Bob Shane, founding member of Kingston Trio, dead at 85
Source: AP
NEW YORK (AP) Bob Shane, the last surviving original member of the popular folk group the Kingston Trio and the lead singer on its million-selling ballad Tom Dooley and many other hits, has died.
Shane died Sunday at a hospice in Phoenix, Arizona at age 85. Mike Marvin, a cousin and surrogate son of fellow Kingston Trio founder Nick Reynolds confirmed the death but did not immediately know the cause of death.
Shane, Reynolds and Dave Guard were performers in the San Francisco club circuit in the 1950s and broke through nationally in 1958 with their eponymous debut album, which featured Tom Dooley, an old standard inspired by a Confederate veterans conviction for murder. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard pop charts, won a Grammy for best country and western song (no folk category existed) and helped launch the so-called folk revival, with other artists including Joan Baez; Peter, Paul and Mary; and, eventually, Bob Dylan.
Clean cut and amiable, they were criticized by some folk artists for being too slick and for avoiding political statements. But the Kingston Trio was one of the countrys top acts over the next few years. Five Kingston Trio albums topped the Billboard charts, with favorite songs including Where Have All the Flowers Gone?, 500 Miles, It Was a Very Good Year, later recorded by Frank Sinatra, and Sloop John B, later a Beach Boys hit.
FILE - In this Jan. 31, 1967, file photo, members of the Kingston Trio, from left: Bob Shane, John Stewart and Nick Reynolds are pictured in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. Shane, the last surviving original member of the popular folk group the Kingston Trio and the lead singer on its million-selling ballad Tom Dooley and many other hits, died Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Phoenix. He was 85. (AP Photo/File)
Read more: https://apnews.com/0ee74b125330fa442c80544c0b8a50e2
elleng
(130,126 posts)DeminPennswoods
(15,246 posts)Tiajuana Jail.
meadowlander
(4,358 posts)burrowowl
(17,606 posts)Harker
(13,870 posts)I wish I'd said, "thanks" more often.
Olafjoy
(937 posts)I loved the Kingston Trio. My favorite was Lemon Tree. Very pretty 😄🍋🍋🍋
moonscape
(4,664 posts)IthinkThereforeIAM
(3,072 posts)... my dad had an early 60's Kingston Trio album that I wore out. All of their hits.
OregonBlue
(7,744 posts)of us cousins to Portland to see them and get albums signed when I was about 13. They were my heartthrobs back then.Lemon Tree was one of my favorites but MTA made us all laugh. Loved They call the Wind Mariah.
NBachers
(16,999 posts)There's a constant tape loop of so many Kingston Trio songs playing at all times in my sub-conscious, ready to be pulled up whenever the circuit is thrown.
Harker
(13,870 posts)Peter, Paul, and Mary, also.
Grins
(7,128 posts)Love the endings of both.
Crabby Appleton
(5,231 posts)Was called the coachmen, named after the song.
Chipper Chat
(9,634 posts)He came into my music store in 1987 and bought $100 worth of Kingston Trio vinyl LPs.
nuxvomica
(12,360 posts)When RFK was running for the Senate, my dad had the whole family working on his campaign and we distributed stacks of 45s with the trio singing "Robert Kennedy / Wait till November Three / That's gonna be a great day!"
Hekate
(90,189 posts)RIP and thanks for the memories and the soundtrack of my youth.
Jane Austin
(9,199 posts)Last Month of the Year.
It's wonderful and has some unusual Christmas songs.
They were the soundtrack to my youth, too.
Crabby Appleton
(5,231 posts)In about '59, played in a folk group for a few years. As others have mentioned Kingston Trio provided the soundtrack of my youth. Thanks guys!
3Hotdogs
(12,207 posts)South Coast.
San Miguel.
I believe those are the titles.
And, The unfortunate Miss Bailey.
3Hotdogs
(12,207 posts)Dave's "Scotch & Soda" was my favorite.
cyberswede
(26,117 posts)"...someone will set the spark off, and we will all be blown away"
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Elwood P Dowd
(11,443 posts)Saw them at a folk music concert back in the days they called it a "Hootenanny" (early 1960s). I think the only LP I have left is "The Best Of The Kingston Trio" on Capitol Records.
SharonAnn
(13,766 posts)As you can guess, Ive never outgrown my love for them.