Today” and “Things I Should Have Said” (1967); “Midnight Confessions” (1968); “Bella Linda”, “Lovin’ Things”, “The River Is Wide”, “Wait A Million Years”, and “Heaven Knows” (1969); “Walking Through The Country”, “Baby Hold On”, and “Temptation Eyes” (1971); “Sooner Or Later” (1971); and “Two Divided By Love” (1971). The bulk of the band’s material continued to be written by Dunhill Records staff (not only Sloan and Barri). The Grass Roots also recorded songs written by the group’s musicians, which appeared on their albums and the B-sides of many hit singles. The most successful of their hit singles were “Let’s Live For Today” (U.S. #8) in 1967, “Midnight Confessions” (U.S. #5, their biggest hit) in 1968, “Wait A Million Years” (U.S. #15) in 1969, “Temptation Eyes” (U.S. #15) in 1971, “Sooner Or Later” (U.S. #9) in 1971, and “Two Divided By Love” (U.S. #16) in 1971.

In 1969, Creed Bratton left and was replaced by Dennis Provisor on keyboards and vocals, plus rotating lead guitarists Terry Furlong and Brian Naughton to form a quintet the first of many line-up changes that the band was to be subject to. In 1971, Rick Coonce, Terry Furlong, Brian Naughton, and Dennis Provisor left and were replaced by Reed Kailing, Virgil Weber and original member Joel Larson. The singer/songwriter/guitarist duo of Warren Entner (later a successful heavy metal manager with groups such as Rage Against the Machine and Quiet Riot) and Rob Grill remained the point of focus in all these years.

The final years

From 1970 on, success slipped away slowly but surely. The Grass Roots had their last top 10 hit with “Sooner Or Later” in June, 1971, and success with “Two Divided By Love” not long after. Their final two hits in 1972 were “The Runway” and “Glory Bound”. Follow-up singles sold disappointingly or failed to chart altogether – it was clear that their time was over. The 1976 single “Out In The Open” became their swan song, with the band having disbanded the previous autumn.

Rob Grill remained in the music business and launched a solo career in 1979 (assisted on his solo album by several members of Fleetwood Mac). When interest in bands of the 1960s began to rise again in the 1980s, Grill reformed The Grass Roots (now as “The Grass Roots Starring Rob Grill”) and tours the United States. He continues to lead the band into the new millennium and is the voice of The Grass Roots, playing many live performances up to the present day.

In 1982, The Grass Roots performed an Independence Day concert on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., attracting a large crowd. However, in April 1983, James G. Watt, President Ronald Reagan’s Secretary of the Interior, banned Independence Day concerts on the Mall by such groups. Watt said that “rock bands” that had performed on the Mall on Independence Day in 1981 and 1982 had encouraged drug use and alcoholism and had attracted the “the wrong element”, who would mug people and families attending any similar events in the future. During the ensuing uproar, Rob Grill stated that he felt “highly insulted” by Watt’s remarks, which he called “nothing but un-American”.

In 2006, former manager Marty Angelo published a book entitled, Once Life Matters: A New Beginning which has numerous stories about his life on the road with Rob Grill and The Grass Roots back in the early 1970s.

Since 2005, Creed Bratton can be seen as “Creed Bratton”, Quality Assurance Officer, in the American NBC television situation comedy The Office. He continues to write songs and has released several solo albums, including Chasin’ the Ball, The ’80s, Coarsegold, and Creed Bratton.

Discography

Singles

Release date

Title

Flip side

Record label

Chart Positions

US Charts

Cashbox

UK

1966

Mr. Jones (Ballad Of A Thin Man)

You’re A Lonely Girl

121

Where Were You When I Needed You

These Are Bad Times

28

Only When You’re Lonely

This Is What I Was Made For

96

1967

Tip Of My Tongue

Look Out Girl

Let’s Live for Today

Depressed Feeling

8

Things I Should Have Said

Tip Of My Tongue

23

Wake Up, Wake Up

No Exit

68

1968

Melody For You

Hey Friend

123

Feelings

Here’s Where You Belong

Midnight Confessions++

Who Will You Be Tomorrow

5

1969

Bella Linda+++

Hot Bright Lights

28

Melody For You

All Good Things Come To An End

Lovin’ Things

You And Love Are The Same

49

River Is Wide, The

(You Gotta) Live For Love

31

I’d Wait A Million Years

Fly Me To Havana

15

Heaven Knows

Don’t Remind Me

24

1970

Walking Through The Country

Truck Drivin’ Man

44

Baby Hold On

Get It Together

35

Come On And Say It

Something’s Comin’ Over Me

61

Temptation Eyes

Keepin’ Me Down

15

1971

Sooner Or Later

I Can Turn Off The Rain

9

Two Divided By Love

Let It Go

16

1972

Glory Bound

Only One

34

Runway, The

Move Along

39

Anyway The Wind Blows

Monday Love

107

1973

Love Is What You Make It

Someone To Love

55

Where There’s Smoke There’s Fire

Look But Don’t Touch

We Can’t Dance To Your Music

Look But Don’t Touch

Stealin’ Love (In The Night)

We Almost Made It Together

1975

Mamacita

Last Time Around, The

71

Naked Man

Nothing Good Comes Easy

1976

Out In The Open

Optical Illusion

1982

Here Comes That Feeling Again

Temptation Eye

She Don’t Know Me

Keep On Burning

Powers Of The Night

Powers Of The Night

++Gold Record – RIAA Certification +++Composed by Italian superstar Lucio Battisti)

Albums

1966 – Where Were You When I Needed You

1967 – Let’s Live for Today (US #75)

1968 – Feelings

1968 – Golden Grass (US #25) Gold Record – RIAA Certification

1969 – Lovin’ Things (US #73)

1969 – Leavin It All Behind (US #36)

1970 – More Golden Grass (US #152)

1971 – Their 16 Greatest Hits (US #58) Gold Record – RIAA Certification

1972 – Move Along (US #86)

1973 – Alotta’ Mileage

1975 – Self Titled

1978 – 14 Greats

1982 – Powers Of The Night

2000 – Live At Last

2001 – Symphonic Hits

2008 – Live Gold

Pop culture

The name Grass Roots was used sporadically by Arthur Lee of Love, in the Los Angeles area. Dunhill Records secured the legal use of the name by releasing a record, which Lee never did.

The song “Let’s Live For Today” has the identical Italian melody and virtually the same arrangement that was used in an earlier song called “Be Mine Again”; although this song includes the “One, Two, Three, Four” and “Sha-La-La-La-La” as in The Grass Roots hit, the lyrics are otherwise different. The version by the Dutch band The Skope that was released in 1966 is included on the Pebbles, Volume 15 LP.

The band was seen in the Doris Day film With Six You Get Eggroll. They play the song “Feelings” at a crowded dance party.

The Grass Roots have appeared on over 50 national television shows including, The Tonight Show, The Today Show, Ed Sullivan, Andy Williams, Sonny & Cher, Good Morning America, VH1 Hit-Makers, MTV, and a record sixteen times on Dick Clark American Bandstand.

The 1975 Self Titled LP is seen in the film FM. The back cover appears in a long DJ broadcast room scene with characters played by Cleavon Little and Martin Mull.

The band is mentioned by John Candy’s character in the film Uncle Buck. He comments about the music while navigating a teenage party looking for his missing niece.

Guitarist Creed Bratton plays a character also named Creed Bratton, a fictional version of himself, in the US version of the television show The Office. In a scene that never aired from the episode “Booze Cruise”, Bratton’s boss, Michael, borrowed the guitar from a cruise ship’s band and poorly plays a version of “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple. Bratton then takes the guitar from Michael and proceeds to surprise the rest of the passengers with his excellent playing. The scene then cuts to a confessional, where Bratton talks of his time with The Grass Roots, complete with pictures of the actual band and references to actual tours. In another deleted scene from the episode “Product Recall”, a fictional Scranton Times writer notices Bratton was a member of The Grass Roots. He also sang one of his own songs titled “Spinnin’ N Reelin’” in the episode “A Benihana Christmas”.

The band was mentioned frequently on the nationally syndicated Don and Mike radio show. Don Geronimo sat in with the band several times at performances in the Washington DC area.

The Grass Roots version of the Bob Dylan song, “Ballad Of A Thin Man”, was featured in the 1987 Robin Williams film Good Morning, Vietnam.

The Grass Roots song “Midnight Confessions” was featured in the 1997 film Jackie Brown.

The Grass Roots song “Let’s Live For Today” was used in a 2008 TV commercial to promote the Volkswagen Routan.

Members

19651967

Steve Barri (b. Steven Barry Lipkin, February 23, 1942, Brooklyn) Various Instruments, Producer, Songwriter

Denny Ellis Rhythm Guitar

Willie Fulton Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar

Joel Larson (b. April 29, 1947, San Francisco) – drums

P.F. Sloan (b. Philip Gary Schlein, September 18, 1945, New York) Lead Vocals, Various Instruments, Producer, Songwriter

David Stensen (b. February 25, 1947, San Bruno) – Bass Guitar

Classic Lineup 19671971

Creed Bratton (b. William Charles Schneider, February 8, 1943, Los Angeles) Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals, Songwriter (to 1969)

Rick Coonce (b. Erik Michael Coonce, August 1, 1946, Los Angeles) Drums, Songwriter

Warren Entner (b. July 7, 1944, Boston) Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Songwriter

Terry Furlong (b. December 31, 1942, London) Lead Guitar (1969-71)

Rob Grill (b. Robert Frank Grill, November 30, 1943, Los Angeles) Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar, Songwriter

Brian Naughton Lead Guitar (1969-71)

Dennis Provisor (b. November 9, 1950, Los Angeles) Lead Vocals, keyboards, Songwriter (1969-71)

19721975

Warren Entner Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Songwriter, Producer

Rob Grill Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar, Songwriter, Producer

Reed Kailing Lead Guitar, Songwriter (1972-74)

Reggie Knighton (b. November 3, 1953, Biloxi) Lead Guitar (1974-75)

Joel Larson Drums

Terry Dailey Drums

Dennis Provisor Lead Vocals, Keyboards, Songwriter

Virgil Weber Keyboards (1972-74)

Gene Barkin Guitar, Vocals

Terry Furlong Lead Guitar

Post1975

Rick Alexander Lead Guitar

Steve Berndt Bass Guitar

Brian Carlyss Bass Guitar

Terry Danauer Bass Guitar

Alan Deane Lead Guitar, lead/background vocals

Coy Fuller Drums

Ralph Gilmore Drums

Rob Grill Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar, Songwriter

Scott Hoyt Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar

Joel Larson Drums

Charles Judge Keyboards

Reagan McKinley Drums

Luke Mearett Drums

David Nagy Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar

Terry Oubre Lead Guitar

David Page Drums

Dennis Provisor Lead Vocals, Keyboards, Songwriter

Hal Ratliff Keyboards

Dave Rodgers Keyboards

Scott Sechman – Lead Guitar, Vocals

Glen Shulfer Lead Guitar

Mike Steck Bass Guitar

Gene Wall Keyboards, Vocals

Current

Mark Dawson – Secondary Bass Guitar and Vocals

Joe Dougherty Drums

Rob Grill Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar, Songwriter

Dusty Hanvey Lead Guitar

Chris Merrell Secondary Guitar

Larry Nelson Keyboards

References

^ Whitburn, Joel (Jan 2000). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (7th ed.). Watson-Guptill Publications. p. 262. ISBN 0823076903. 

^ Grass Roots at Allmusic

^ “The Grass Roots Official Site ((( Official Biography )))” (in English). The Grass Roots. http://the-grassroots.com/html/biography.html. Retrieved 2009-08-18. 

^ Biography

^ “July 4: Day of Music, Parades, Fireworks”, The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., July 3, 1982, p. D1.

^ a b c Phil McCombs, “Watt Outlaws Rock Music on Mall for July 4″, The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., April 6, 1983, p. A1; Phil McCombs and Richard Harrington, “Watt Sets Off Uproar with Music Ban”, The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., April 7, 1983, pp. A1, A17.

^ “Creed Bratton” (in English). IMDb.com, Inc.. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0105588/. Retrieved 2009-06-18. 

^ “allmusic ((( Creed Bratton Discography Main Albums )))” (in English). allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=CREED. Retrieved 2009-06-18. 

Billboard

Official website

External links

The-GrassRoots.com Official Site

The Grass Roots at AllMusic.com

CreedBratton.com

RickCoonce.com

WarrenEntner.com

TerryFurlong.com

RobGrill.com

ReedKailing.com

Joel-Larson.com

Naughtones.com

DennisProvisor.com

Gunga Dave Stensen

Marty Angelo.com former manager.

Sechman.com Scott Sechman

Categories: American rock music groups | Musical groups from California | Musical groups from Los Angeles, California | Musical groups established in 1965 | 1960s music groups | 1970s music groups
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