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.
Early in the Mornin
The Kingston Trio Lyrics
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Told me I was born early in the morn.
[Chorus:]
When you lift your eyes and see the sun a-risin' on the far horizon early in the mornin'.
It was early in the day when I set out to roam. Went to seek my fortune far away from home.
I set out to roam far away from home.
[Chorus]
But today when I awoke I missed my darlin' so. Gotta have her by my side forever more I know.
[Chorus]
So tomorrow I'll be leavin' at the break of day. Gonna hurry to my love and there I'll always stay.
At the break of day. There I'll always stay.
[Chorus]
The Kingston Trio's Early in the Mornin is a beautiful and soulful song about birth, journey, and homecoming. The lyrics are filled with emotion and memories, as the singer remembers his grandpa telling him that he was born as the sun was rising early in the morning. The repeated line "Told me I was born early in the morn" signifies the importance of this memory and how it has stayed with him throughout his life. The chorus provides a beautiful imagery of the sun rising on the far horizon, hinting at the vastness of the world and the endless possibilities it offers.
Moving on to the second verse, the singer talks about his journey away from home, seeking his fortune in faraway lands. The lines "But today when I awoke I missed my darlin' so. Gotta have her by my side forever more I know" hints at the loneliness and longing that often accompany such journeys. The singer realizes that no matter how far he goes and how much he achieves, he will always need his loved ones by his side.
The final verse brings us to the singer's decision to return home to his beloved. He knows that he cannot stay away any longer and must hurry to be with his love. The line "There I'll always stay" signifies the permanence of his decision to be with his beloved and the importance of finding a home.
Overall, Early in the Mornin is a beautiful song that brings together themes of birth, journey, homecoming, and love. The lyrics are simple yet profound, and the melody compliments the words perfectly.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember Grandpa telling me that I was born as the sun was comin' up early in the morn.
My grandfather told me I was born early in the morning as the sun was rising.
[Chorus:] When you lift your eyes and see the sun a-risin' on the far horizon early in the mornin'.
The chorus repeats the imagery of the sun rising in the morning, representing a new beginning.
It was early in the day when I set out to roam. Went to seek my fortune far away from home.
I started my journey early in the morning to seek my fortune away from home.
[Chorus]
The chorus repeats the imagery of the sun rising in the morning, representing a new beginning.
But today when I awoke I missed my darlin' so. Gotta have her by my side forever more I know.
Upon waking up, I realized how much I missed my loved one and I know I need them by my side forever.
Need my darlin' so. Evermore I know.
I reiterate my need for my loved one.
So tomorrow I'll be leavin' at the break of day. Gonna hurry to my love and there I'll always stay.
I plan to leave early in the morning to rush back to my loved one, where I plan to stay forever.
[Chorus]
The chorus repeats the imagery of the sun rising in the morning, representing a new beginning.
Lyrics © NADEL MUSIC
Written by: BARRY MANN, CYNTHIA WEIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind