Happy (?) Anniversary!

[cefil]

Happy (!?!) Anniversary (-7), Tom Dula:

May 1st marks the 140th anniversary of the hanging of Tom Dula for the murder of Laura Foster. Because of a ballad about this young man’s death, a song kept alive in the North Carolina mountains, the nation carries the event in its collective memory almost a century and a half later. That song, as recorded 90 years after the hanging by a little known folk group named the Kingston Trio, had an impact on American popular culture far beyond what the story alone -- or most any other story -- could have produced.

Full Story here: www.dailyyonder.com/tom-dula-murder-sold-10-000-guitars

More antics from North Carolina...hmmmm...I'm sensing a pattern.

cefil

[Diane Merkel]

Interesting! I always thought it was just a song without any basis in fact. Thanks!

[fred]

Actually, they remained a “little known folk group” for only a short time. The Kingston Trio formed in 1957, consisting of three college friends—two from Hawaii and one from California—and “Tom Dooley” was released in October 1958. To this day, the Trio is the only group, ever, to have four albums in the “Top 10” at one time. The original group—Dave Guard, Bob Shane, and Nick Reynolds—lasted until 1961 when Guard left over a minor, but apparently somewhat acrimonious, dispute. Rather than disband, however, Reynolds and Shane sought a new member and decided on John Stewart (who died in January) and that group remained together until 1968.

Shane apparently got antsy and decided to reform. He linked up with two other fellows—Roger Gamble and George Grove—and they continued to tour and make albums. Gamble died suddenly and Nick Reynolds decided to come back, replacing him. In 1981, Guard and Stewart joined Reynolds and Shane for a PBS special, and in 1990 the original three planned an extended re-union tour, but Guard became ill. He had been diagnosed with lymphatic cancer and died on March 22, 1991, at the age of 57. His dear friend from their earliest days in Hawaii, Bob Shane, attended the memorial service in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a long way from the beautiful, halcyon days of their youth and success in California.

After Reynolds retired for the last time, Shane continued the group and their touring around the country until a massive heart attack almost killed him and sidelined him for good. His wife—Bobbie Shane—told me it was nip and tuck for quite some time, but he made it and they now live in Phoenix.

One of their earliest supporters—Enrico Banducci—the owner of the legendary “Hungary i” nightclub in San Francisco, a man who started or fostered the careers of dozens of famous stars—Barbara Steisand, Mort Sahl, Woody Allen, Jonathan Winters, Tom Lehrer, Bill Cosby, among others—died on October 10, 2007. The Trio recorded two live albums at Banducci’s famous hot spot.

The Kingston Trio was quite possibly the most influential group of its time, the late-fifties, early to mid-sixties. Their music was powerful; haunting; rollicking; sometimes a tad suggestive, if not downright bawdy for its day; political; and always fun. Their instrument work was brilliant—no one could play the banjo like Guard, and Reynolds made the bongos virtually sing. You could actually discern a tune with some of his work on the drums. Their live performances (I saw them when I was in college—I think it was in October 1959; my friends and I drove from Washington, D. C., over to the University of Maryland—and several other times over the years) were exhilarating and they always left you laughing. Even today I take their music with me wherever I go. They represented my youth; from the way they dressed, to the way they cut their hair, to what they stood for. To me, they were the very best, and they represented so many marvelous things about America.

Best wishes,
Fred.

[elisabeth]

Fascinating info, Fred. I didn't know anything about their complicated history.

The song was a massive hit over here, too; I should think it was played on every request programme, every week, for at least a year after its release, and probably for much longer than that. Deceptively simple, too, so that every amateur group felt confident having a go at it, which extended its life yet further -- you'd continue to hear it performed in village halls and the like for years after. "Fun" is exactly the word. There was always something sprightly and witty about their stuff. Nice to be reminded of them.

[punkprincess]

Wonderful posting, Fred. Thank you so much for sharing the information. My personal favorite by the Kingston trio is the one about Charlie and the MTA. I'm not sure of the title - my uncle would know, since he is of that era and knows most everything - but the lyrics include: "Did he ever return? No he never returned; and his fate is still unlearned. He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston. He's the man who never returned." I guess everyone has a favorite Kingston Trio song.

They were a tremendous influence not only on the folk music "scene" of the time, but on club music as a whole. The Hungry I became a DESTINATION, small clubs sprang up all over the place, and more and more people were exposed to not only folk, but to jazz, and stand-up comedy as well. Even groups such as The Beach Boys took their cues from the Trio. If you see early photos of the boys, you will see the same haircuts and the same shirts.

As to Tom Dooley - and the many stories throughout history about the eternal triangle - my favorite, although cut somewhat short, is the Smothers Brothers version, with Tommy, I believe doing the lead vocals.

[cefil]

Apr 27, 2008 8:58:12 GMT -6 @punkprincess said:

"Did he ever return? No he never returned; and his fate is still unlearned...He's the man who never returned."

Hi Punk:

Ah, the memories...Your post brings to mind a certain beloved former poster here...who, likewise, and lamentably, left and hasn't returned...

...Or has he?

cefil

[fred]

Elisabeth--

I wasn't aware it was such a hit in the U.K. It's nice to hear, however. They were a marvelous group of fellows.

Princess--

You are absolutely correct in what you posted. And the official title of that other big hit is simply, "M.T.A." The Smothers Brothers were another act at the "Hungry i." In fact, the brothers and the Trio became good friends. They were also close to Peter, Paul, and Mary, and I believe Glen Yarborough, as well. Yarborough was one of the founders and original members of the Limeliters (my second favorite group, and another one that came to Washington, D. C., to play in the local gin mills at the time. One of the great things about the Limeliters was that the joints they played in were only a couple of blocks from campus; plus, the one place they played in was so small, you could sit in the joint next door, not pay the cover, have a beer and still hear the music; great, great fun!). I think the Limeliters may have also played at the "i"; either way, I'm sure Yarborough did. Man! was he smooth!

I don't know how they interacted with the Beach Boys, though if I am not mistaken, they were friends with one or two of the originals.

There was something very exotic about the Kingston Trio, however. To me, they are the quintessential representatives of a bygone era, one that will never return. It was more than their appearance-- that was the way we all seemed to dress at my schools. They represented the mystique of faraway places, of Hawaii, of the Caribbean, of places even as far away as Tahiti. Places more difficult to get to in the 1950's and 60's. Maybe it was just a simpler life, a simpler time. Even though there was a clear-cut dichotomy between the Trio and so many of the events of the 60's, they represented a gin-and-tonic on the rooftop of the Majestic, a walk down wide, French-designed Far Eastern boulevards, past bougainvillea-covered colonial villas; Graham Greene, Evelyn Waugh, Ian Fleming. Or maybe they simply represented the escape from all that.

Best wishes,
Fred.

[fred]

Larry--

It's nice to see you here. I'm not on very much any more, but I always enjoyed your stuff.

Bob Haworth-- who was one of the Brothers Four-- also played with the Kingston Trio, I think in the early 2000's. The irony of the whole thing is that now the Trio is made up of George Grove (who has been a member since the 70's), and two former Limeliters, Bill Zorn and Rick Dougherty.

Best wishes,
Fred.

[Diane Merkel]

Larry and Fred,

It's nice to see both of you here. If it takes music rather than LBH to bring everyone together, so be it!

Diane

[clw]

but he better keep amovin' and don't stand still, if the skeeters don't get him, then the gators will... Everglades. And Southwind, love that one.

Regarding the Smother's Bros, my Border Collie is Dick and my Vizsla is Tom. To a tee.

[Dark Cloud]

I was a fan of the Trio, myself. I wrote some stuff about it years ago, and again this year when Stewart died. If, and only if, you're interested, it's here.

www.darkendeavors.com/boulder_lout/3.asp

They did, in 1963, one song referencing Custer: "Some Fool Made a Soldier of Me." Which, given the reality, wasn't all that off.

[fred]

Darkcloud--

Magnificently done! much of it as I suspected it really was. Now... how can I get a real, live copy of all of it without trying to figure out what machinations I have to go through in "downloading."

Really beautifully done and that includes the here, here, and here.

Best wishes,
Fred.

[Melani]

Side note on "Charlie on the MTA," from a post on the Mudcat Cafe:

"There seems to be some confusion about the history of the song, "Charlie on the MTA" (The MTA Song).
Written in 1948 and © by Jacqueline Steiner and Bess Lomax Hawes, one of seven songs written for the campaign of Walter A. O'Brien, Progressive Party candidate for mayor of Boston. One of his promises was to reduce fares on the MTA (now MBTA). The song was recorded by the Almanac Singers, one of whom was Pete Seeger. One recording of each song was made and they were broadcast from a sound truck. O'Brien was fined $10 for disturbing the peace.
A singer named Will Holt recorded the story of Charlie for Coral Records. The record company received protests from Boston because the song made a hero out of a local radical (During the McCarthy era in the 1950s, the Progressive Party became synonymous with the Communist Party). Holt's record was withdrawn by Coral.
Not until 1959 did the Kingston Trio record the song. The name Walter A. was changed to George to avoid the problems that Holt experienced. They also omitted this verse:

As his train rolled on
Underneath Greater Boston
Charlie looked around and sighed:
"Well, I'm sore and disgusted
And I'm absolutely busted;
I guess this is my last long ride."

(Also, in the 1st verse, the Kingstons changed tunnels to station. They also shortened the chorus and left out some of the political message)

Walter A. O'Brien lost the election, returned to Maine in 1957, and became a school librarian and a bookstore owner. He died in 1998. Another man damaged by the McCarthy era.
Condensed from the MIT website."

[clw]

"These are the times that try mens souls. In course of our nation's history the people of Boston have rallied bravely whenever the rights of men have been threatened, Today a new crisis has arisen..... Citizens hear me out, this could happen to you!"

[crzhrs]

Apr 29, 2008 9:38:16 GMT -6 clw said:

"These are the times that try mens souls. In course of our nation's history the people of Boston have rallied bravely whenever the rights of men have been threatened, Today a new crisis has arisen..... Citizens hear me out, this could happen to you!"

Joe McCarthy? ;D