Kingston Trio: Both Eras

I was a big fan of the Kingston Trio, who first came to prominence when I was in high school and were the front runners of the Folk Era in popular music. Although Dave Guard, Nick Reynolds and Bob Shane began singing together in California bars, the formal origin of the group began as Dave Guard, Nick Reynolds, Joe Gannon and Barbara Bogue performing as Dave Guard and the Calypsonians. Nick Reynolds left shortly after and was replaced by Don McArthur and the group became known as The Kingston Quartet. When a publicist took an interest in the group, he suggested they get rid of the bass player and Gannon was let go. Barbara quit when that happened. But then both Shane and Reynolds came back and they became The Kingston Trio and an album was released under that name. "Tom Dooley", a song on that album was released as a single, went to the Billboard Top Ten and sold three millions copies. This was in July 1958.

In 1961, Dave Guard wanted to take the group in a different direction. Bob and Nick weren't happy with the idea and the group broke up. Shane and Reynolds continued as The Kingston Trio with Jon Stewart replacing Guard. They continued to have hits and popular albums for the next six years.

Dave Guard formed a new group called Dave Guard & the Whiskeyhill Singers, which consisted of Guard, Judy Henske, Cyrus Faryar and Dave Wheat. They did not do so well.

I guess my portrait of the Trio old and new is showing Dave Guard thupping his head saying, "what have I done?"