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.
Don
The Kingston Trio Lyrics
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Chorus:
Don't cry, Katie. I'll be comin' back to you, you, you. Don't cry, Katie, even though I'm gone, my love will still be true.
I'll be gone for maybe just a year. Don't cry, Katie. Even though I'm gone, my love will still be here. Don't cry, Katie.
(Chorus)
You'll be in my dreams though you are far away. Don't cry, Katie. Have a little faith and I'll return some day. Don't cry, Katie.
Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry, Katie. Don't cry, Katie, I'll be comin' back to you.
Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry, Katie. Even though I'm gone, my love will still be true.
(Chorus)
When I return, darling, we can be together. Don't cry, Katie. Then we can share our precious love forever. Don't cry, Katie.
(Chorus)
The Kingston Trio's song "Don't Cry Katie" is a heartrending ballad that touches on the theme of love, separation, and the hope of reunion. The singer addresses his lover, Katie, assuring her not to cry although he is leaving for maybe a year. He promises her that even though he is gone, his love will still be true. He tells her that she'll be in his dreams, and all she needs to do is have faith that he'll return someday. The chorus repeats the message of not crying and the promise of his love being true.
The song explores the emotions of the singer as well as Katie. The singer expresses the pain of having to leave his beloved behind and the desperation to reassure her that everything will be okay. He acknowledges that it's going to be hard being apart, but their love will keep them connected even from afar. Katie, on the other hand, is filled with sadness at the prospect of being without her man for maybe a year. The singer's promises provide her with the hope and encouragement she needs to trust in their love.
In summary, The Kingston Trio's "Don't Cry Katie" tells the story of a couple separated by distance but connected by love. Despite the sadness that comes with leaving, the singer assures Katie that he'll come back to her, and his love for her will remain true.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't cry, Katie. I'll be comin' back to you, you, you. Don't cry, Katie, even though I'm gone, my love will still be true.
Assures Katie that although he's leaving, he'll return and his feelings for her will remain unchanged during his absence.
I'll be gone for maybe just a year. Don't cry, Katie. Even though I'm gone, my love will still be here. Don't cry, Katie.
Tells Katie that he'll be away for a short period, and that his love for her won't waver in his absence. Asks her not to cry.
You'll be in my dreams though you are far away. Don't cry, Katie. Have a little faith and I'll return some day. Don't cry, Katie.
Tells Katie that she'll always be on his mind, even though they're apart. Encourages her to keep hope, promising to come back to her one day. Asks her not to cry.
Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry, Katie. Don't cry, Katie, I'll be comin' back to you.
Repeats his assurance that he'll return, urging Katie not to cry.
Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry, Katie. Even though I'm gone, my love will still be true.
Reassures Katie that his love for her will endure despite his absence, encouraging her not to cry.
When I return, darling, we can be together. Don't cry, Katie. Then we can share our precious love forever. Don't cry, Katie.
Promises to share a life with Katie when he returns, and that they'll be able to cherish their love forever. Asks her not to cry.
(Chorus)
Repeats the main message of the song: his assurance that he'll return and his love for Katie will stay the same during his absence.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: RICHARD EUGENE GLASSER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind