Kingston trio--a place in history

Subject: RE: Kingston trio--a place in history
From: jimmyt
Date: 12 Feb 04 - 11:06 AM

I am in a group that pretty much exclusively plays KT3 and PPandM music with a smattering of Tom Paxton and Dylan, etc but their is a very appreciative audience for this music, we have found. I personally enjoy making people happy with music, so it is fun to perform this stuff to me. yes, we wear matching plaid shirts. yes it is hokey. It is entertainment! We have fun, they have fun, everyone is happy.

Subject: RE: Kingston trio--a place in history
From: Steve-o
Date: 12 Feb 04 - 11:45 AM

This is a wonderful thread- worthy of being "revived". It is especially nice to be reminded that current day folk singers (Kendall, Rick, etc.) readily admit to the KT's influence on them. YES, the Kingston Trio has a place in the history books- it should be found under keywords "catalyst" and "fun". They were charming, talented, unassuming, and they caused many of us to look further into this wonderful world of folk singers and roots music. I think they also picked good songs- something that most of the lesser popular fokie groups didn't do- and for that reason should be hailed as the best of their ilk. And as for purists, they will always be around whining no matter which successful performer is being discussed. I'm with Kendall- "I'd much rather hear them sing Long Black Rifle than some 48 verse boring ancient ballad".

Subject: RE: Kingston trio--a place in history
From: Anonny Mouse
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 11:57 PM

Back from the dead again-saw the topic in a batch of lyric requests, read thru it, blah blah. Maybe it's been hashed and rehashed too much...so just wonderin' whatcha all think...

I read of Bob Shane's heart problem and his forced retirement after what-47 years as the vocal anchor of the KT. Reynolds is alive but has I guess had some hip replacement problems; Guard of course passed. Stewart is still writing-geez he turned out to be prolific-and in a Google search I see he's got a new CD just out. Kinda America's balladeer now...dunno. Anyways seems like with Shane, Reynolds and Stewart all still alive you'd think they'd deserve some kinda lifetime Grammy or something-like they just did at the Oscars for Altman. I think its best when the one(s) getting honored are around to accept it. So whaddya think? Maybe or maybe not a place in history (for ME definitely!-long story) but is there some kinda honor out there that would be appropriate? Anyone ever do anything like that for the Weavers or Seeger or Woody (I see where Springsteen is doing a tribute CD to Seeger-guess he turns 87 soon).

Seems like these guys at least deserve a nod and since there's no originals left in whos ever touring out there (Grove being the senior of the group now) SOMETHING should be done. I just got no idea from who or where? I know this place is pretty polarized on groups like the KT and PP&M and "gen-u-ine FOLK music"- but lotsa people said they'd never have gotton into the latter without the former.

Subject: RE: Kingston trio--a place in history
From: GUEST,Ken Brock
Date: 10 Mar 06 - 09:03 AM

The 2 hour radio program I did last month, including about 30 minutes conversation with Bob Shane (from Jan 11, 2006) is archived at www.kingstontrioplace.com, under the heading "Read, Look and Listen". I hope to do a second interview soon.

Subject: RE: Kingston trio--a place in history
From: Anonny Mouse
Date: 10 Mar 06 - 12:34 PM

Thanks Mr. Brock...forgot about that. Did (does) Bob ever mention the lack of any recognition these days? He was kinda self-deprecating in the comments from the Martin folks above. Wonder if he's changed his outlook now that hes stopped touring and is relegated to just the memories, which surely must be many! Again-be nice to honor these guys while 3 of 'em are still with us.

Subject: RE: Kingston trio--a place in history
From: Steve-o
Date: 10 Mar 06 - 02:33 PM

Wonderful interview, except the interviewer keeps stepping on Bob's toes, cutting his stories short, changing the subject, etc. He tells a great anecdote about learning guitar from Josh White, and the interviewer doesn't respond with any enthusiasm about that, just trucks on to the next planned question. Whaaaa??? On Interview No. 2, could you please let him ramble a little more?? He's a wonderful storyteller, and remembers all the details and background stories- just let him go!

Subject: RE: Kingston trio--a place in history
From: Anonny Mouse
Date: 10 Mar 06 - 03:32 PM

Hey Steve-o-gotta agree having listened. I was also curious about the Guard departure, which Shane touched on but no follow up. Yer right--the guys a natural born storyteller. Let him run with it next time. My 2 cents. Too much interviewer intervention. But nice to have anyway.

Subject: RE: Kingston trio--a place in history
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Mar 06 - 03:44 PM

To Anonny - Self deprecation has always been a part of the KT humor - see "Coming from the Mountains", and intro to "Shady Grove/Lonesome Traveler", among others. There was very little conversation other than what's on the archive - just setting up connections.

To Steve - Thanks for the recommendation.   There were numerous times where I had to choose from multiple possible directions on the spot, and obviously didn't choose the one you would have gone with at that moment. Re Josh White, I will bring him up again and have some of his music handy in case Bob has a favorite track, as I did with Stan Wilson and Travis Edmonson last time. I didn't think on the spot of anything particular to ask re Josh White - will also try to let Bob expound where he wants. The sequence of topics was not preplanned - I had about 30 potential topics and song sequences in mind and had little idea going in knowing which we would get to, but knew I'd be lucky to get to a third of them. If I did not cut to songs frequently, the interview would have been limited to 12 minutes total. With luck, I'll be allowed to do more (I'd like to do 6 or 8 with Mr. Shane, but that is wishful thinking) of these programs that are 1/4 talk and 3/4 music.

Subject: RE: Kingston trio--a place in history
From: Steve-o
Date: 10 Mar 06 - 03:58 PM

Thanks to Ken for a nice response- and I really wasn't trying to be snotty (hope I didn't sound that way). Please, please make it known to Mudcat when Interview #2 takes place- I will surely listen with great pleasure.

Subject: RE: Kingston trio--a place in history
From: GUEST,Allen in Oz
Date: 10 Mar 06 - 05:21 PM

I was not aware that Dave Guard died in the 1990s...all very sad. He lived in Australia for some time (Whale Beach near Sydney I think) . Their version of Greenback Dollar was excellent
Allen

Subject: RE: Kingston trio--a place in history
From: GUEST,DG FANORAMA
Date: 12 Mar 06 - 01:55 PM

So I takes it from the responses or lack thereof you folks think this group deserves NO FORMAL RECOGNITION AT ALL???? C'mon. Who here doesn't owe SOMETHING TO the KINGSTON TRIO, EH? (Yes I'm a Cannuck!). Up here in Alberta...where men are men and winters turn some men into women hahahaha...(just kidding you men and WOMEN)...that KT GROUP made many a folklorest and player and devotee. I say give 'em a lifetime achievement or something. You ever see how many of your tunes go BACK to them, or what they DID with them? EH? EH?

Subject: RE: Kingston trio--a place in history
From: keberoxu
Date: 07 Feb 16 - 05:05 PM

My parents' generation grew up with Dave-Guard-vintage Kingston Trio albums in the house. When I was little and these albums were played, I thought the Tahitian songs were a hoot..."aue tangni tangni tika ke aue..." the trio sang them deep in the chest, very macho sounding, booming, and pounding on the drums. Someday, I said to myself, I'm gonna find out what that means.

Still haven't found out, though.

I like those early albums now, largely because the producer, bless him, did not squash them up against a studio orchestra arrangement, but just let the three of them unleash that onstage energy and channel it into the microphones. Purist, impure, or what have you, these performances are a good lesson in the kind of enthusiasm it takes for three guys by themselves to grasp, and hold, the attention of an audience.
The term "gatekeeper" has much wisdom to it. So these performances do not issue from the sanctum sanctorum, the holy of holies, all the way inside the metaphorical temple? So be it: the job of "gatekeeper" is not so easy. You have to be energetic and focused, you have to present a great deal within a really short time span so as to leave a lasting impression.

What I like best is that enthusiasm and energy. It makes me sad to read earlier messages in this thread, how a later KT incarnation was jaded and hardened; but, that sort of thing happens.

Oh, and if I ever DO find out what those Tahitian lyrics mean, you guys at the café will be the first to know.

Subject: RE: Kingston trio--a place in history
From: keberoxu
Date: 07 Feb 16 - 05:33 PM

Okay, this is as far as I got:

Aue Tangni Tangni Tika is by Eddie Lund.

Toerua, the fast part of the medley, is by George Archer and his Pagans. (no I did NOT make that up)

These were recorded by the Kingston Trio on Capitol Records, on the album, Sold Out.

I still can't find a translation.

Subject: RE: Kingston trio--a place in history
From: keberoxu
Date: 07 Feb 16 - 06:20 PM

At Territorialairwaves.com:


Marcel Rene George Archer Ceran was born in Tahiti in 1906.
paraphrase: he first emigrated to Los Angeles, and from there to Hawaii, where he married a Hawaiian lady. There he formed the band George Archer and his Pagans. Nicknamed "Tautu."

You can listen to his "Toerau" on youtube, and it is just as energetic as the Kingston Trio version. (made me laugh)