Grootna
Formed in San Francisco in 1970, Grootna comprised Anna Rizzo (vocals), Vic Smith (lead guitar), Slim Chance (guitar/vocals), Richard Sussman (keyboards), Kelly Bryan (bass) and Dewey DaGrease (drums). The last-named was better known as Greg Dewey, formerly of Mad River and Country Joe And The Fish. Grootna generated considerable interest through their relationship with ex- Jefferson Airplane vocalist Marty Balin and later secured a prestigious recording deal with Columbia/ CBS. However, despite completing a promising debut album, the group was dropped when it became clear Balin would not join the line-up. A revised unit— Rizzo, Smith, Sussman, DaGrease, John Rewind (guitar) and Notcho Dewey (harmonica)—backed Country Joe McDonald on a locally-issued EP, before Grootna was officially dissolved. Smith and DaGrease subsequently joined the aforementioned Balin in Bodacious D.F. (1973).