Joel Larson
Encyclopedia
Joel Larson is a rock
drummer
and percussionist from California
. He was born on April 29, 1947 at St. Francis Hospital in San Francisco. He lived near Lincoln Park until he was 12 years old. He took up drumming at the age of 12 and moved near Avalon Park until he was 17. During these five years he honed his skills in the rock music scene of the early sixties. His destiny was to become one of The Grass Roots
.
In 1965, Larson joined a band called The Bedouins and helped them win a Battle of the Bands in San Mateo. Word began to spread about the band. In early 1966, they were asked to come to an audition at the San Francisco Whisky A Go Go. They performed for Lou Adler
who was the head of the new label Dunhill Records
in Los Angeles. They were selected to become the original Grass Roots, a folk rock group created by songwriters P. F. Sloan
and Steve Barri
.
The original Grass Roots were Denny Ellis on rhythm guitar, Willie Fulton on vocals and lead guitar, Joel Larson on drums and Dave Stensen on bass. They moved to Los Angeles
in 1966, took part in recording sessions and played live performances in the exploding LA music scene. They were one of the first house bands for The Trip on the Sunset Strip
. All of The Grass Roots were under the age of 18 so their parents had to sign their contracts with Dunhill Records. They also performed as a TV back up band for The Mamas & the Papas
and Johnny Rivers
. They appeared on the first color broadcast of The Ed Sullivan Show
. They worked with Barry McGuire
. After about a year of live performances and networking in the LA rock music scene, the group wanted to have more creative control and input on the selection of songs to perform and record. Dunhill Records had a formula for the group already in mind and did not want to vary from it. The group minus Joel returned to San Francisco and continued to perform until Dunhill Records decided to replace them. Joel was offered to continue with new group members but decided to take an opportunity to play with Gene Clark
of The Byrds
fame. He then met Emitt Rhodes
and formed The Merry-Go-Round
that same year.
The Merry-Go-Round performed at the Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival in 1967 on both days of the music festival. They closed the show on Saturday June 10 and were the second to the show closer on Sunday June 11. 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 (see List of electronic music festivals).
He also played with The Turtles
in the late 60s. Starting in 1970, he played with Lee Michaels
and helped produce the huge radio hit "Do You Know What I Mean".
In 1971, he rejoined The Grass Roots and played with them through the end of their heyday in 1975. From 1975 on, he continued to perform their hits until the mid eighties. In the new wave era, he worked as a dance night promoter in Los Angeles with live broadcasts through radio. He then entered into property management and real estate investment while continuing as a musician in Los Angeles playing with members of The Buckinghams
and Paul Revere & the Raiders
.
In 2000, Joel started work in the movie and TV entertainment industry as a driver and production coordinator. He has built a long list of credits which include major motion pictures such as Mission: Impossible III
(2006), The Bucket List
(2007), Iron Man
(2008), I Love You, Man
(2009), Iron Man 2
(2010) and Thor
(2011). Joel continues as a musician playing live performances with other notable musicians in the LA area to the present day.
In 2009, Joel was playing and recording with The Merry-Go-Round
co-founder and solo artist Emitt Rhodes
and Counting Crows
co-founder Matt Malley.
On May 29, 2010, Joel took part in the US Premiere screening for "Emitt Rhodes - The One Man Beatles" film at the Rhino Records Pop Up Store in Westwood, California.
On April 29, 2011, former Gene Clark Group members Chip Douglas
, Bill Rinehart and Joel took part in the High Moon Records label launch party at the Roxy in Los Angeles. They celebrated the release of Gene Clark's "Two Sides To Every Story" and Love's
"Black Beauty". There was a musical tribute to Gene Clark
and Arthur Lee
.
Joel was in the heat of the action in the rock music and cultural explosion that took place in California in the 60s. He has left a musical legacy by his work in many rock groups that will be enjoyed by listeners for many years to come. He continues in the entertainment industry helping to coordinate smooth production of film and TV offerings.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
and percussionist from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He was born on April 29, 1947 at St. Francis Hospital in San Francisco. He lived near Lincoln Park until he was 12 years old. He took up drumming at the age of 12 and moved near Avalon Park until he was 17. During these five years he honed his skills in the rock music scene of the early sixties. His destiny was to become one of The Grass Roots
The Grass Roots
The Grass Roots is an American rock band that charted between 1966 and 1975 as the brainchild of songwriting duo P. F. Sloan and Steve Barri.In their career, The Grass Roots achieved two gold albums, one gold single and charted singles a total of 21 times. Among their charting singles, they...
.
In 1965, Larson joined a band called The Bedouins and helped them win a Battle of the Bands in San Mateo. Word began to spread about the band. In early 1966, they were asked to come to an audition at the San Francisco Whisky A Go Go. They performed for Lou Adler
Lou Adler
Lou Adler is an American record producer, manager, and director.-Life and career:Adler was born in Chicago, Illinois in December 1933, and raised in East Los Angeles. In 1964, Adler founded and co-owned Dunhill Records. He was President of the label as well as the chief record producer from 1964...
who was the head of the new label Dunhill Records
Dunhill Records
Dunhill Records was started by Lou Adler, Al Bennett, Pierre Cossette and Bobby Roberts in 1964 as Dunhill Productions, originally for the purpose of releasing Johnny Rivers recordings on Imperial Records. It became a record label in 1965 and was distributed by ABC Records...
in Los Angeles. They were selected to become the original Grass Roots, a folk rock group created by songwriters P. F. Sloan
P. F. Sloan
P.F. Sloan is an American pop-rock singer and songwriter. He was very successful during the mid-1960s, writing, performing and producing Billboard top 20 hits for artists such as Barry McGuire, Jan & Dean, Herman's Hermits, Johnny Rivers, The Grass Roots and the Mamas and the Papas...
and Steve Barri
Steve Barri
Steve Barri is an American songwriter and record producer.Early in his career Barri was a staff writer with Dunhill Records. He frequently collaborated with P.F. Sloan, and the partners were responsible for the success of The Grass Roots and contributed largely to the band's first album...
.
The original Grass Roots were Denny Ellis on rhythm guitar, Willie Fulton on vocals and lead guitar, Joel Larson on drums and Dave Stensen on bass. They moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1966, took part in recording sessions and played live performances in the exploding LA music scene. They were one of the first house bands for The Trip on the Sunset Strip
Sunset Strip
The Sunset Strip is the name given to the mile-and-a-half stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through West Hollywood, California. It extends from West Hollywood's eastern border with Hollywood at Harper Avenue, to its western border with Beverly Hills at Sierra Drive...
. All of The Grass Roots were under the age of 18 so their parents had to sign their contracts with Dunhill Records. They also performed as a TV back up band for The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas were a Canadian/American vocal group of the 1960s . The group recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968 with a short reunion in 1971, releasing five albums and 11 Top 40 hit singles...
and Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers is an American rock and roll singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. His styles include folk songs, blues, and revivals of old-time rock 'n' roll songs and some original material...
. They appeared on the first color broadcast of The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
. They worked with Barry McGuire
Barry McGuire
Barry McGuire is an American singer-songwriter best known for the hit song "Eve of Destruction", and later as a pioneering singer and songwriter of Contemporary Christian Music.-Early life:...
. After about a year of live performances and networking in the LA rock music scene, the group wanted to have more creative control and input on the selection of songs to perform and record. Dunhill Records had a formula for the group already in mind and did not want to vary from it. The group minus Joel returned to San Francisco and continued to perform until Dunhill Records decided to replace them. Joel was offered to continue with new group members but decided to take an opportunity to play with Gene Clark
Gene Clark
Gene Clark, born Harold Eugene Clark was an American singer-songwriter, and one of the founding members of the folk-rock group The Byrds....
of The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
fame. He then met Emitt Rhodes
Emitt Rhodes
Emitt Lynn Rhodes is an American singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and recording engineer born February 25, 1950 in Decatur, Illinois. When he was five his family moved to Hawthorne, California. Considered by many as "the one man Beatles," his solo recordings of the early 1970s show a clear...
and formed The Merry-Go-Round
The Merry-Go-Round
The Merry-Go-Round were a Los Angeles based pop band, best known for the singer-songwriter Emitt Rhodes and featuring Joel Larson on drums, Gary Kato on lead guitar, and Bill Rinehart on bass. The band released only one album, The Merry-Go-Round...
that same year.
The Merry-Go-Round performed at the Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival in 1967 on both days of the music festival. They closed the show on Saturday June 10 and were the second to the show closer on Sunday June 11. This music festival is important because it occurred before The Monterey Pop Festival
Monterey Pop Festival
The Monterey International Pop Music Festival was a three-day concert event held June 16 to June 18, 1967 at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California...
but did not have a movie to document it for the ages (see List of electronic music festivals).
He also played with The Turtles
The Turtles
The Turtles are an American rock group led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. The band became notable for several Top 40 hits beginning with its cover version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" in 1965...
in the late 60s. Starting in 1970, he played with Lee Michaels
Lee Michaels
Lee Michaels plays the Hammond organ, piano, and guitar , and is best known for his 1971 Top 10 pop hit single, "Do You Know What I Mean."-Career:...
and helped produce the huge radio hit "Do You Know What I Mean".
In 1971, he rejoined The Grass Roots and played with them through the end of their heyday in 1975. From 1975 on, he continued to perform their hits until the mid eighties. In the new wave era, he worked as a dance night promoter in Los Angeles with live broadcasts through radio. He then entered into property management and real estate investment while continuing as a musician in Los Angeles playing with members of The Buckinghams
The Buckinghams
The Buckinghams are an American Sunshine Pop band from Chicago, Illinois. They formed in 1966 and went on to become one of the top selling acts of 1967. The band dissolved in 1970 but reformed in 1980 and continue to tour throughout the United States....
and Paul Revere & the Raiders
Paul Revere & the Raiders
Paul Revere & the Raiders is an American rock band that saw considerable U.S. mainstream success in the second half of the 1960s and early 1970s with hits such as "Kicks" , "Hungry" , "Him Or Me - What's It Gonna Be?" and the 1971 No...
.
In 2000, Joel started work in the movie and TV entertainment industry as a driver and production coordinator. He has built a long list of credits which include major motion pictures such as Mission: Impossible III
Mission: Impossible III
Mission: Impossible III is a 2006 spy film, the third based on the spy-themed television series Mission: Impossible starring Tom Cruise who reprises his role of IMF agent Ethan Hunt....
(2006), The Bucket List
The Bucket List
The Bucket List is a 2007 comedy-drama film directed by Rob Reiner, written by Justin Zackham, and starring Academy Award-winners Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman...
(2007), Iron Man
Iron Man (film)
Iron Man is a 2008 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film stars Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark, an industrialist and master engineer who builds a powered exoskeleton and becomes the technologically advanced superhero, Iron...
(2008), I Love You, Man
I Love You, Man
I Love You, Man is a 2009 American comedy film originally titled Let's be Friends and written by Larry Levin before John Hamburg rewrote and directed the film...
(2009), Iron Man 2
Iron Man 2
Iron Man 2 is a 2010 American superhero film featuring the Marvel Comics character Iron Man, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is the sequel to 2008's Iron Man, the second film in a planned trilogy and is a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Directed by Jon...
(2010) and Thor
Thor (film)
Thor is a 2011 American superhero film based on the comic book character of the same name published by Marvel Comics. It is the fourth film released as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe...
(2011). Joel continues as a musician playing live performances with other notable musicians in the LA area to the present day.
In 2009, Joel was playing and recording with The Merry-Go-Round
The Merry-Go-Round
The Merry-Go-Round were a Los Angeles based pop band, best known for the singer-songwriter Emitt Rhodes and featuring Joel Larson on drums, Gary Kato on lead guitar, and Bill Rinehart on bass. The band released only one album, The Merry-Go-Round...
co-founder and solo artist Emitt Rhodes
Emitt Rhodes
Emitt Lynn Rhodes is an American singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and recording engineer born February 25, 1950 in Decatur, Illinois. When he was five his family moved to Hawthorne, California. Considered by many as "the one man Beatles," his solo recordings of the early 1970s show a clear...
and Counting Crows
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
co-founder Matt Malley.
On May 29, 2010, Joel took part in the US Premiere screening for "Emitt Rhodes - The One Man Beatles" film at the Rhino Records Pop Up Store in Westwood, California.
On April 29, 2011, former Gene Clark Group members Chip Douglas
Chip Douglas
Douglas Farthing Walter Hatlelid, better known as Chip Douglas, is a songwriter, musician , and record producer, whose most famous work was during the 1960s...
, Bill Rinehart and Joel took part in the High Moon Records label launch party at the Roxy in Los Angeles. They celebrated the release of Gene Clark's "Two Sides To Every Story" and Love's
Love (band)
Love was an American rock group of the late 1960s and early 1970s. They were led by singer/songwriter Arthur Lee and lead guitarist Johnny Echols...
"Black Beauty". There was a musical tribute to Gene Clark
Gene Clark
Gene Clark, born Harold Eugene Clark was an American singer-songwriter, and one of the founding members of the folk-rock group The Byrds....
and Arthur Lee
Arthur Lee (musician)
Arthur Lee was the frontman, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist of the Los Angeles rock band Love, best known for the critically acclaimed 1967 album, Forever Changes.-Early years:...
.
Joel was in the heat of the action in the rock music and cultural explosion that took place in California in the 60s. He has left a musical legacy by his work in many rock groups that will be enjoyed by listeners for many years to come. He continues in the entertainment industry helping to coordinate smooth production of film and TV offerings.
Singles
(All singles are with The Grass Roots except as noted)| Release date | Title | Flip side | Record label | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US Cashbox | UK | ||||
| 1966 | Mr. Jones (Ballad Of A Thin Man) | You're A Lonely Girl | Dunhill | 121 | ||
| Where Were You When I Needed You | These Are Bad Times | Dunhill | 28 | 33 | ||
| Only When You're Lonely | This Is What I Was Made For | Dunhill | 96 | 77 | ||
| 1967 | Tip Of My Tongue | Look Out Girl | Dunhill | |||
| Live | Time Will Show the Wiser | A&M - The Merry-Go-Round The Merry-Go-Round The Merry-Go-Round were a Los Angeles based pop band, best known for the singer-songwriter Emitt Rhodes and featuring Joel Larson on drums, Gary Kato on lead guitar, and Bill Rinehart on bass. The band released only one album, The Merry-Go-Round... |
||||
| You’re A Very Lovely Woman | Where Have You Been All My Life | A&M - The Merry-Go-Round The Merry-Go-Round The Merry-Go-Round were a Los Angeles based pop band, best known for the singer-songwriter Emitt Rhodes and featuring Joel Larson on drums, Gary Kato on lead guitar, and Bill Rinehart on bass. The band released only one album, The Merry-Go-Round... |
||||
| 1968 | She Laughed Loud | She Laughed Loud | A&M - The Merry-Go-Round The Merry-Go-Round The Merry-Go-Round were a Los Angeles based pop band, best known for the singer-songwriter Emitt Rhodes and featuring Joel Larson on drums, Gary Kato on lead guitar, and Bill Rinehart on bass. The band released only one album, The Merry-Go-Round... |
|||
| 1970 | Uummmm My Lady | What Now America | A&M - Lee Michaels Lee Michaels Lee Michaels plays the Hammond organ, piano, and guitar , and is best known for his 1971 Top 10 pop hit single, "Do You Know What I Mean."-Career:... |
|||
| 1971 | Do You Know What I Mean | Keep The Circle Turning | A&M - Lee Michaels Lee Michaels Lee Michaels plays the Hammond organ, piano, and guitar , and is best known for his 1971 Top 10 pop hit single, "Do You Know What I Mean."-Career:... |
6 | ||
| Can I Get a Witness | You Are What You Do | A&M - Lee Michaels Lee Michaels Lee Michaels plays the Hammond organ, piano, and guitar , and is best known for his 1971 Top 10 pop hit single, "Do You Know What I Mean."-Career:... |
39 | |||
| 1972 | Glory Bound | Only One | Dunhill | 34 | 22 | |
| Runway, The | Move Along | Dunhill | 39 | 29 | ||
| Anyway The Wind Blows | Monday Love | Dunhill | 107 | |||
| 1973 | Love Is What You Make It | Someone To Love | Dunhill | 55 | ||
| Where There's Smoke There's Fire | Look But Don't Touch | Dunhill | ||||
| We Can't Dance To Your Music | Look But Don't Touch | Dunhill | ||||
| Stealin' Love (In The Night) | We Almost Made It Together | Dunhill | ||||
| 1975 | Mamacita | The Last Time Around | Haven | 71 | ||
| Naked Man | Nothing Good Comes Easy | Haven | ||||
| 1976 | Out In the Open | Optical Illusion | Haven | |||
Albums
(All albums are with The Grass Roots except as noted)| Release date | Title | Record label | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US Cashbox | UK | |||
| 1966 | Where Were You When I Needed You Where Were You When I Needed You Where Were You When I Needed You was the first album released by The Grass Roots. Most of the album is performed by the duo of P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri, although some of the album features a San Francisco band, including lead singer Willie "Bill" Fulton... |
Dunhill | |||
| 1967 | Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers is the debut solo album of Gene Clark, released in February of 1967 on Columbia Records, catalogue CS 9418. It was his first effort after his departure from folk-rock group the Byrds in 1966... |
Columbia | |||
| The Merry-Go-Round The Merry-Go-Round The Merry-Go-Round were a Los Angeles based pop band, best known for the singer-songwriter Emitt Rhodes and featuring Joel Larson on drums, Gary Kato on lead guitar, and Bill Rinehart on bass. The band released only one album, The Merry-Go-Round... |
A&M | ||||
| 1970 | Lee Michaels Lee Michaels Lee Michaels plays the Hammond organ, piano, and guitar , and is best known for his 1971 Top 10 pop hit single, "Do You Know What I Mean."-Career:... - Barrel |
A&M | |||
| 1971 | Lee Michaels Lee Michaels Lee Michaels plays the Hammond organ, piano, and guitar , and is best known for his 1971 Top 10 pop hit single, "Do You Know What I Mean."-Career:... - 5th |
A&M | 16 | ||
| 1972 | Move Along | Dunhill | 86 | ||
| 1973 | Alotta' Mileage | Dunhill | |||
| 1975 | Self Titled | Haven | |||