The Kingston Trio has sold more records than any other folk group ever. In the late 50s and early 60s, the Kingston Trio was hugely successful, paving the way for vital folk acts like Bob Dylan and Fairport Convention.
Dave Guard, Bob Shane, and Nick Reynolds got together in Palo Alto, California, in 1957. They performed at parties and in local bars before they were spotted by a San Francisco nightclub worker, who became their manager and earned them a one-album deal at Capitol Records. They were an instant success: their first single was a version of the traditional folk song “Tom Dooley” that reached No.1 and sold millions of copies. “Tom Dooley” was the biggest song they ever recorded, and was credited by some as changing the face of popular music because of the huge popularity of its folk style. They won a Grammy for Best Country & Western Performance, and won Best Folk Recording the year after – a new award introduced to cope with the new folk boom caused by the Kingston Trio.
After that debut No.1 hit, the Kingston Trio only achieved minor hit singles, while their albums sold millions. By the early 60s there were several clone bands also vying for attention, but the Kingston Trio’s established fanbase kept them at the top. But in 1961 Guard left the group because of musical (and other) differences, to be replaced by John Stewart. As the Beatles brought a ‘British Invasion’ to America, the Kingston Trio found themselves sidelined somewhat, and they split in 1967. Bob Shane wasn’t happy with the split and continued in The New Kingston Trio, with different partners, but they were never able to revive the success of the original threesome.
