[1] The original members of the band were Nancy "Nansi" Nevins (lead vocals/guitar), August Burns (cello), Albert Moore (flute/backing vocals), Alan Malarowitz (drums), Elpidio Cobian (conga), Alex Del Zoppo (keyboards) and Fred Herrera (bass).
Sweetwater originally formed to perform in local coffeehouses in Los Angeles until being signed to a major label.
The members of the band were early developers of the psychedelic rock/folk rock fusion style that was popularized by acts such as Jefferson Airplane.
[2] Three days after Sweetwater performed on The Red Skelton Show on December 30, 1969, Nevins was severely injured in an auto accident with a drunk driver.
For several years, there was a widespread but unfounded belief that Beverly Bivens, formerly of the West Coast group We Five, had died in a car accident.