Although several
Californian acts claimed this sobriquet, including the
embryonic Love, it was appropriated by songwriters
P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri, who employed the name pseudonymously
on several folk rock performances.
When "Where Were You When I Needed You?" reached
the US Top 30 in 1966, the need for a permanent line-up
arose and the duo enticed Warren Entner (b. 7 July 1944,
Boston, Massachusetts, USA; vocals/guitar), Creed Bratton
(b. 8 February 1943, Sacramento, California, USA; guitar),
Rob Grill (b. 30 November 1944, Los Angeles, California,
USA; vocals/bass) and Rick Coonce (b. Erik Michael Coonce,
1 August 1947, Los Angeles, California, USA; drums)
to adopt the Grass Roots name. The new unit enjoyed
immediate success with "Let's Live For Today",
a remake of an Italian hit.
This distanced the quartet from their mentors, but although
Sloan's input decreased dramatically, Barri retained
his role as producer. The Grass Roots then became one
of America's leading commercial attractions with a series
of confident, if undemanding, performances, including
"Midnight Confessions" (1968), "Bella
Linda" (1968), "I'd Wait A Million Years"
(1969) and "Sooner Or Later" (1971).
Later incarnations of the band, led by Rob Grill, enjoyed
continuing popularity in the following decades, although
the verve of their early work has largely evaporated. |
