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Rob Grill of the Grass Roots Dead at 67

Bobby Bank, WireImage

Rob Grill, the former singer and bassist for rock group the Grass Roots, died Monday, July 11, in a hospice facility near Orlando, Fla. As CBS reports, he had reportedly been in a coma after a recent fall and had been suffering from prior health problems, including a stroke. He was 67.

Raised in Hollywood, Calif., Grill's career in music began when he started working at a studio with friends Cory Wells and John Kay, who would go on to form Three Dog Night and Steppenwolf, respectively. Grill then joined the Grass Roots, a band that was the brainchild of songwriting and producing team P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri. Alongside future 'Office' star Creed Bratton, Grill and the band had their first Top 10 hit in 1967 with 'Let's Live for Today.'

The next year, the band had their biggest hit with 'Midnight Confessions,' a horn-infused tune that featured Grill on co-lead vocals and peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The hits kept coming, and through 1975, the band had 29 singles reach the charts, 13 of which went gold.

According to the Morning Call, Grill had been on the 'Happy Together Tour,' which includes such acts as the Turtles and Paul Revere and the Raiders, up until a few weeks ago. The Grass Roots' Mark Dawson told the blog that Grill died in his wife's arms while listening to 'Let's Live for Today,' his favorite of the band's songs.

The Grass Roots "Perform" 'Let's Live Today'


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131 Comments

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chevyblue4u

Gone but never forgotten. He shared with us great music and songs that will live on. I still have the 45's and Albums. I grew up listening to them. It is a true shame to have him pass. He will be missed. God bless you, Rob.

August 08 2011 at 7:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rriversil

great man! Seen Grass Roots and they were Fantastic! Heaven bound Rob!

July 16 2011 at 11:41 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Steppenwolf fan

RIP Rob! My friend and I are going to see John Kay and Steppenwolf a week from this Saturday in NM.

July 15 2011 at 10:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tortora6

RIP Dude

July 15 2011 at 7:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
frankzeeman

Saw them last year at the Hard Rock on the Happy Together Tour. Only did about 6 songs. They had so many more. They, Happy Together Tour, are playing up in Melbourne, Fl next week, Might make it up there to pay my respects.

July 14 2011 at 6:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
BrendaL

Oh, my youth! Rest in Peace.

July 14 2011 at 5:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mmmmmmmmmm

seem he had a good runnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

July 14 2011 at 3:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tenaclark

I will never forget seeing them in the mid-60s at a club called The Catacombs in Houston, Texas. They were awesome. I remember thinking that Rob Grill had the longest toes I'd ever seen; he was wearing sandals. Funny the things you remember from your youth. RIP, Rob.

July 14 2011 at 3:06 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Mixed Nut

That video brings back a few powerfull memories of listening to that tune. But it's the first time I've ever seen the group perform anything! I'm growing weary of seeing these great singers/songwriters pass away. And all those tunes in my head and I can't seem to remember to pay the rent on time.
~~~~~Earle.....1951

July 14 2011 at 12:42 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Harry Dwyer

Rob ,you are and always will be a wonderful singer song writer and rocker....H.D.

July 14 2011 at 11:55 AM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply