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Kingston Trio songs always fresh
Published 12:00pm Monday, April 2, 2007In 1959 The Kingston Trio recorded its famous hit “The Metropolitan Transit Authority,” better known as the M.T.A. That song was a real hit March 24 when the singers appeared at the Fergus Falls Middle School Auditorium as part of the 2006-07 Fergus Falls Concert Association series.
The original Kingston Trio was formed in 1957 by Bob Shane, Nick Reynolds and Dave Guard when the three were attending college in San Francisco. Guard left the group in the early 1960s, Reynolds retired in 1999 and Shane retired in 2004.
The current trio — Bill Zorn, Goerge Grove and Rick Dougherty — do a fabulous job, as witnessed by the Fergus Falls audience. They sound as good as the original trio.
The M.T.A. introduction begins with the words, “These are the times that try men’s souls. The M.T.A. is attempting to levy a burdensome tax on the population in the form of a subway fare increase. Citizens, hear me out. This could happen to you.”
The following stanzas still get the adrenaline flowing.
“Well, let me tell you of the story of a man named Charley on a tragic and fateful day. He put 10 cents in his pocket, kissed his wife and family and went to ride on the M.T.A.
“Well, did he ever return? No, he never returned and his fate is still unknown. He may ride forever ‘neath the streets of Boston. He’s the man who never returned.”
Emotions ran deep at the middle school when the trio, accompanied by bass player Paul Gabrielson, started singing the words to “Flowers.”
“Where have all the flowers gone? Long time passing. Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago. Where have all the flowers gone, young girls have picked them every one. Oh, when will they ever learn. When will they ever learn?”
The original Kingston Trio — Shane, Reynolds and Guard — revolutionized popular music when they formed their group a half century ago. They reawakened America to its own rich folk music heritage.
The release of “Tom Dooley” in 1958 began the folk music revival and set the stage for Peter, Paul and Mary and other folk music singers.
“Folk music is timeless,” Shane said. “Nick (Reynolds) and Dave (Guard) agreed with me that we should work to keep folk music alive.”
For their part, current Kingston Trio members Zorn, Grove and Dougherty told the audience in Fergus Falls that they’re having a blast on tour. Zorn toured with the group for three years in the 1970s, lived 20 years in Great Britain and rejoined the Kingston Trio in 2004.
Grove is a great banjo player whose background includes membership in the Army band as a Nashville studio musician. Dougherty has over 30 years experience as a guitarist and songwriter.
“We consider anyone young in a Kingston Trio audience under the age of 50,” Zorn said with a laugh. “I also explain that a juke box is actually a large iPod.”
Baby boomers fondly recall many Kingston Trio songs played on juke boxes in bygone decades all across the country.
In addition to “M.T.A.”, “Where Have all the Flowers Gone?” and “Tom Dooley,” other favorites are “A Worried man,” “Lemon Tree,” “Wreck of the John B,” “Try to Remember” and “This Land is Your Land.”
“It was a beautiful spring day topped off by some great entertainment by the Kingston Trio,” Fergus Falls Concert Association president Jeanne Jensen said.
