Joel Larson (born April 29, 1947) is an American rock drummer and percussionist who is known as a founding member of The Merry-Go-Round and for being associated with the Turtles and the Grass Roots.
He toured nationwide with the group in support of Their 16 Greatest Hits, Move Along, Alotta' Mileage and The Grass Roots (Haven Records) albums and associated singles.
He then entered into property management and real estate investment, while continuing as a musician in Los Angeles playing with members of the Buckinghams and Paul Revere & the Raiders.
In television, he has worked for multiple years on the Chuck Lorre hit shows Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, Mike & Molly and Mom.
In 2010, he took part in the US premiere screening of the film Emitt Rhodes – The One Man Beatles at a Rhino Records pop-up store in Westwood, California.
In 2011, former Gene Clark Group members Chip Douglas, Bill Rinehart and Larson took part in the High Moon Records label launch party at the Roxy in Los Angeles.
[1] In 2014, Larson participated with a panel of music celebrities including Henry Diltz, Danny Hutton, Micky Dolenz and Gail Zappa at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, discussing the new exhibition California Dreamin', The Sounds of Laurel Canyon 1965 - 1977.