My Journey With The Kingston Trio

I became a Kingston Trio fan the first time I heard LIVE AT HUNGRY I when I was about 10 years old. The Kingston Trio was the phenomena that swept America before the Beatles. The late 1950's and early 1960's saw Kingston mania and I am glad I was a part of it.

I remember our first record player. It was a combination TV set and record player which my parents and older brother played 78's or 45's on. I used to listen to records by such artists as Frank Sinatra, the Mills Brothers, Johnny Ray, Rosemary Clooney, Bill Haley and the Comets, show tunes, Elvis and any record I could find that my parents or brother had purchased. None of them were of my choosing. They were just in the cabinet and I liked listening to music but nothing in that cabinet was like the Kingston Trio at the HUNGRY I. I suppose my brother brought that album home but I never remember him listening to it. When I first heard Nick, Dave and Bob nothing had ever affected me like that before. I could sit for hours and just listen to the songs and their banter over and over again and never tire of it.

We purchased a new Magnavox Hi Fidelity record player not long after that and I can remember the excitement of it being delivered and opening the large box it came in. All I could think of was how my new AT LARGE album was going to sound on it. Funny thing is that I can remember where I was and nearly every circumstance in my life when a new Kingston Trio album was released. Prior to the Kingston Trio, people listened primarily to old 78's or 45 records but the Trio ushered in the album craze. In those days not only was the record itself important, but so was the album cover. I loved every album cover the Kingston Trio released and I still enjoy them today. They were the epitome of "cool" and I always wanted to dress and look like them when I was young. I always read every word on the back of the album over and over.

All three members were heroes to me. I admired them for different reasons but I took a special interest in Dave Guard because he was the banjo player. Thanks to Dave, I learned to play a banjo, which is something I have always appreciated and been grateful to Dave for. I'm sure many of you remember the groups who performed in your local towns and school assemblies who were Kingston Trio wannabes. Maybe you were part of one of those groups. Many of us probably still tinker with our banjos and guitars to this day and others like Lindsey Buckingham or John Stewart became professional musicians and song writers because of that influence. In fact, the influence of the Kingston Trio probably goes farther than any of us imagine. According to Tony Trischka, who is one of the finest banjo player/instructors (taught Bela Fleck) in the United States today, John Lennon's first musical instrument was the 5-string banjo. There is a story floating about that Bob Shane made his way backstage at a Beatle Concert and found himself in the dressing room of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Supposedly, when he introduced himself (thinking they would never know who he was) they began to rattle off various Kingston Trio songs in two-part harmony. Although John Lennon is not here to confirm it, I suspect Dave Guard had something to do with that first 5-string banjo and that the Trio collectively may have influenced the harmonies the Beatles became famous for.

I was shocked when Dave Guard left the group. Funny thing, I was angry but didn't know whom to be mad at. Some how I suspected Bob Shane. When Dave left the Kingston Trio every banjo player in American probably wanted that gig. John Stewart was extremely brave and maybe too young and foolish to know better than to try and take Dave Guard's place; but looking back now, nobody deserved it more than John nor would anyone have done a better job. While I was not a John fan at first, I am forever a fan of John now. His humor and obvious talent as both a songwriter and musician was significant. Technically, he was a better banjo player than Dave, but I will always love Guard's banjo style. Even with “the new guy”, I continued to follow the Trio and still listened intently; however, the surf craze had just begun and the British invasion was just around the corner.

I was swallowed up by Beatle mania and apparently so was the Trio. After the Beatles arrived, I broke away from folk music and I paid very little attention to the Trios whereabouts. In 1980, I noticed they were playing in my community but I was unable to attend the concert. Bob Shane was the only original in the group and I had never heard of George Grove or Roger Gambill. I really don't know much about Roger except that he was a very good singer and a good guy who was very popular amongst KT fans. Roger tragically died of natural causes at the young age of 40.

For the next fifteen years I lost track of the Kingston Trio and never even knew that Dave Guard was sick or had passed away. I had all but given up folk music and was listening to either rock or easy listening music such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. I had sold my banjo and guitar. Then in 1996, my wife suggested we go to a Bluegrass Festival. When I heard Ron Block of Alison Kraus and the Union Station play the 5-string banjo all my old feelings began to stir. I decided to go back to my roots and I began to listen to the Kingston Trio again. I looked up the Trio on the Internet and learned that Nick had rejoined Bob in the group and that Dave had died of cancer a few years earlier.

I went to used record stores and purchased all the old Trio albums. I realized how much I had missed them and how much of an impact they had made on my life and my deep appreciation for music. I was so moved that I sat down and wrote a letter to the President of the United States and asked him if he would please honor the Trio with the Kennedy Center Award because I felt they had made such a big contribution to my generation. I found Nick Reynolds's address and mailed a copy of that letter to him. It wasn't but a few weeks later that Nick's wife called me and thanked me for writing President Clinton that letter. I told her then, and I'll say it again now, that it was a small thing to do in return for all the many hours of enjoyment the Trio had given me. I have been writing letters to Vice Presidents, Senators, Congressmen and members of the Kennedy Center ever since, to try and convince them that the Trio should get this award and I urge you to do the same now and in the future. When Leslie Reynolds called me I thanked her and asked if she thought it was possible that I could meet the guys sometime and she told me she would arrange it.

The Kingston Trio had an unfortunate incident in the early days. Like many musicians who fly a lot, they nearly met a tragic end in a private aircraft (I think in route to a Notre Dame Concert). The pilot who saved them that night later became ill and died of a brain tumor. The Trio did a benefit concert in his honor. My uncle had been a very good friend of this man and somehow arranged for me to meet the KT. At the age of twelve this was a dream but unfortunately I came down with the flu and was unable to attend the concert that night. The KT was kind enough to send home a 7Up promotional 45 record personalized and signed for me instead. So when Leslie Reynolds told me she could arrange an opportunity for me to meet Nick and Bob some 35 years later I was thrilled.

That opportunity came a few months later in Jackpot, Nevada.  I can't tell you the excitement I felt during my drive to Jackpot. I didn't know what to expect. I hadn't seen Nick Reynolds or Bob Shane in 30 years. I had no idea what they would even look like. Although it wasn't realistic, I still pictured them as the guys on all those record album covers that I had admired when I was young. I can still recall sitting on the front row of the small show room. The curtain was down but I could hear them tuning up behind the curtain. The anticipation was thrilling and then exactly at 8 pm the curtain went up and there was Nick, Bob and George. I was seeing the Kingston Trio in person for the first time in my life. There were my childhood heroes singing "Hard Ain't It Hard". Definitely much older, they sounded great! Nick's opening joke about how old the audience looked was hilarious. Of course he knew we were all thinking the same thing about them. After the show, Paul Gabrielson took me back stage and I found myself alone with Bob Shane and Nick Reynolds. I was awe struck. Here I was in a dressing room with Nick and Bob and I didn't know what to say. I blurted out that I was the guy "who wrote the president". They were both very nice. Nick, who was anxious to escape, quickly left for a nightcap and some sleep. I was surprised by how friendly Bob was. When I mentioned the benefit concert some 35 years earlier he quite clearly remembered that night and in a very loving and quiet voice said, "That was when Dave was with us". If ever I had any hard feelings for Bob Shane regarding Dave Guard, they instantly left the moment he said that.

Nobody admires Dave Guard more than I do, but in all fairness, Dave left Bob and Nick high and dry because he wanted to go in a different direction. Objectively speaking, I can see all sides now. Dave saw the future coming and felt they would have to change and grow as musicians if they were to endure. Bob and Nick saw the past and thought they were doing great. After all, they had been making hit records, receiving Grammies and making lots of money. In retrospect, I think Dave made a mistake but I still admire him and hope that he is in good company wherever he may be. Too much has been made of the split and I give much credit to Nick and Bob for not making public displays about it. They just grew apart.

I left Jackpot satisfied that I had seen and met the Kingston Trio or at least two thirds of the Trio. I didn't meet George Grove but with that stupid attitude, I thought, no biggie, he wasn't an original. I felt my KT journey was over and I drove home. I continued to play the albums but not with as much vigor as before. A few months later I was in another used record shop when I saw LIVE AT THE CRAZY HORSE. I thought what the heck, I'll buy it. I was hooked. The CRAZY HORSE CD nearly had the same affect on me as the HUNGRY I had had when I was a young boy. WOW!!! What a recording and what a banjo!

Enlightened, I couldn't wait for another opportunity to see them. Over the past five years I have seen the KT perform over 30 shows in nearly 12 different venues. I have traveled to Jackpot every year for the past five years and to the Crazy Horse (both the new and the old locations). There have been many memorable nights and there have been a few magical ones too. The most magical was the first time I saw them at the Crazy Horse Saloon. It was like a party. The room was full of people who had known them for a long time. They sounded great and they were pure fun. It also was the last time I ever saw Nick Reynolds perform with the group. For some reason I thought that it might be and that is why I traveled almost a thousand miles to see them that night.

Speaking of Nick Reynolds, the reason I care so much about Nick is his enthusiasm. If you listen carefully to all the old records you will hear Nick cheerleading the group. Whether it's "hit it", "one more time", or any other comment, he's always directing the group's energy and he's always having fun. Nick also has sung some remarkable songs over the years. Most of Nick's songs were the fun up-tempo tunes, but my favorite song he ever did was the bluesy song, "The Wanderer" on HERE WE GO AGAIN. There are just so many Nick Reynolds classics such as "Hobo's Lullaby" and "If There's One More Town" that it's hard to mention them all and this story is already long enough. If I had to sum up Nick Reynolds in a song for posterity's sake, I would point out either "This Little Light Of Mine" or "Tom Dooley". If you listen carefully to "This Little Light Of Mine" you hear him cheerleading at his best. His harmonies in "Tom Dooley" make it the song that it is. Thank you Nick for everything you gave to the Kingston Trio and all us who will always love and remember you.

I first met George Grove at the Crazy Horse Saloon and I have been his fan ever since. The banjo bible is a book titled MASTERS OF THE 5 STRING BANJO written by Pete Wernick and Tony Trischka. In a reference to a legendary banjo player by the name of Snuffy Jenkins (page 6), they mention his back and forth style from strumming, 3-finger picking and claw hammering (frailing to some) "with finger picks on". One of the band members makes a comment that "you're playing to the musicians when you can do that". That sums it all up about George Grove's banjo style. Like Snuffy Jenkins, George is all over the banjo from strumming to 3-finger picking to frailing and with finger picks on! I've seen many banjo players over the past 5 or 6 years but it is George's style that really gets me. Anyone who does not take George seriously or thinks he doesn't weigh in as heavily as past members, is sadly mistaken. If you should read this George, please forgive me for not paying you enough respect because "you weren't an original". Next to Bob Shane, George Grove has been the longest enduring member of the KT.

Finally, I have a few thoughts about Bob Shane. I admire and appreciate Bob Shane for the kindness he always shows fans and for his lifelong dedication to preserving the Kingston Trio. There is so much that could be said about Bob's voice. In my humble opinion, Bob Shane is the voice of folk music. I'm convinced that had he chosen a career as a solo singer he could have been in the category of Sinatra and others; but that was not his style. He's a group player. While I could listen to Bob sing "Scotch and Soda" a thousand times (and I probably have), my favorite Bob Shane song is "Try To Remember". I have never heard anyone sing that song like him.

It's now 2009 and I'm still on the journey. So much has changed since that first encounter in 1996. We've lost both Nick and John and Bob has retired from the road, but remains actively at the captain's wheel as the owner of the Kingston Trio and for those of us who are fortunate enough to know him, his boundless energy and good nature remains an inspiration to us all. Besides his incredibly positive attitude, certainly much of the credit for who Bob is today goes to Bob's wonderful wife Bobbie. 

As for The Kingston Trio as a group, the current members of George Grove, Bill Zorn and Rick Dougherty are fantastic and continue the tradition of musical excellence, which was created over a half century ago. They still tour nearly 30 weeks of the year and also conduct a Kingston Trio Fantasy Camp every summer in Scottsdale, Arizona; a tradition Nick and John started and Bob and the Trio have continued. If you haven't been to FC you've missed out.

Looking back over this 50-year journey with The Kingston Trio, it's amazing how much it has given me. Not only has my association with the Kingston Trio provided countless hours of great music and remarkable fun, it has also afforded me some of the best friends and extended family I have ever been fortunate to have.

Thank you Bob and Bobbie Shane for what you have given and continue to give us. I love you guys.

 

For comments about this article, my email is: robertandassociates@comcast.net