GROOTNA LIVE

GROOTNA
Fillmore East, New York, New York
1971-June-17

line-up:
Anna Rizzo - lead vocals
Vic Smith - guitar, vocals
Slim Chance - guitar, vocals
Richard Sussman - piano, vocals
Kelly Bryan - bass
Dewey DeGrease - drums


01 Intro (Bill Graham)
02 Live a Life of Joy
03 I'm Funky
04 Waitin' for My Ship
05 Road Fever
06 That's What You Get
07 Full Time Woman
08 You're Drivin' Me Crazy

Grootna was a group based in Berkeley, CA, formed in 1971 by singer Anna Rizzo, lead guitarist Vic Smith, pianist Richard Sussman, rhythm guitarist Slim Chance (a/k/a Austin DeLone), bassist Kelly Bryan, and drummer Dewey DaGrease (a/k/a Greg Dewey). The band acquired well-known San Francisco concert promoter Bill Graham as its manager and signed a contract with Columbia Records.
Grootna only played the Fillmore East twice, on two consecutive nights at the bottom of a bill that also included B.B. King andMoby Grape. This tape was recorded on the first of the two nights,
and was among the last concerts Bill Graham produced at this fabled venue.

FUNKY BUT CLEAN

A lot of requests for more Grootna. The biggest problem is there is not a whole lot out there.I did manage to come across this set from the closing nights at the Fillmore West in 71 Enjoy!

The band acquired well-known San Francisco concert promoter Bill Graham as its manager and signed a contract with Columbia Records. Its self-titled debut album was produced by former Jefferson Airplane member Marty Balin and released in December 1971. It did not chart. Grootna continued to perform around the Bay Area into the summer of 1972, then broke up, after which former members joined with Balin in another short-lived band, Bodacious D.F.

Jack Bonus - sax
Kelly Bryan - bass
Slim Chance - guitar, vocals
Dewey Dagreaze - drums, vocals
Anna Rizzo - lead vocals
Vic Smith - guitar, vocals
Richard Sussman - piano

1. That's What You Get (3:42) --abrupt start
2. Road Fever (5:36) --abrupt start
3. I'm Funky (5:59)
4. Crazy 'Bout You Baby (6:15)
5. You're Drivin Me Crazy (6:09) --abrupt start
6. I Can't Get No Nookie (4:43)
7. Tend To Your Business (6:09) --abrupt start
8. Live A Life Of Joy (3:48) --abrupt start

BALIN'S GROOTNA

While the Airplane was doing it's Grunt exercise the departed Marty Balin was busy producing this band for it's sole LP, Grootna was a favorite of Bill Graham even playing at the celebrated Fillmore Closing show. Even though these folks were not really a part of the Grunt Records family They had that feel about them Thos was one of my 2008 posts from the first site . I thought it fit in here pretty. Grootna could have been a Grunt
Tracks

• I'm Funky (DeLone / O'Hara / Silverman)
• Road Fever (Dewey / Smith)
• Going To Canada (DeLone / Henry / Silverman)
• Waitin' For My Ship (DeLone / Silverman)
• That's What You Get (Rizzo / Smith / Silverman)
• Full Time Woman (Stuart)
• Young Woman's Blues (B. Smith)
• Customs (Is It All Over) (Neuwirth)
• Your Grandmother Loves You (DeLone / Silverman)
  I She It (DeLone / Henry / Silverman)

Musicians

Ze group;

• Richard Sussman - piano
• Anna Rizzo - vocals, lead singer
• Vic Smith - lead guitar, bottleneck guitar, vocals
• Dewey DaGreaze - drums, vocals
• Kelly Bryan - bass
• Slim Chance - rhythm guitar, vocals

Friends;

• Jack Bonus - saxophone horn section
• Terry Adams - strings
• Carol Garnett - strings
• Michael Lafferty - trombone
• Bennett Friedman - clarinet

Credits

• Producer - Marty Balin, Grootna
• Engineer - Doc Storch
• Design - Dewey (front), Dewey & Tucker (back)
• Equipment - Corrie T. Pie
• Management - Bill Graham