The Herald Bulletin
The Grass Roots didn’t begin as an organized band, but rather as a record label’s test tube band.
In 1965, Dunhill Records wanted a folk-rock style band. They enlisted two songwriters, Steve Barri and P.F. Sloan, who made a demo as The Grass Roots. It clicked and Dunhill needed a real band; they recruited the Bedouins from Los Angeles. The band included singer/bass player Rob Grill and Creed Bratton, who currently plays “Creed” on TV’s The Office.
“Actually, I was a pre-law student at Cal State,” said Grill by phone. “And by chance I had an opportunity to audition and I took the opportunity. That’s how it all really started.”
Grill will perform as “The Grass Roots starring Rob Grill” at Hoosier Park tonight. The biggest audience was in 1982 in Washington, D.C., in front of 600,000.
“That was a great moment. There were so many people, so many faces, it was hard to see anybody. But I would have to say that the great moments are still happening. Being able to perform now, and to look out in the audience and see that people still dig it.”
Gold, platinum records
The Recording Industry Association of America launched its gold and platinum awards to monitor sales in 1958.
In the beginning, there was only a gold album award for the sale of 500,000 copies. The platinum award (1 million sold) was created in 1976. The following shows awards to The Grass Roots and to Gary Puckett & The Union Gap including the date that a single or album was certified gold or platinum.
The Grass Roots
Gold single (all on Dunhill label)
* “Midnight Confession,” certified Dec. 3, 1968
Gold albums
* “Golden Grass,” certified July 14, 1970
* “Their Sixteen Greatest Hits,” certified Aug. 9, 1972
Gary Puckett & the Union Gap
Gold singles (all on Columbia label)
* “Woman, Woman,” certified Aug. 8, 1968
* “Young Girl,” certified April 5, 1968
* “Lady Willpower,” certified July 18, 1968
* “Over You,” certified Dec. 19, 1968
Gold albums
* “Young Girl,” certified March 25, 1969
* “Gary Puckett & the Union Gap’s Greatest Hits,” certified March 17, 1971; certified platinum Nov. 21, 1986.
