Sassafras

Sassafras are a rock band from South Wales first formed in 1970. They play a mix of rock and roll, progressive rock and country rock with the emphasis on vocal harmony. The use of twin guitar solos, played by original members Dai Shell and Ralph Evans, continues to be a distinctive feature of their music. The band holds the UK record for the group performing the greatest number of live gigs in a year.
The band was formed in South Wales in 1970 with guitarist Ralph Evans, bassist Ricky John Holt and drummer Rob Reynolds. David (Dai) Shell, a noted Cardiff guitarist, joined soon afterwards.
The band signed to George Martin’s AIR Productions in 1972 with a line-up completed by Terry Bennett on vocals and Robert 'Congo' Jones on drums. The band released their debut album, Expecting Company, on Polydor in 1973.
The band toured America's larger venues with such headlining groups as Ten Years After, Fleetwood Mac and Peter Frampton, played at festivals and achieved good press coverage, but never found real commercial success.
The band has been described as "a sort-of Welsh Fleetwood Mac/Eagles hybrid, with soaring west-coast melodies and a real roadtrip rock feel". In the early 1970s they held the record for highest number of gigs in a single year, with their 332 beating Slade by one. 
Galloni, James and Ray Jones later joined Son of Man, led by George Jones, who play music by Man, as well as their own compositions.
==Links to Peel==
The band did two sessions for Peel's show between 1973 and 1974. According to Ken Garner's The Peel Session book, the band did an audition tape, which the Radio One panel called 'borderline pass'. The group also did a session for Bob Harris in June 1973.
Peel also saw them perform in March 1975 at the Rainbow Theatre (see Gigography 1975), as well as on 1st July 1978 in Cardiff (see Gigography 1978). 
==Sessions==
1. Recorded: 1973-07-23. First Broadcast: 26 July 1973. Repeated: 30 August 1973
*Busted Country Blues / Expecting Company / Beans And Things / Goose That Lays The Golden Egg (& School Days 30/8/73)
2. Recorded: 1974-01-14. First Broadcast: 17 January 1974
*Box Car Hobo / To Ethel / Ohio / Schooldays
==Other Shows Played==
;thumb|220x220px1975
*17 March 1975: Wheelin' N Dealin' (7") Chrysalis
==External Links==
*Wikipedia
*Discogs
Category:Artists