Obituaries

Rob Grill, 67, lead singer of the underrated sixties band The Grass Roots, of complications from a fall a month ago, according to his wife Nancy.

Grill suffered from other health problems in recent years. He toured around the country fronting different musicians as The Grass Roots. I saw him in Reno two years ago in Sparks as part of the Hot August Nights celebration.

The group’s longest-serving member, Mr. Grill appeared with the Grass Roots for more than four decades: first in the group’s heyday and again as the band has enjoyed a renaissance on the oldies circuit. His voice — high, sweet and supple — was memorably urgent and beseeching in the group’s many songs of love.

He also played bass and wrote some of the group’s songs, though the Grass Roots’ best-known material was written primarily by nonmembers.

A very, very underrated band.
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Counterculture author Theodore Roszak, 77, died of cancer July 5.

More Hot August Nights 2009

Pictures from various "show 'n' shine" locations in Reno, including downtown Reno, the Atlantis resort, and the Peppermill:











This 1968 Shelby was one of the highlights of this year's Hot August Nights.

The Grass Roots, featuring original lead singer and bassist Rob Grill (bottom) played at Victorian Square in Sparks, reprising their hits of the late 1960s-early 1970s and songs by other artists.