Originally known as the Electric Circus they played teen centers in the Severna Park / Annapolis area. Members consisted of Tice Griffin (guitar), Nick Barker (keyboards ex-Uptowns), Jay Baker (bass), and Calvin Hood (drums). Hood was later replaced with Bob Zordich. With Tice’s songwriting ability they attracted the attention of producer Plato Theopolous who became their manager and had ties to a record distributor named Ron Bowman.
Under the management of Plato, who also managed the Koffee Beans, the band’s name was changed to Gross National Product, a name that they had seen in a book. They recorded the Griffin composition “Cover Girl” in 1968 and pitched it to the Cover Girl cosmetics company without success. The song, however attracted some interest, spending three months on WCAO’s Top-60 chart peaking at #36 in May 1969. It was picked up and released by Parrot Records. During this time the band also recorded a commercial for National Beer.
Left to right: Jay Baker, Tice Griffin, Nick Barker, and Bob Zordich
The band played mostly original music and was seen playing frat parties at the University of Maryland, Armory concerts, etc. They did not do much club work.
In 1969 they were picked up by A&M Records and released their second single “Alice McCrea” which got some national attention but unfortunately not enough for the group to continue with the label. They later appeared as the opening band for Chicago at Cole Field House.
In 1970 the band split up. Baker joined the Blueberry Blend. Griffin went on to attend college. He continued to perform as a solo guitarist in the ‘70s at the Middleton Tavern in Annapolis. In the early 1980s he moved to California where he continued to perform in the ‘00s writing music and playing as a solo club musician. His composition titled “The Gold in This Ring” placed in the top 10 on an indie country music chart.
Guitarist Tice Griffin continues to play and record in California. He also hosts karaoke at night clubs in his hometown. Drummer Bob Zordich continues to play music in his hometown of St. Paul, MN, in a band called Northbound Blue.
In Billboard Magazine, the GNP single “Cover Girl” was Spotlighted on April 12, 1969, and a mention in the “On the Street” column on June 7, 1969. The song worked its way up the Cashbox “Looking Ahead” singles chart (similar to Billboards ‘Bubbling Under’ the Hot 100 chart) peaking at #20 on July 5, 1969.
In 1980 Tice co-wrote a country song “The Gold in This Ring” with Todd Hartmann of the Huntington Beach, California rock band Flyer. The song was recorded by Pat Murphy in 1990 and released as a 45 on Overton Lee Records (OLR-148).
Gross National Product discography:
1968 Guilford 103 Cover Girl / That’s What I’ll Do Now
1969 Parrot 339 Cover Girl / That’s What I’ll Do Now
1970 A&M 1151 Alice McCrea / Hey, Pop Musician
