The America’s Pop Music Hall of Fame announced its latest inductees, and soon to be enshrined will be Neil Sedaka, Barry Manilow, The Temptations, Barbra Streisand, The Grass Roots, Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Lettermen, the Association, and Three Dog Night. Here’s part three of “Pop To The Hall.”
The Grass Roots churned out hit after hit in the 60s and early 70s, and richly deserve being in anybodys Hall of Fame. The members of the band came from Los Angeles, and were actually the studio group for successful song writers P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri. Said differently, two talented song writers needed a band to sing the songs they were writing. The lineup of the band continued to change, and The Grass Roots eventually sold over 25 million records. Only original member Rob Grill remained in the lineup consistently through its years, but unfortunately he died in 2011.
Three Dog Night has had a tough year, losing original members Cory Wells and Jimmy Greenspoon in late 2015, but the boys in the band will always be remembered as one of the most prolific groups in the 70s and 80s. Three Dog Night was inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000, and has sold over 50 million records.
The Association kicked off the 1967 Monterey Festival with great surprise as their were many psychedelic bands on the bill, and the Association looked like a church choir. “Cherish,” “Windy,” and “Never My Love” were all certified Gold. Unusual at that time, the lead singer Hilario Ramos was a native of Hawaii, but lost his life to cancer in 2014.
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