Yairi D45

Grootna's Marvelous Tinder Box 

kindling for kindred minds 

Through the mica filter of memory, a band named Grootna 
appears somewhere to the West of my youth, 
and then vanishes like ozone 
Yairi D45

Ride on, Big Bill, and may the wind treat you right.
Gretchen, you are still here, everywhere.

Listen to Last Chance For Gas

Grootna was an early-70s West Coast band produced by Marty Balin (of Jefferson Airplane fame).
Members were Kelly Bryan (bass), Allen "Slim" Chance (rhythm guitar),
Greg Dewey [aka Dewey DeGrease] (drums), Anna Rizzo (vocals),
Vic Smith (lead guitar), and Richard Sussman (keyboard).
Their self-titled album is now available on CD.

Note: this used to say that "Slim" was aka Austin DeLone, but I've been corrected on that score by a friend of theirs: Austin "Audie" DeLone is a musician in his own right, and a songwriter who co-wrote some of Grootna's material.
Martha also tells me that Grootna's first record was called "The Masked Marauders".

Years ago, life was boring: work, eat, tv, sleep, repeat.

In desperation, I forced myself from my warm and comfy sofa, pushed out the door, and headed for a local coffeeshop which was rumored to have an open-mike night going. Next thing I knew, there was a guitar in my hands; I played a few tunes and had the first really good time in - well, too long.

Aromas coffeeshop is long gone from Kingwood, and I'm still playing.

Around the same time, I was trying to find the sheet music to an old song - Hobo's Mandolin , by Michael Smith - and I learned he was scheduled to play at a Writers in the Round gig near home. I talked a friend into going along and bought some tickets. Michael came down with a cluster headache and couldn't play, but I got to hear some music by people I'd never even heard of: Slaid Cleaves , Don Conoscenti , and Eric Taylor. I caught the music bug all over again - thought disco had killed it forever.
Now, I've decided to promote the things I like: music, friends, chili, and memories. I hope you'll explore:
  • Homerolled reviews of some of my favorite artists' work
  • A favorite chili recipe, updated sometimes
  • A number of links to out of date but some still work
    • musical and musician's resources
    • simpler things and times
    • musicians' home pages
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Your email is welcome.
The guitar background and images are my Alvarez Yairi DY45, made in the mid-1980s.
If I've linked to you, and you don't like it, please drop a line, and I'll remove it. Thanks.