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The Grimm

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki





THE GRIMM are an American rock band formed in Salt Lake City in 1961[1]. The group's musical style primarily consisted of folk before converting to rock in 1965. Originally the band called themselves the “Four/Fifths” when five junior high kids began singing in the Glee club. The band's original lineup as the Four/Fifths consisted of 12-year-old Greg Ericksen, 12-year-old Marvin Ellis, 13-year-old Michael Alder, 13-year-old Martha Smith and 13-year-old Sherry Little. The group called themselves the Four/Fifths because characteristically only 4 of the 5 would show up for practices, photos and other events. They would frequently mention to fans that only 4/5’s of the group was present at any one time. The quintuple folk group starting gaining attention as they appeared on local television programs such as: Hi Shop[2], Eugene Jelesnik Talent show[3] Case an affiliate of the Ted Mack original amateur hour, and in other local talent shows.

THE GRIMM

The band converted to rock band[4] upon Smith and Little leaving the group in 1965 to attend a different high school in combination with Beatlemania that was sweeping across the United States. At around the same time, the group added Lane Ward (drummer) and Greg Dickman (lead guitar) to the band, which some called magic. In 1967, the Four/Fifths changed their name to "The Grimm" and Denie Hill took the place of Lane Ward who left the band as a Christian missionary to Peru. During the spring of 1967, Ericksen wrote his first hit song at age 17, titled “The Darkness and the Night[5]” released on SVN Records[6], an independent label. In 1968, “The Darkness and the Night[7]” began climbing regional charts. Several other major labels pursued discussions[8] with members of the band including Columbia Records, Liberty Records and Reprise Records.

The group focused on writing original music with three-part harmonies[9] characteristic of folk and early rock n’ roll singers of the day including Peter, Paul and Mary, Bob Dylan, Kingston Trio, New Christy ministerial, The Browns, Everly Brothers, Beatles, and Dave Clark 5 to name a few. The originality of the group led to winning a Battle of the Bands[10] contest from a field of 75 bands from 4 states competing for a Warner Brothers Records[11] recording contract.

The notoriety of winning this contest held in the streets of Salt Lake City and attended by thousands fueled strong demand and requests from a growing fan base to local radio stations. To satisfy this demand the boys recorded a series of two track tapes at Howard Gale Recording studio in Murray[12], Utah that were then played over the air by local radio stations. Local Utah television programming also featured the band’s music on various Saturday programs.

The growing demand also caught the attention of other major record labels who flew into Salt Lake City, to catch band performances in Park City and surrounding areas. Requests from a variety of recording labels invited the band to Los Angeles, California for auditions. The tapes continued to fuel significant radio requests and performances at standing room only packed concerts so much so, that a regional record distributor asked the boys to make a vinyl 45 rpm manufactured through Capitol Records until a major label would pick them up.

FIRST SINGLE TO CHART

In 1968 “The Darkness and The Night” was released to limited distribution in regional radio markets on the SVN Records and immediately began climbing local radio charts as records manufactured by Capitol Records for SVN quickly sold out[13]. The band climbed regional top forty record charts like KCPX leaping over The Byrds, Four Tops, The Everly Brothers and even The Beatles. The band was featured on local TV shows as well as regular press updates in local newspapers. Local disk jockey Tommy T soloed The Grimm lead guitarist Greg Dickman from “The Darkness and The Night” for over 15 minutes on his KCPX radio show over several nights. Local fan clubs started popping up and fans tried to find The Grimm members in hotel locations after concerts. As “The Darkness and the Night” climbed regional charts, Ericksen wrote two full albums or original compositions and The Grimm recorded their second and third singles, “The Beggar”, and “Mr. Parkingsworth”, which was never released.

In 1968, as the group was touring extensively[14] and moving up regional radio charts[15] having recorded their second 45 rpm single featuring “The Beggar” and “Mr. Parkingsworth”, two other members (Marvin Ellis[16] and Mike Alder) also left the band to become Christian missionaries. Greg Dickman became the third member to leave as a result of being called into the Air Force National Guard during increased hostilities in the Vietnam War. The exodus of bandmates of The Grimm brought delays to the second single release and planned tours along with delays to The Grimm's first full album release.

In 1999, the band briefly reunited and performed at an anti-drug concert in Bountiful, Utah.

ALBUM RELEASE

Interest in The Grimm has remained active over the years with KCPX top forty charts featuring The Grimm auctioned on Ebay[17] of their first and only rare 45 rpm single “Darkness and the Night” being auctioned off on Ebay at premium prices.

The full vinyl, a single featuring “The Darkness and the Night” and “1400 Miles” will be released in November 2018. The single will be in limited release on a 7” vinyl 45 rpm. On the “A” side will be “The Darkness and The Night”, and on the “B” side will be “1400 Miles”.

“Lost Tracks” album was released in late fall 2018 on 180 gram vinyl as well as compact disc (CD) and streaming services featuring original music composed between 1965-1969. The album includes a first set of twelve (12) unreleased original compositions released by The Grimm™ through independent label r3 Records, on 180-gram vinyl LP’s, featuring album art work contemplated by The Grimm™ in the 1960s.

In 2014, Ericksen performed the lead vocals and rhythm guitar for a pilot streaming TV series from a rooftop concert set depicting Barcelona, Spain and filmed by Park City Film Studios Content Division. These concert performances will be released in late 2018.

The “Lost Tracks II” album released in 2019, through an independent label, r3 Records[18], on 180 gram vinyl, featuring 12 more original tracks composed between 1965-1969. Lost Tracks II is a continuation of original compositions performed by The Grimm.™

Upcoming releases are Oculus Album to be released in July 2021 and “Grimm Times” album (working title) the fourth Album being recorded by the current band.

CURRENT BAND

On March 9, 2021, former organist Michael Alder passed away who was an amazing talent.

In 2021 ‘The Grimm’ founding member Greg Ericksen has been joined by Brett Raymond (organ), Michael Dowdle (lead uitar), Joel Stevenett (drums), Ryan Shupe (Bass) and Andrew Doolittle (Guitar) who will begin to perform both live concerts and and on a streaming platform made for television show “London RoofTop”.®


This article "The Grimm" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:The Grimm. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

  1. "Quartet will appear on Program". Clipper Publising Company. Davis County Clipper. March 27, 1964. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  2. "Preferred Man". Clipper Publishing Company, Bountiful, Utah. Davis County Clipper. 1964-12-11. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  3. "Quartet will appear on Program". Clipper Publishing Company, Bountiful, Utah. Davis County Clipper. March 27, 1964.
  4. "Utah 'Four Fifths' Add To One Top Rock Unit". Salt Lake Tribune. September 9, 1966.
  5. "The Darkness and the Night". YouTube. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  6. Gray, Bryan (May 10, 1968). Deseret News. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. "The GRIMM, The Blue...Going Strong". 1 (54). KCPX News. June 7, 1968.
  8. "Four Fifts [sic] Visit In California". Clipper Publishing Company, Bountiful, Utah. Davis County Clipper. January 7, 1966. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  9. "see "I Live for Today" written by Greg Ericksen". Youtube. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  10. "Four Fifts [sic] Visit in California". Clipper Publishing Company, Bountiful, Utah. Davis County Clipper. January 7, 1966. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  11. "Utah 'Four Fifths' Add to One Top Rock Unit". Salt Lake Tribune. September 9, 1966.
  12. Gray, Bryan (May 10, 1968). Deseret News. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. Barclay, Bob (February 5, 1969). "The Grimm Will Zing Here Feb. 5".
  14. Gray, Bryan (May 10, 1968). Deseret News. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. "THE GRIMM, THE BLUE GOING STRONG". KCPX. KCPX News. June 7, 1968.
  16. Payne, Ruth (October 4, 1968). "Woods Cross". Clipper Publishing Company, Bountiful, Utah. Davis County Clipper. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  17. "Rare 1968 KCPX Salt Lake City". Ebay. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  18. "About". r3 records. 2018-08-16. Retrieved 22 October 2018.