Bread was an American soft rock band from Los Angeles, California, active primarily between 1969 and 1977. The band consisted of David Gates (vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards, violin, viola, percussion), Jimmy Griffin (vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion), and Robb Royer (bass, guitar, flute, keyboards, percussion, recorder, backing vocals). Mike Botts joined as the permanent drummer in 1969, and Larry Knechtel replaced Royer in 1971, contributing keyboards, bass, guitar, and harmonica.
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Bread was an American soft rock band from Los Angeles, California, active primarily between 1969 and 1977. The band consisted of David Gates (vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards, violin, viola, percussion), Jimmy Griffin (vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion), and Robb Royer (bass, guitar, flute, keyboards, percussion, recorder, backing vocals). Mike Botts joined as the permanent drummer in 1969, and Larry Knechtel replaced Royer in 1971, contributing keyboards, bass, guitar, and harmonica. Bread formed after Gates and Royer, who had previously worked together on the Pleasure Fair project, were introduced to Griffin. They signed with Elektra Records in January 1969. The band released its debut single "Dismal Day" in June 1969 and their self-titled album "Bread" in September 1969. The band’s commercial breakthrough came with the second album, "On the Waters" (1970), which included their only number-one Billboard Hot 100 single, "Make It with You." Other notable early hits included "It Don't Matter to Me," "Let Your Love Go," and "If" from their third album, "Manna" (1971). After Royer left the band in 1971, Knechtel joined and contributed to the albums "Baby I'm-a Want You" (1972) and "Guitar Man" (1972), which produced Top 20 singles such as "The Guitar Man," "Sweet Surrender," "Aubrey," "Everything I Own," and "Diary." The band initially disbanded in 1973 due to personal tensions and fatigue from constant recording and touring. Compilation albums "The Best of Bread" (1973) and "The Best of Bread, Volume 2" (1974) achieved commercial success. Bread reunited in 1976 to record "Lost Without Your Love" (1977), which included the Top 10 title track. Touring followed, although ongoing tensions and lineup changes limited further group recordings. After the final break-up, Gates pursued a solo career, while Griffin and Royer continued songwriting and participated in country music projects. A final reunion took place in 1996–1997 for a 25th-anniversary tour, supported by additional musicians to replicate the band’s recorded sound. Bread was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2006. Jimmy Griffin and Mike Botts both died in 2005, and Larry Knechtel died in 2009, leaving Gates and Royer as the surviving members. Royer has remained active in music and released a tribute album to Griffin in 2010. Biographies of the band include "Bread: A Sweet Surrender" (2014) by Malcolm C. Searles and Royer’s memoir "The View from Contessa" (2018). Studio albums Bread (1969) On the Waters (1970) Manna (1971) Baby I'm-a Want You (1972) Guitar Man (1972) Lost Without Your Love (1977)
