Feature Photo: ABC / Dunhill Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
If you grew up in the 1960s and ’70s as a young lad or teen, you are well aware of the Grass Roots. Their songs were always on the radio. They were a perfect blend of pop and rock. The Grass Roots began in Los Angeles, California, in 1965 as a studio project created by songwriters and producers P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri. The name was then carried by a succession of performing lineups, beginning with a San Francisco group that had been known as the Bedouins and later by the classic lineup featuring Rob Grill, Warren Entner, Creed Bratton, and Rick Coonce. Known for their pop and folk-rock sound, the band achieved significant success in the late 1960s and early 1970s with hits like “Let’s Live for Today,” “Midnight Confessions,” and “Sooner or Later.” Over their career, The Grass Roots have released more than a dozen albums and numerous singles, with many of their songs charting on the Billboard Hot 100. The band has seen various lineup changes throughout the decades, with multiple musicians contributing to its legacy. The Grass Roots continue to tour with Mark Dawson on lead vocals and bass, Dusty Hanvey on lead guitar and vocals, Larry Nelson on keyboards and vocals, and Joe Dougherty on drums.
Rob Grill
Rob Grill joined The Grass Roots in 1967 as lead vocalist and bassist and became the defining voice and central figure of the band for more than four decades. He contributed to the band’s biggest hits, including “Midnight Confessions,” “Temptation Eyes,” and “Sooner or Later.” Grill’s tenure with The Grass Roots was marked by his distinctive voice and leadership, and he continued to guide touring versions of the band until his death in 2011. Outside of the band, Grill released a solo album, Uprooted, in 1979.
Warren Entner
Warren Entner joined the classic Grass Roots lineup in 1967, serving as a guitarist, vocalist, keyboardist, and songwriter through the mid-1970s. Entner played a key role in the band’s early success, contributing to albums including Let’s Live for Today, Feelings, and Lovin’ Things. His vocal harmonies and guitar work were integral to the band’s sound. After leaving The Grass Roots, Entner transitioned to a successful career in artist management.
Rick Coonce
Rick Coonce was the drummer in the classic Grass Roots lineup beginning in 1967 and remained a major part of the group into the early 1970s, with a later return. He played on many of the band’s best-known recordings and albums. Coonce’s dynamic drumming style helped define the band’s rhythmic foundation.
Creed Bratton
Creed Bratton joined the classic Grass Roots lineup in 1967, serving as a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter until 1969. Bratton played on the band’s early hit-era albums, including Let’s Live for Today and Feelings. His guitar work and contributions to the band’s harmonies were significant during their formative hit-making years. After leaving the band, Bratton pursued an acting career, becoming well-known for his role on the television show The Office. He also continued to make music as a solo artist.
Dennis Provisor
Dennis Provisor joined The Grass Roots as a keyboardist, vocalist, and songwriter in 1969. He remained through 1972 and later returned for additional periods in the 1970s and early 1980s. Provisor played on albums including Leaving It All Behind and Move Along. His keyboard playing, vocals, and songwriting added a new dimension to the band’s sound.
Reggie Knighton
Reggie Knighton was a guitarist and backing vocalist for The Grass Roots during the mid-1970s. He contributed during the period surrounding the band’s self-titled 1975 album. After leaving The Grass Roots, Knighton formed The Reggie Knighton Band and released solo material.
Terry Furlong
Terry Furlong was a lead guitarist for The Grass Roots from 1969 to 1971 and returned in 1974. His guitar work was an important part of the band during the transition from its late-1960s lineup into the early 1970s.
Virgil Weber
Virgil Weber was a keyboardist for The Grass Roots from 1972 to 1974. His keyboard playing added another layer to the band’s sound during the Move Along and Alotta Mileage era.
Joel Larson
Joel Larson was the drummer in the first performing Grass Roots lineup in 1965-1966 and later returned to the band during several periods in the 1970s and early 1980s. He was part of the early San Francisco group that became The Grass Roots and later rejoined subsequent versions of the band. After his time with The Grass Roots, Larson also played with The Merry-Go-Round and other artists.
Mark Dawson
Mark Dawson joined The Grass Roots in January 2008 as bassist and vocalist, originally filling in for Rob Grill during Grill’s health problems. He subsequently became the group’s lead vocalist and bassist and remains a member of the current touring lineup.
Dusty Hanvey
Dusty Hanvey has been the lead guitarist and a vocalist for The Grass Roots since 1984. His guitar work has been a consistent element of the band’s performances for decades, and he remains part of the current touring lineup.
Larry Nelson
Larry Nelson has been the keyboardist, synthesizer player, and vocalist for The Grass Roots since 1984. Nelson’s keyboard work has been integral to the band’s live sound for decades, and he remains part of the current touring lineup.
Joe Dougherty
Joe Dougherty joined The Grass Roots as drummer and percussionist in 1989 and remains the drummer in the current touring lineup.
Steve Barri
Steve Barri co-created The Grass Roots with P.F. Sloan in 1965 and served as a songwriter, producer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist in the project’s earliest studio phase. Barri played a crucial role in shaping the band’s sound and continued producing The Grass Roots through the group’s major hit-making years.
Read More: Top 10 Grass Roots Songs
P.F. Sloan
P.F. Sloan co-created The Grass Roots with Steve Barri in 1965 and served as a vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist during the project’s earliest phase. Sloan sang the original studio version of “Where Were You When I Needed You” and wrote or co-wrote important early Grass Roots material. He later continued his career as a solo artist and songwriter. Sloan passed away in 2015.
Denny Ellis
Denny Ellis was the rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist in the first performing Grass Roots lineup in 1965-1966. Ellis had been a member of the San Francisco group the Bedouins before that group was selected to perform and record as The Grass Roots.
Willie Fulton
Willie Fulton was the lead vocalist and lead guitarist in the first performing Grass Roots lineup in 1965-1966. Fulton had been the lead singer of the Bedouins and recorded a version of “Where Were You When I Needed You” during the early development of The Grass Roots.
David Stensen
David Stensen was the bassist and backing vocalist in the first performing Grass Roots lineup in 1965-1966. Like Willie Fulton and Denny Ellis, Stensen came from the San Francisco group the Bedouins.
Bill Shoppe
Bill Shoppe was the original drummer of the Bedouins. After Willie Fulton, Denny Ellis, and David Stensen split from Dunhill’s Grass Roots project, Shoppe briefly joined them as they continued performing under the Grass Roots name before Dunhill required them to stop using it.
Brian Naughton
Brian Naughton served as a lead guitarist for The Grass Roots from 1971 to 1972, replacing Terry Furlong on the road during part of that period.
Reed Kailing
Reed Kailing was the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for The Grass Roots from 1972 to 1974. He played during the Move Along and Alotta Mileage era and contributed guitar work and songwriting.
Joe Pollard
Joe Pollard was a drummer and percussionist for The Grass Roots in 1972 during a period of rapid lineup changes.
Gene Barkin
Gene Barkin was a guitarist and vocalist for The Grass Roots in 1974.
Alan Deane
Alan Deane was a lead guitarist and backing vocalist for The Grass Roots from 1976 to 1977.
Glen Shulfer
Glen Shulfer was a guitarist and backing vocalist for The Grass Roots in 1977 and again from 1980 to 1982.
Brian Carlyss
Brian Carlyss was the bassist and backing vocalist for The Grass Roots from 1977 to 1978 and again from 1979 to 1980. Carlyss passed away in 2007.
Mark Miller
Mark Miller was a lead guitarist and lead vocalist for The Grass Roots from 1977 to 1978 and returned for additional dates in 1981.
David Nudge
David Nudge played bass with The Grass Roots in a 1978 lineup that also included Joel Larson, Gene Wall, and Scott Hoyt.
Lonnie Price
Lonnie Price was the keyboardist and a lead vocalist for The Grass Roots from 1977 to 1978.
Randy Ruff
Randy Ruff was the organist and a backing vocalist for The Grass Roots from 1977 to 1978.
Scott Hoyt
Scott Hoyt was a lead vocalist and lead guitarist for The Grass Roots from 1978 to 1980.
Gene Wall
Gene Wall was the keyboardist and a backing vocalist for The Grass Roots from 1978 to 1980.
Dave Nagy
Dave Nagy was the bassist and a lead vocalist for The Grass Roots from 1978 to 1979.
Reagan McKinley
Reagan McKinley was the drummer and percussionist for The Grass Roots from 1979 to 1980.
Steve Berendt
Steve Berendt was the bassist and a backing vocalist for The Grass Roots from 1980 to 1981.
Luke Meurett
Luke Meurett was the drummer and percussionist for The Grass Roots from 1980 to 1981.
Ron Pitt
Ron Pitt was the bassist and a backing vocalist for The Grass Roots in 1981.
Mike Daley
Mike Daley was the drummer and percussionist for The Grass Roots in 1981.
Terry Oubre
Terry Oubre was the lead guitarist and a backing vocalist for The Grass Roots from 1982 to 1984.
Ralph Gilmore
Ralph Gilmore was the drummer, percussionist, and backing vocalist for The Grass Roots from 1982 to 1984.
Charles Judge
Charles Judge was the keyboardist, synthesizer player, and backing vocalist for The Grass Roots from 1982 to 1984. After leaving The Grass Roots, Judge became a successful session musician and arranger.
Bob Luna
Bob Luna served as a fill-in keyboardist and backing vocalist for The Grass Roots in 1982.
Coy Fuller
Coy Fuller was the drummer and percussionist for The Grass Roots in 1984.
George Spellman
George Spellman was a guitarist and backing vocalist for The Grass Roots in 1984.
Dave Rodgers
Dave Rodgers was a keyboardist and backing vocalist for The Grass Roots in 1984.
David Page
David Page was the drummer and percussionist for The Grass Roots from 1984 to 1990.
Terry Danauer
Terry Danauer was the bassist for The Grass Roots from 1987 to 1992.
Cary Lenard
Cary Lenard was a keyboardist and backing vocalist for The Grass Roots in 1989.
Richard Fanning
Richard Fanning occasionally played trumpet with The Grass Roots from 1987 to 1988.
Kevin Osborne
Kevin Osborne occasionally played trombone with The Grass Roots from 1987 to 1988.
Robbie Barker
Robbie Barker was a keyboardist for The Grass Roots in 1987.
Michael Lewis
Michael Lewis was a keyboardist for The Grass Roots in 1987.
Mark Tomorsky
Mark Tomorsky was a guitarist and backing vocalist for The Grass Roots in 1987.
Rick Alexander
Rick Alexander was a lead guitarist in a post-1975 Grass Roots lineup. He later continued a long career as a guitarist, performer, and recording musician.
Mike Steck
Mike Steck was the bassist and backing vocalist for The Grass Roots from 1992 to 1993.
Scott Sechman
Scott Sechman was a fill-in guitarist and backing vocalist for The Grass Roots in 1998.
Chris Merrell
Chris Merrell was a fill-in lead guitarist and backing vocalist for The Grass Roots from 2000 to 2003 and again in 2006.
Hal Ratliff
Hal Ratliff has served as a fill-in keyboardist and backing vocalist for The Grass Roots since 2000 when Larry Nelson has had other commitments.
Sonny Geraci
Sonny Geraci served as a fill-in lead vocalist for The Grass Roots in 2002 when Rob Grill was unable to perform. Geraci was also known for his work with The Outsiders and Climax. He passed away in 2017.
Updated August 18, 2026.
Complete List Of Grass Roots Band Members article published on ClassicRockHistory.com © 2026
