The Kingston Trio was formed in 1957 in the Palo Alto, California area by original lineup of Dave Guard (1934–1991), Bob Shane (1934–2020), and Nick Reynolds (1933–2008), who were just out of college. Greatly influenced by The Weavers, the calypso sounds of Harry Belafonte, and other semi-popular folk artists such as the Gateway Singers and the Tarriers, they were discovered playing at a college club called the Cracked Pot by Frank Werber, a local publicist then working at the Hungry i. He became their manager, and secured them a one-shot deal with Capitol Records.
Their first hit was a catchy rendition of an old-time folk song, "Tom Dooley", which went gold in 1958. It was so popular that it entered popular culture as a catchphrase: Ella Fitzgerald, for example, parodies it during her recorded version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". It won them the first Grammy award for Best Country & Western Performance in 1959. The next year, they won the first Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording category for the album The Kingston Trio at Large.
At one point in the early 1960s The Kingston Trio had four albums at the same time among the Top 10 selling albums, a record unmatched for nearly 40 years. In spite of this, they had a relatively small number of hit singles.
The group's music was simple and accessible, with much use of tight vocal harmony, signature riffs (often played on the banjo), and repetitive choruses. Capitol producer Voyle Gilmore[1] enhanced their vocal sound to great effect with reverb and the relatively new process of doubletracking, in which the performers sang along with their own pre-recorded part to produce a stronger sound than with a single voice, in part due to a natural time gap of a fraction of a second between the original recording and the overdubbed part. At first pairs of tape recorders were used, then later multitrack recording machines, to produce the effect.
Guard left the band in 1961 as part of a disagreement over its musical direction. He formed the group Whiskey Hill Singers, and was replaced by John Stewart, who led the group through several more years of popularity until the arrival of The Beatles and British invasion rock bands pushed them from the charts.
In 1967 the Trio disbanded after a final performance at the Hungry i, June 17, 1967.
Shane, the lone member to resist the break-up of the Trio, started a new group, aptly named, "The New Kingston Trio," in 1969. Eventually, Shane was successful in reaching a contractual agreement with his former partners, Guard, Reynolds, and Werber, to secure and license once again, the original name, "The Kingston Trio" (unencumbered by the adjective new), in 1976.(Blake et al. 1986.) Shane still owns the property today, 2006.
For a number of years in the 1980s Reynolds, one of the original three members, rejoined Shane.
In 2004 Shane retired from the group due to health problems. He was replaced by Bill Zorn, who had been with Shane in an iteration of the group called The New Kingston Trio; Zorn also has been a member of The Limeliters.
In 2005 Bobby Haworth (a one-time member of The Brothers Four) left the group to be replaced by Rick Dougherty, who also had been a member of The Limeliters.
As of 2006, The Kingston Trio consisted of George Grove, Bill Zorn and Rick Dougherty.
in October 2017, Grove, Zorn, and Dougherty were replaced as the Trio by new licensees Reynolds and Marvin and their friend, Tim Gorelangton. In 2018, Josh Reynolds left the group and was replaced by Bob Haworth, who became a member of the band for the third time. At the end of 2018, Haworth left the group and was replaced by Don Marovich.
Ann
The Kingston Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know I'll never meet another hunk o' woman like my Ann. She makes me feel like a great big man.
I'm gonna go tell her mama what I think about her, say, "Thank you, ma'am, for giving me your daughter Ann."
She sure is stacked from her toes to the nape of her neck, she's packed like a seed in a grape, she's smooth as marble skin.
When I see her I believe I'm a real young guy and ev'ry time I go to work I think I might die if I can't hurry home again.
If the good Lord worked all night a-makin' me a female plan, I'd say, "No, thanks, Lord. I'll just keep Ann."
How could I ever look at any other woman when I've got Ann? I feel so good when she takes my hand.
I'm gonna go tell her daddy what I think about her, say, "Thank you, man, for giving me your daughter Ann."
If I lose my job and I'm down to a silver dollar and I feel like a dried up gourd in a holler, she soothes my brow like summer rain.
If the good Lord worked a hundred years at makin' me a female plan, I'd say, "No, thanks, Lord. I'll just keep Ann."
I'd say, "No thanks, Lord, I'll just keep Ann."
The Kingston Trio's song, Ann, is a heartfelt tribute to a woman named Ann, whom the singer praises for her beauty and supportiveness. The lyrics seem to express a deep appreciation for Ann, as the singer claims that he will never meet another woman like her. The first verse of the song highlights her physical attributes, describing her as "stacked from her toes to the nape of her neck" and "smooth as marble skin." The second verse focuses on Ann's emotional support, as the singer mentions how she helps ease his aches and pains, and soothes him when he feels down on his luck. The final line of the chorus, "No thanks, Lord, I'll just keep Ann," indicates that the singer feels incredibly lucky to have found such a supportive and loving partner.
Line by Line Meaning
I know I'll never meet another hunk o' woman like my Ann.
Ann is an exceptional woman who is unique, and the singer believes he will never find another one like her.
She makes me feel like a great big man.
Ann's presence and love make the singer feel confident and empowered.
I'm gonna go tell her mama what I think about her, say, "Thank you, ma'am, for giving me your daughter Ann."
The singer wants to express his gratitude to Ann's mother for raising such a wonderful daughter.
She sure is stacked from her toes to the nape of her neck, she's packed like a seed in a grape, she's smooth as marble skin.
Ann has an attractive physique from head to toe, and her skin is so smooth it resembles marble.
When I see her I believe I'm a real young guy and ev'ry time I go to work I think I might die if I can't hurry home again.
Ann brings out a youthful energy in the singer, and he feels like he can't wait to be back in her company.
If the good Lord worked all night a-makin' me a female plan, I'd say, "No, thanks, Lord. I'll just keep Ann."
The singer wouldn't need any other female companionship if he had Ann, even if he were created by God as a woman himself.
How could I ever look at any other woman when I've got Ann? I feel so good when she takes my hand.
The singer is so enamored with Ann that he can't imagine being interested in any other woman. He feels happy and content when they are together.
I'm gonna go tell her daddy what I think about her, say, "Thank you, man, for giving me your daughter Ann."
The singer wants to express his gratitude to Ann's father for raising such a wonderful daughter.
When I come home and I feel like I've been run over by a ten-ton truck she can rub my shoulder and ease my aches and pains.
Ann is supportive of the singer when he is feeling physically or emotionally drained, and her touch is comforting.
If I lose my job and I'm down to a silver dollar and I feel like a dried up gourd in a holler, she soothes my brow like summer rain.
Ann is supportive of the singer even in financial hardship and when he is feeling down, and she can lift him up with her affection and attention.
If the good Lord worked a hundred years at makin' me a female plan, I'd say, "No, thanks, Lord. I'll just keep Ann."
Ann is so special to the singer that even if he were designed as a woman by God, he would still choose to be with Ann.
I'd say, "No thanks, Lord, I'll just keep Ann."
The singer reiterates that he wouldn't need any other female companionship with Ann by his side.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ARTHUR LANON NEVILLE, GEORGE JOSEPH JR PORTER, JOSEPH JR MODELISTE, LEO NOCENTELLI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
3Pitous
This is the studio version which wasn' t released at that time.The version in the album "Back in Town 1964 is superior I think.
3Pitous
@Steven Hulett Album named BACK IN TOWN in 1964 recorded at famous Hungry I in San Francisco.
Steven Hulett
This was a rough version of "Ann" being developed for "Time To Think" (the album preceding "Back in Town"). John is playing lead on what sounds like a 12-string. There's also a version of this song for a 1965 college concert released on CD some years ago.
Johnathan Daniel
On the album version didn't the song start "here's a song we've recently received from West Virginia?
Larry Crawford
yes, Anne was written by Billy Ed Wheeler from West Virginia, The Trio recored many of Billy Ed's song.