Robert Frank “Rob” Grill (November 30, 1943 – July 11, 2011
An American lead singer, songwriter and bass guitarist of the rock and roll band, The Grass Roots.
HE BEGAN WORKING AT AMERICAN RECORDING STUDIOS WITH MUSICIAN FRIENDS CORY WELLS AND JOHN KAY (WHO LATER FORMED THREE DOG NIGHT AND STEPPENWOLF, RESPECTIVELY).
GRILL EVENTUALLY WAS ASKED TO JOIN THE GRASS ROOTS, WHICH GREW OUT OF A PROJECT ORIGINATING FROM DUNHILL RECORDS. WRITER/PRODUCERS P. F. SLOAN AND STEVE BARRI (THE MAMAS & THE PAPAS, TOMMY ROE, FOUR TOPS AND DUSTY SPRINGFIELD) WERE ASKED BY DUNHILL TO WRITE SONGS THAT WOULD CAPITALIZE ON THE GROWING INTEREST IN THE FOLK-ROCK MOVEMENT.
THE GRASS ROOTS WENT ON TO CHART TWENTY NINE SINGLES, THIRTEEN OF WHICH WENT GOLD FOLLOWED BY TWO GOLD ALBUMS AND TWO PLATINUM ALBUMS.
THE GRASS ROOTS PLAYED AT THE FANTASY FAIR AND MAGIC MOUNTAIN MUSIC FESTIVAL ON SUNDAY, JUNE 11, 1967, IN THE “SUMMER OF LOVE” AS THEIR TOP TEN HIT “LET’S LIVE FOR TODAY” WAS HITTING THE AIRWAVES. THIS MUSIC FESTIVAL IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT OCCURRED BEFORE THE MONTEREY POP FESTIVAL BUT DID NOT HAVE A MOVIE TO DOCUMENT IT FOR THE AGES. HITS; “MIDNIGHT CONFESSIONS”
“WAIT A MILLION YEARS”
GRILL LEFT THE GRASS ROOTS IN 1977 AND LAUNCHED A SOLO CAREER IN 1979, ASSISTED ON HIS SOLO ALBUM BY SEVERAL MEMBERS OF FLEETWOOD MAC. RESPONDING TO 60S NOSTALGIA, GRILL THEN REUNITED WITH THE GRASS ROOTS (BILLED “THE GRASS ROOTS STARRING ROB GRILL”) AND TOURED THE UNITED STATES WITH THEM FROM 1980 UP TO HIS DEATH IN 2011.
IN 2008 THE GRASS ROOTS STARRING ROB GRILL RELEASED A LIVE ALBUM CHRONICLING THEIR 14 TOP FORTY BILLBOARD HITS TITLED LIVE GOLD.