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Members include Mike Botts (born in Sacramento, CA), drums; David Gates (born on December 11, 1940, in Tulsa, OK), songwriter, instrumentalist, lead vocals; James Griffin (born in Memphis, TN), songwriter, instrumentalist; Larry Knechtel (born in Bell, CA), instrumentalist; Robb Royer, guitar, vocals. Addresses: Management--Selwyn Miller, Worldwide Entertainment Network, Inc., 1271 Stoner Ave. #304, Los Angeles, CA 90025.
For a nation disheartened by the Vietnam War, discouraged by the Watergate scandal, and dismayed by the mounting energy crisis during the 1970s, the sounds of "soft rock" provided a measure of melodic comfort for Americans. During that era, such ballad-oriented acts as the Carpenters and America climbed the charts. Joining them was a Los Angeles-based former studio band, Bread, a group formed in 1969 by a trio of session players: David Gates, James Griffin, and Robb Royer. The three, according to the Encyclopedia of Rock, had fronted a previous band, Pleasure Faire; all three, the book noted, "were multi-instrumentalists and prolific songwriters." Gates would become the group's most famous member.
A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Gates grew up in a musical household; his father was a band director and his mother a piano teacher. The young musician, who played piano, guitar, and bass, was already working in nightclubs and at dances before he graduated from college. "My grades were slowly slipping," he related in an autobiographical article on the Super Seventies Rocksite. "At the end of my junior year I told my father I'd like to ... go to California to give [music] a try. I said, 'Let me go out for the summer, just to see what happens.'" What happened was that Gates found the Crossbow, a nightclub in the San Fernando Valley. Up-and-coming 1960s musicians--including Glen Campbell, Leon Russell (whose sister Gates dated) and Jerry Cole--met there to jam and compare notes. Gates joined in their sessions and was offered professional work.
Gates began to make his mark in pop composition, breaking into Billboard's top ten with his 1963 song "Popsicles and Icicles," sung by the Murmaides. Later, his string arrangement was used for "Buy for Me the Rain" by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. By the time Gates joined Pleasure Faire with Griffin and Royer, the latter two had collaborated (under pseudonyms) on the lyrics for the single "For All We Know," the Academy Award-winning theme to the 1969 movie Lovers and Other Strangers and a hit single for the Carpenters. Pleasure Faire was not destined for success, but Gates, Griffin, and Royer stayed together, writing ballads under the group's new name, Bread. That moniker, Gates told Australian television interviewer Kerry Ann, came from a simple source: "Bread came off a bread delivery truck at the moment we were trying to pick a name." He then quipped, "I'm glad it wasn't a rubbish or garbage truck."
Bread released an "unsuccessful but critically acclaimed first album for Elektra," according to Encyclopedia of Rock; but by 1970 the group had begun charting singles. A Gates song, "Make It with You" became one of the top singles of that summer, hitting number one on the Billboard chart in August. Such singles as "It Don't Matter to Me," "Everything I Own," "Let Your Love Go," "Aubrey," "Diary," and "If" followed, the latter of which has become a pop standard. ("It's been played at so many weddings ... and so many people have recorded it," remarked Gates in the Kerry Ann interview.) In 1971 Royer was replaced by Larry Knechtel, a longtime session musician whose credits included "Mr. Tambourine Man," "Classical Gas," and "Bridge over Troubled Water." Knechtel, who contributed piano, organ, guitar, and harmonica work, helped Bread chart "Baby I'm-a Want You" during 1971. The single became the title track of a 1972 album, the fourth such Bread collection to earn gold record certification.
Drummer Mike Botts joined the group in 1970, replacing studio musician Jim Gordon. Botts, revealed Irwin Stambler in Encyclopedia of Pop, Rock & Soul, was a percussion prodigy who at age 12 "lied about his age to the musicians' union so he could play professionally." On his official website, Botts recalled his years with Bread. At its peak, the band "became the all-consuming part of our professional lives," he wrote. "We were either in the studio or on the road from 1970 to May of 1973. That's when the group decided to take a hiatus from all the pressure and pursue some individual projects and goals."
By this time the tide was turning in music--soft rock soon gave way to disco and punk's decidedly harder edge. Still, there was work for Gates and company. A "best of" collection went gold in 1973, with a follow-up album in 1974. In 1976 the band reunited for an album that went gold on the strength of one high-charting single, "Lost Without Your Love." As Botts noted on his website: "The band continued to tour through 1978 but unfortunately some irreconcilable differences within the group eventually involved all of us in litigation and caused the group to disband once again."
Since then the band members have performed individually, most notably Gates, who wrote and recorded "Goodbye Girl," the title song of the Academy Award-winning comedy of 1978. In 1994 he released a CD entitled Love Is Always Seventeen. But Bread wasn't through as a group. The tide turned again in the mid-1990s, when, as Botts recalled, he was phoned by Gates's representative, who proposed a new tour to mark the group's twenty-fifth anniversary. Bread's travels took the group on a successful two-year tour (1996-98) through Africa, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, the United States, and the United Kingdom. A 1996 CD, Essentials, was available only outside the United States as of 2002.
Some critics see Bread as a band most notable for songs that turn up at wedding receptions ("weenie music," wrote humorist Dave Barry, as quoted by Knight-Ridder reporter Ben Wener in a Lubbock Avalanche-Journal article). Indeed, Entertainment Weekly columnist Ty Burr acknowledged that image when in 2001 he confessed his fondness for the group, even while rating such pleasure high on the "guilt-o-meter." The band, he wrote, was "never cool. Bread never will be cool." Still, "it's clear that when Gates poured on the syrup, glory was attained. Sentimental? Oh yeah. But the kind of sentimentality that asks no quarter and offers no apologies." To Gates, the music is "timeless," as he told Wener. "If you listen to disco, if you listen to Donovan, those things are locked into the time they're from. Our songs aren't dated like that. They're like jazz standards."
by Susan Salter
Bread's Career
Group formed as Pleasure Faire, 1960s; original members formed as Bread, 1969; released debut album, Bread, on Elektra Records, 1969; disbanded, 1973; reunited briefly, 1976; anniversary tour, 1996-98.
Famous Works
- Selected discography
- Bread Elektra, 1969.
- On the Waters Elektra, 1970.
- Manna Elektra, 1971.
- Baby I'm-a Want You Elektra, 1972.
- Guitar Man Elektra, 1972.
- Best of Bread Elektra, 1973.
- Best of Bread Volume Two Elektra, 1974.
- Lost Without Your Love Elektra, 1977.
- Anthology of Bread Elektra, 1985.
- Essentials Elektra, 1996.
Recent Updates
January 11, 2005: Band member James Arthur "Jimmy" Griffin died on January 11, 2005, at his home in Franklin, Tennessee, of complications from cancer. He was 62. Source: CNN.com, www.cnn.com, January 14, 2005.
Further Reading
Sources
- Mack, Lorrie, editor, Encyclopedia of Rock, Schirmer Books, 1988.
- Stambler, Irwin, Encyclopedia of Pop, Rock & Soul, St. Martins Press, 1989.
- Entertainment Weekly, January 1, 2001.
- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (Texas), August 2, 1997.
- "David Gates," Las Vegas Online Entertainment Guide, http://www.lvol.com (September 26, 2002).
- "David Gates--Australian Interview: September 27, 1996," http://www.mid-tn.com (September 26, 2002).
- "David Gates--In His Own Words," http://www.superseventies.com/ (September 26 2002).
- "Profile," Mike Botts Official Website, http://www.mikebotts.com/ (September 25, 2002).
Bread Lyrics
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Visitor Comments Add a comment…
almost 14 years ago
EVERY TIME I HEAR A BREAD SONG - MAN IT TAKES ME BACK AND ALWAYS MAKES ME SMILE!! I LOVE THOSE GUY'S. VERY SAD JIMMY IS NO LONGER WITH US (HERE) BUT IT'S NICE TO KNOW WE CAN ALWAYS HEAR HIM.. BETZ FROM HUDSON MA.
about 14 years ago
I grew up listening to your gift of music and song writing ....I had my kids grow up listening to your work because it told a story..when we weren't allowed, nor my kids to watch TV, they found there solis in music..When I learned to drive an 18 wheeler,I play truckin, When I gave my kids there 1st journal, it was diary I had them listen to...now they are older, but all your songs play a part in our life,so thank you for expressing your talent so perfectly..
almost 15 years ago
Bread is the best music ever! You put my mind at ease, thank you. If ever you go on tour please let me and the world know, I will be there. The best band ever.
over 15 years ago
You know Dave Barry calls Bread music "weenie music" but he is so wrong. Their music lives today yesterday and I know for future generations. These are songs that are not easily forgotten and they tell things from the heart as well as the times in which they were created. I would love to see those remaining members of the band come together. David Gates if you are performing anywhere please let us know. Love the music!
over 15 years ago
I have so many good memories of David Gates and bread, I just loved their music. I would love to see them get together again!
over 15 years ago
When I think of Bread it brings back so many memories. I saw the group at Constitution Hall in Wash DC. Those were good time I will always remember. A concert in DC or Virginia would be great! Your music will be with me always. Linda
over 15 years ago
David Gates, I would love to see you perform in New York City.... soon! Any chance you might, just might, perform in NYC? I know you will draw a large crowd and I can't wait to see you on stage. Thank you for a life time of music! Mag
over 15 years ago
Indeed, "The Best of Bread" is among the pantheon of greatest albums of all time! My question is: 'Where the hell was I when they reunited and went on tour in the 90's?' I've been wanting to see/hear Gates and Bread for over 30 years now!! Please, David, one more time for all the true believers. I'm a guy too, but I know a great song when I hear it, and you guys wrote a slew of them!! In fact, on my way home today the song "If" came on the radio. Memories flooded back to me about lost loves and better days. That is what drove me to get home and Google the site (Among others) on which I am now typing this message! Also, I made a mental note to get over to Newbury Comics to replace my very old copy of B of B. If nothing else, let me just thank you and everyone connected to Bread for recording some of the greatest songs known to man. Larry in Boston
almost 16 years ago
Does anyone know if David Gates is still performing anywhere? I'd drop whatever I was doing and fly half way around the world just to hear him sing again. The music of David & Bread really helped me get trhough some tough times. I'd love to have the chance to thank him personally!
almost 16 years ago
I don't care how "hip" or how "cool" (two adjective I tend to shy away from...) it is to say that you enjoyed Bread. True, their vocals were the predecessors (OMG!) to the Beegee's helium-fuled sound later on the in decade. But ignore all that and concentrate of the quaity and musicianship of the song. Trure, the were, indeed, "the #1-weenie" group of all time, according to Dave Berry (I tend to agree), but there's never been a group so adept at creating Love muisc. Thank You, David, Jimmy, Mike, Larry, & Robb, you were a pleasant part of the seventies (truly, the decade were rock and roll died), and your perseverance really paid off.
about 16 years ago
Hey david gates!! I am so sure you will not ever see this e-mail But if ya do? Us 30 and 40 ish rockers love your music!! You and your band totally are musical legends!! You are the greatest composer ever!! The best of bread is still a must for all of us in northern minnesota hard working guys and take care of are ladies ( by the way who love ya) around the bonfire , The best of bread is a must to make are gals happy!! But us guys love ya also!! Thanks for your music and keep rockin!! P.SS I would kill for a bread reunion tour?? We love bread
over 16 years ago
To set the record straight, James Griffin is my cousin, and was born in Cincinnati, OH. They moved to Memphis when he was about 2 yrs old. I loved the summers when he would visit us in Northern Kentucky (across the river from Cinti) and bring his guitar and entertain us. He would stay with us for a few weeks and we loved it. He and my brother were good buddies. All my girlfriends envied me. We miss Jimmy very, very much.