Wow! This thread is like wallowing through my youth!

I loved the KT when I was in high school and still have most if not all of their LPs. And who didn't love Belafonte? When I got to college in 1960 I was introduced (by my then-roommate-still-best-friend Lois Lyman) to the Weavers, New Lost City Ramblers, Flatt & Scruggs, and lots of others whose music was simply more exciting and interesting than KT's. The Trio always sounded so pleasant and harmonious, no matter how grisly the murder they were singing about. The Weavers and NLCR put far more life into their music and also gave us just a little background on the songs. KT's popularity -- and our own familiarity with their material -- made it easy to introduce other stuff to people who liked their music.

Interestingly, my friends and I didn't think much of PP&M (whom we called Peter Paul and Mounds). Maybe it was because they came along after we'd already graduated to better stuff, and maybe it was that their manufactured image showed. Or both. But they drew still more folks into the folk fold, and bless 'em for that.

I also loved the Limelighters -- interesting and funny!

Cheers, Nancy