I have mixed emotions about this, as I imagine most of us do. I too owe a lot to being introduced to a lot of folk songs by the Kingston Trio, although I was already a great fan of Lonnie Donegan and Bob Gibson before I heard much by the trio. I wish Bob Shane God speed in recovering his health, whether he ever performs with the trio or not.

About ten years ago, I was asked to recommend an opening act for the Kingston Trio and suggested Sally Rogers and Howie Bursen (who I thought did a fine job, to a polite response.) But, everyone was waiting to hear the songs they listened to when they were in college, and they lapped up the Kingston Trio, despite their being sadly sloppy in their performance. In a way, it didn't make a difference.

A few years ago, I had a good friend who was still in his teens, who became one of The Coasters. He was in one of several groups all licensed as The Coasters, and toured nationally. I don't even think he was born when The Coasters were popular, and he was a white kid from an afluent family in Connecticut. Not particularly "rootsy."

Several years ago, I went to hear another favorite group of mine... the Four Freshmen. Talk about being held back... No one in the group was from the original Four Freshmen, but they were singing the same arrangements, and were under tight control by one of the original Freshmen and seemed to respect their heritage. They were also multi-talented musicians and had arranged more recent songs in the classic Four Freshmen harmony.

I guess all I'm saying is that whenever you try to relive a part of your past musical life, you take your chances.

Jerry