Also known as: United Travel Service, The
Origin: Corvallis, OR, USA
This northwestern Oregon band was formed by John Reeves (rhythm 12-string guitar, vocals) in the fall of 1966 with the intent of bringing the San Francisco sound to the rural college he attended at the time, Oregon State University (OSU). He first recruited Dale Sweetland (drums, vocals) who eagerly signed up after Reeves played him the Grateful Dead's 'Viola Lee Blues' as an example of what they were to be all about. Other members to sign up close behind Sweetland were Ben Hoff (lead vocals, lead guitar) and then Ray Doern (bass). They originally named themselves the Virgin Forest but quickly…