The Kingston Trio biography

 

In 1957 America was ready for a new style of music. Just out of college, Bob Shane, Nick Reynolds and Dave Guard took dormant folk music and gave it a comic twist irresistible to the college crowd (and just about everyone else). The music was rooted in American Popular culture, but performed with a refreshing style that now seems timeless. Like the Beatles, The Kingston Trio created a national audience for their new style of music, causing a ripple effect on the entire music industry. When Tom Dooley went gold in 1958, the folk revival was born. In no time The Limeliters, The Brothers Four, Chad Mitchell and The Smothers Bros. all found an audience. It was this "folk revival" that set the stage for Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Peter Paul & Mary, The Byrds, and the protest movement of the 60s.

The then unknown Trio was playing at the Cracked Pot in the spring of '57. In the audience was Frank Werber, a young publicist who was making a name for himself in the San Francisco nightclub scene. Werber was captivated by the spontaneity of their performance, and approached the band as they were packing their insturments after the show. They talked into the morning, and by the time the bartender was ready to lock up, The Trio had a manager, a contract (signed on a paper napkin!) and a name, The Kingston Trio, chosen for its Ivy League/Calypso crossover appeal.

The band worked tirelessly to refine the music and polish their act. Werber arranged for them to work with Judy Davis, San Francisco's finest voice coach. After months of work, they were booked at the Purple Onion, San Francisco's "discovery club". They were an overnight sensation. A one week booking turned into a sold out run that lasted for months. Established entertainers such as Mort Sahl caught their show, and word began to spread throughout the show business world. The first KT tour took them from casinos in Reno to the nation's premier nightclubs, such as New York's Village Vanguard & Blue Angel, and Chicago's Mr. Kelley's.

In the Summer of '58, The Kingston Trio returned to San Francisco, playing a four month standing room only run at the famous Hungry i nightclub. During this period the group also recorded their first album, which enjoyed mild success. That Fall, The Trio went to Honolulu to play at The Royal Hawiian. It gave Dave and Bob some time at home, unaware of what was happening on the mainland. Bill Terry and Paul Colburn, DJs at KLUB in Salt Lake City, took a liking to one of the songs on the first KT album and gave it heavy airplay. Other stations across the country picked the song up and and clamored for Capitol Records to release it as a single. Capitol's vice president, Voyle Gilmore, called Frank Werber in Hawaii. "Get those boys back here" he said, "It looks like you're going to have the record of the year."

Gillmore's prediction was no exaggeration. The song was Tom Dooley, and this was the beginning of a meteoric sucess that has become a show business legend. When the Trio returned from Hawaii, Tom Dooley was the number one song in the nation. Milton Berle, Perry Como, Dinah Shore & Patti Page all signed the Trio to appear on their shows. The Trio also remained loyal to their college audience, playing college shows every other day over the next six months. In those first four whirlwind years with Dave Guard, the Trio cut ten albums. The Dec. 12 issue of Billboard magazine listed four Trio albums among the top 10, a feat unsurpassed to this day. Voyle Gilmore of Captiol records produced the group's top records. A gifted producer, his stellar work with The Kingston Trio & Frank Sinatra is still enjoyed by millions of music lovers.

In 1961 Dave Guard left The Kingston Trio to pursue a different musical direction. Several musicians were given serious consideration to fill the opening, including Roger McGuinn of The Byrds fame. Nick and Bob agreed on John Stewart as the new member. "John was a natural," according to Nick. Bob said John gave the group "that extra solid sound" they had been looking for. John truly was the right fit. A first rate entertainer & gifted songwiter, he also had the good fortune to look great in a striped shirt. Anxiety at Capitol over the future of their best selling act quickly vanished when a group of label execs heard the band play their newest song, Jesse James, at Frank Werber's house.

The Trio enjoyed six productive years with John Stewart. Although the flavor of the sound evolved, it remained as infectious as ever with the fans. The national and worldwide acclaim continued, and thirteen more albums were released. Many singles made the charts and several recieved Grammy nominations. Among the memorable albums were: Close Up, College Concert, Something Special, Back In Town, #16 and New Frontier. In 1967 Nick, Bob and John disbanded the Trio to pursue individual careers. "Pop music tastes were changing," says Bob. "That whole rock revolution spread from San Francisco across the country and took a lot of our audience with it. But folk music is timeless, and I knew it would come around again."

Bob recorded four singles for Decca Records, including Rod McKuen's Simple Gifts & Bobby Russell's Honey. Although Honey sold like hot cakes in two test markets, Decca failed to promote the record, and Bob declined to record Russell's Little Green Apples. Both songs, of course, ultimately sold millions for Bobby Goldsboro. John went on to record with Buffy Ford on Capitol, and continued to write-his Daydream Beliver was a million seller for the Monkees. He and Buffy also campaigned vigorously for Robert Kennedy. Nick hung up his guitar for a time and took up auto racing. In 1967 he moved with his family to Oregon, where he ranched, antiqued and pursued other diversions.

By 1968, Bob was eager to perform with a trio again. The New Kingston Trio featured Pat Horine and banjoist Jim Conner, accompanied by bassist Frank Passantino and drummer Frank Sanchez. The New Kingston Trio enjoyed renewed sucess, recording two albums, and adding new material to the KT repitoire. In 1973 Bob teamed up with Bill Zorn, formerly of The New Christy Minstrels, and North Carolinan Roger Gambill. Roger brought vocal talents to the group ranging from pop to operatic. His rendition of Danny Boy was never recorded, but got to be a regular request from the fans. In 1976 Bob & Roger teamed with George Grove, another North Carolinan who had written and performed in Nashville. George's vocal and insturmental talents are unsurpassed in the Trio's history, and it should be noted that the symphony shows - of which they perform many each year - are made possible by his orchestral arrangements.

For Trio fans, March of 1982 brought a magical television event when PBS broascast "The Kingston Trio and Friends Reunion." Bob, Nick and Dave performed for the first time since 1961; Bob, Nick and John for the first time since 1967. Every member who had ever performed as part of The Kingston Trio appeared that night. Surely this was one of the most notable shows in Kingston Trio history. Tommy Smothers hosted, while each former Trio member performed a memorable sampling. Although the Kingston Trio had played to many sold out stadiums, this was different. People had traveled from all over the country, and much of the "who's who" of the music industry attended. Each generation of the Trio performed that night - to deafening applause. Long time Trio fanatic Lindsay Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac played bass. Mary Travers graced the show by singing Where Have All the Flowers Gone?... it was truly a pinnacle night for Kingston Trio fans.

Shortly after this phenomenal event, Bob, Roger & George recorded 25 Years Non-Stop, faithfully reproducing the Trio's biggest hits over the years. It was followed in January of 1983 by Looking For The Sunshine, a collection of new songs. The Trio was maintaining a busy concert schedule when suddenly in 1985 Roger died of a heart attack. Roger was a superb musician and outstanding humorist... his shoes would be hard to fill.

Enter Bob Haworth, a musician who had cut his musical teeth on Kingston Trio material. Bob was with the Brothers Four & managed to fill in so that neither group missed any dates. Bob remained with the Trio for three years, then left to pursue his solo career. At this point, it seemed natural for the Trio to turn to the man who had helped forge the original, compelling Kingston Trio sound more than thirty years earlier - Nick Reynolds. "It took me about 15 minutes to feel comfortable singing with the Trio again," commented Reynolds. The Shane, Reynolds & Grove Trio enjoyed many years of sold out shows.

The close of the Twentieth Century saw change come again to the Kingston Trio, as Bobby Haworth returned following Nick's second retirement. Nick's last show with the Trio was performed December 2, 1999 in Scottsdale, Az. The Kingston Trio now consists of Bob Shane, George Grove and Bobby Haworth, and is still playing to sold out audiences and garnering rave reviews wherever they go.