CREED BRATTON

Creed Bratton (born William Charles Schneider) is a musician and actor who has honed his skills traveling across the globe in pursuit of excellence. As a member of The Grass Roots, his group enjoyed heavy airplay on the radio in the late 60’s. He toured throughout the United States with a highly successful rock group that sold millions of records worldwide. Creed is also an actor who has fined tuned his skills and knowledge through his global exposure. He appears frequently as a cast member on a hit TV show and plays other roles in movies and television. He usually plays hostile dangerous types with an edge, although his comedic talents are now recognized. Creed was born in Los Angeles, California on February 8, 1943. He grew up in a very musical family and lived his childhood in a small town near Yosemite, called Coarsegold. His grandparents, mother and father all played instruments. He took up guitar as a boy when he received a Silvertone Electric Guitar with the amplifier built into the case, from a Sears mail order catalogue at age 13. He became a professional musician at age 17 with a band called The Tourquays. During his college years, he majored in drama attending College of the Sequoias where he made pocket change playing with a small trio called "The Leanders". After attending Sacramento State College, he hitchhiked to New Orleans and boarded a ship that arrived in Venice, Italy. He had $25 in his pocket and began his foreign travels there. He toured with a group called The Young Californians for two and one half years around Europe. He experienced more bizarre situations than most people could imagine. Traveling through Africa and the Middle East, he assimilated influences from the people and countries that he visited, adding a unique style to his guitar playing as well as getting used to going without food. His weight at one time dropped to 145 lbs from his usual 185. His group was performing at a large folk festival in Israel representing the US. There were groups from many other countries as well. After The Young Californians performed, Creed was approached by musician Warren Entner, who was in the audience. Warren was impressed with his playing. He mentioned that he lived in Los Angeles and played rhythm guitar. They struck up a friendship and Warren told Creed that when he returned to the states to give him a call. In 1966, Creed returned to Los Angeles and did so. They recruited drummer Rick Coonce. Through their girlfriends, they then recruited Kenny Fukomoto who played bass and sang. They called their group The 13th Floor and began playing wherever they could around the Valley, Hollywood and the Sunset Strip. Early on they were loud (as their amps would allow), dirty, driving and very aggressive in their shows. Dunhill Records and two young songwriters/producers Steve Barri and especially P.F. Sloan liked the raw power from The 13th Floor. Since 1965, they had created a band project called The Grass Roots to cash in on the budding folk rock movement of the time. They needed a new group to take on the name of The Grass Roots. The 13th Floor were on their way to a recording contract but then Uncle Sam came calling for Kenny Fukomoto who was suddenly drafted into the army. The group scrambled to the Musicians Union Hall in Hollywood to see if they could find a replacement. On the posting board was Rob Grill advertising his vocal and bass playing skills. Rob auditioned for the slot in the band and was immediately recruited. Now with Rob Grill and Warren Entner as lead singers, The 13th Floor was offered the opportunity to take on The Grass Roots name that already had national exposure. In April of 1967, they became The Grass Roots and recorded a new single “Let’s Live For Today”. They immediately began touring as their single jumped up the charts into the top 10 at number 8. The song became a mantra for the youth of the day and sent the group straight into stardom. They appeared on numerous TV shows and a movie with Doris Day called “With Six You Get Egg Roll”. They appeared in the magazines of the times and were highly promoted. Not so promoted was the fact of drug arrests. The band had a famous incident in Seattle where they caught sharks from their hotel window and left their rooms bloody. Creed had an infamous acid trip on stage at the Fillmore with concert promoter Bill Graham screaming at him ...and him dropping his pants and strolling casually off stage...where he proceeded to lecture to all who would listen on the meaning of life....and of course Creed’s habit of running naked through small towns next to the tour bus on bets from the band. During this time, the group members continued to write songs. Top songwriters were also offering their best work to the group. On their first album Let’s Live For Today released in 1967, Creed and Warren Entner wrote “Beatin’ Round The Bush”. The two of them and Rob Grill wrote “No Exit”. They had a great chemistry going with Sloan & Barri, who offered them some of their best songs and taught them the recording process. In 1968, the group was able to really get their creative fires going. The album Feelings contained many group compositions. Creed co-authored the psychedelic “Hot Bright Lights” which featured a wild fuzz and sustain laden guitar solo. By himself he wrote the introspective “Dinner For Eight” which closed the album. The album was very creative and featured additional instrumentation but did not sell to the record company’s expectations. Songwriter/producer P.F. Sloan left Dunhill to pursue a solo recording career. The group released “Midnight Confessions” as a single during this time. It became an iconic song of the times for the group once again, just as “Let’s Live For Today” did the previous year. It shot up the record charts to number 5. This cemented The Grass Roots standing as hit makers. Creed's playing was heard right up to the Lovin' Things album. By that time, the group veered into a formula for success that precluded the group members from manifesting too much individuality. Their music had moved away from its original folk-rock sound to a more pop-soul orientation. Creed recalls a heartfelt plea to the other band members in the back of a limo. He stated that they must get back to their original roots (no pun intended)...or their credibility as artists was doomed...he was of course wrong and right. Creed was asked to leave the group in late 1969. He had become sullen and bitter about the turn of events in the bands presentation (biting the hand that fed him). He was seen wandering the tide pools at Paradise Cove in the wee morning hours, close to where he lived in Ramirez Canyon in Malibu. He continued writing songs and performed as a solo act in smaller clubs. In early 1972, he and his wife and daughter traveled to Europe and North Africa. He then returned to California and started formal studies in acting. He worked with Charles Conrad (The Meisner Method) for over four years. He then got an agent and started appearing in movies and television. He appeared in the major motion pictures Mask and Heart Like A Wheel in the late 80’s. He also worked behind the scenes as a prop man, boom man and grip, but never deserted his music. He started several groups in the Los Angeles area. In 2001, Creed released two albums of his solo work called Chasin’ The Ball and The 80’s. In 2002, he released one more album of his songwriting called Coarsegold. This large body of recording represents over thirty years of creativity. The songs reflect his base in folk music, his bridge to rock & roll with elements of jazz and country music infused. In 2004, he has enjoyed resurgence into acting by guest appearances on The Bernie Mac Show on Fox and the award winning The Office on NBC as a cast member. He thanks Ken Kwapis and Greg Daniels for giving him the opportunity. In 2007, he presented the induction award to The Wrecking Crew at the Musician’s Hall of Fame in Nashville. He also worked with Kyle Gass in a short film titled “Just One Of The Gynos” which premiered at the Malibu International Film Festival, Newport Beach Film Festival and Nashville Film Festival in 2008. The film won best short film at Malibu. Another major accomplishment in 2007 was his recording of a new solo album with producer Jon Tiven. The CD featuring a return to his rock & roll roots was released in 2008. He appeared in the feature film “Labor Pains” in 2009. In 2010 he completed another album of music produced by Dave Way titled “Bounce Back”. Creed’s recent film projects are “The Ghastly Love of Johnny X”. It is written, produced and directed by Paul Bunnell. “I Am Ben”. It is written, produced and directed by Mathew Brady and Gaelan Connell and “Terri”, produced by David Guy Levy that was shown at the 2011 Sundance Festival. In 2011 he released a new album of greatest hits from his first three solo albums titled “Demo”. In 2012, Creed had a very busy year. In addition to his work in the final season of The Office, he appeared as a special guest star in “Staged” with Brandon Olive who worked with him in “Just One Of The Gynos”. He appeared in the film project titled “Saving Lincoln”. It is a biography set in the civil war period. He plays a US senator. It is produced by Horatio C. Kemeny and written & directed by Salvador Litvak. He lampooned Todd Akin’s political apology via “Funny or Die”. He appeared in a TV movie titled “Liz & Dick” and portrayed entertainment mogul Darryl F. Zanuck. In addition to his busy acting schedule, Creed has made many live performances promoting his new album releases over the years as he can work them in during hiatus from his acting schedule. He appeared at the SXSW festival located in Austin, TX in 2010. In 2011, he made several live appearances in Los Angeles and Chicago promoting his latest albums. In 2012 he returned to the SXSW festival and expanded upon the number of appearances he made during the festival. He appeared at a concert hosted by Roky Erickson of “13th Floor Elevators” fame and played before fellow legend Donovan at the main SXSW show. He is currently working on a new album with his producer Dave Way. He appeared in a live performance with his friend P.F. Sloan in Altadena, CA in 2012. Creed continues to keep his music as an important part of his life. Creed has produced a musical legacy by his artistry with The Grass Roots and his solo work that will be enjoyed by listeners for many years to come. His appearances in a weekly hit TV show where he parodies himself as a rock star, have widened the scope of people that know of his influences as an actor and musician into the new millennium. Are his streaker days behind him? Only time will tell….