Conversation so far:
When was Gentle Giant originally formed?
Gentle Giant was formed in 1969 when the Shulman brothers teamed up with two other multi-instrumentalists, Gary Green and Kerry Minnear, plus drummer Martin Smith
What did the Shulman brothers play?
The Shulman brothers, meanwhile, settled into typically multi-instrumental roles of their own - Derek on saxophone and recorder, Ray on bass and violin and Phil on saxophone, trumpet, and clarinet
Where are Gentle Giant from?
Gentle Giant is from London, England
Did the Shulmans all grow up in the same place?
Phil and Derek were born in Glasgow, Scotland, in The Gorbals, which was then a notorious slum. The family moved to Portsmouth, England, where Ray was born.
What gave the Shulmans the idea for the name of the band?
the band's name was a reference to a fictional character, a gentle giant that happens upon a band of musicians and is enthralled with their music.

Question: Did they have a lot of trouble getting started?
Self-contained rewrite: Did Gentle Giant have a lot of trouble getting started?