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The Great American Music Band and The Great American String Band
(Note: I don't know if these were two different bands, one following the other; two names used to describe the same band or one correct and one incorrect name. In interviews David Grisman refers to the band as the Great American Music Band. This name will be used here.)
The Great American Music Band started at a show at the Great American Music Hall with David Grisman, Richard Greene and Vassar Clements probably in early 1974. From that point onward Grisman and Greene performed a number of times using the name playing primarily instrumental music and providing a vehicle for David Grisman's compositions. Initially the group line-up, with the exception of Grisman and Greene, depended on who was available for any given show. During this period Jerry Garcia played with the group for a number of shows between May and June 1974. David Nichtern, Taj Mahal and Buell Neidlinger also played with the group during these months.
After a few months Grisman and Greene decided to continue the group and develop the instrumental concept with regular sidemen. The first settled line-up was Grisman and Greene plus guitarists John Carlini and Ellen Kearney, and bassist Joe Carroll. Richard Greene left the group around the end of 1974 and a second line-up emerged with Grisman and Joe Carroll plus the second mandolin of Todd Phillips and fiddler Darol Anger. In 1975, with the addition of Tony Rice, this group became the first David Grisman Quintet.
