Poco

Poco
Poco, in 2007 L-R: Young, Lawrence, Cotton, and Sundrud
Background information
Origin	Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres	Country rock, folk rock, soft rock
Years active	1968–present
Labels	Epic, ABC, MCA
Associated acts	Buffalo Springfield, Eagles, Great Plains, Loggins and Messina, The Sky Kings, Souther–Hillman–Furay Band
Website	www.poconut.org
Members	Rusty Young Jack Sundrud George Lawrence Michael Webb Rick Lonow
Past members	George Grantham Richie Furay Jim Messina Randy Meisner Timothy B. Schmit Paul Cotton Al Garth Steve Chapman Charlie Harrison Kim Bullard Rick Seratte Jeff Steele Dave Vanecore Gary Mallaber Richard Neville Tim Smith

Poco is a Southern California country rock band originally formed by Richie Furay, Jim Messina and Rusty Young. Formed following the demise of Buffalo Springfield in 1968, Poco was part of the first wave of the West Coast country rock genre. The title of their first album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, is a reference to the break-up of Buffalo Springfield. Throughout the years Poco has performed in various groupings, and is still active.

During recording of Buffalo Springfield's third and final album, Last Time Around, lead singers Stephen Stills, Neil Young and Richie Furay each recorded songs without the other members present. One of Furay's solo efforts was the country-influenced ballad "Kind Woman", which he recorded with the help of producer/engineer/bassist Jim Messina and pedal steel guitarist Rusty Young.

When Buffalo Springfield split up, Furay, Messina and Rusty Young decided to start their own group oriented toward such songs. Its original lineup was Furay (vocals and rhythm guitar), Messina (lead guitar, vocals, producer), Rusty Young (pedal steel guitar, banjo, dobro, guitar, mandolin and vocals), George Grantham (drums and vocals) and Randy Meisner (bass and vocals). The group was signed to a recording contract with Epic Records, which acquired the rights to Furay from the Springfield's Atlantic Records label in return for those to Graham Nash of The Hollies (who was moving to Atlantic as part of forming Crosby, Stills & Nash). Originally, the new group was named "Pogo", after the Pogo comic strip character, but was changed when its creator, Walt Kelly, objected and threatened to sue.