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.
Everglades
The Kingston Trio Lyrics
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A nice young man, not the kind to kill
But a jealous fighter and a flashing blade
Sent him on the run through the Everglades
Runnin' like a dog through the Everglades
Now, the posse went in and they came back out
They said he'll die and there ain't no doubt
He won't last long in the Everglades
A man can't live in the Everglades
Where a man can hide and never be found
And have no fear of the bayin' hound
But he better keep it movin' and don't stand still
If the skeeters don't get him then the gators will
Now, the years went by and his girl was wed
His family gave him up for dead
But now and then the natives would say
They'd seen him runnin' through the Everglades
Runnin' like a dog through the Everglades
Now, he never heard the news on the radio
He was deep in the 'Glades so he'll never know
His runnin' and hidin' didn't make much sense
For the jury had ruled it was self-defense
Running like a dog through the Everglades
Where a man can hide and never be found
And have no fear of the bayin' hound
But he better keep it movin' and don't stand still
If the skeeters don't get him then the gators will
Runnin' like a dog through the Everglades
Skippin' like a frog through the slimy bog
Runnin' through the trees from the Everlys
The Kingston Trio's song "Everglades" tells the story of a man who is forced to flee the town he grew up in after getting into a fight and killing someone. The song paints a vivid picture of the man's escape, as he runs through the treacherous Everglades, trying to evade the posse that has been sent after him. The lyrics suggest that the man is a skilled outdoorsman, able to navigate the dangerous terrain despite being pursued. The chorus of the song emphasizes the hazards of the Everglades, reminding listeners that a man can't survive there for long.
As the song progresses, we learn that the man's family believes him to be dead, and his former girlfriend has married another. The lyrics suggest that the man never learns of his acquittal, and remains in hiding for the rest of his life. The song is both a celebration of the man's survival skills and a lament for the life he has lost.
"Everglades" is a haunting and evocative song that captures the spirit of the Florida wilderness. It paints a picture of a place where danger lurks around every corner, and where a man can truly disappear. The Kingston Trio's performance is understated and poignant, and the song has become a classic of the folk music genre.
Line by Line Meaning
He was born and raised around Jacksonville
The man in question spent his formative years in the Jacksonville area.
A nice young man, not the kind to kill
Despite his positive qualities, the man had the capability to turn violent.
But a jealous fighter and a flashing blade
Under the wrong circumstances, the man allowed his insecurities to get the best of him, resulting in physical altercations.
Sent him on the run through the Everglades
After committing a violent act, the man fled to the Everglades where he hoped to avoid capture.
Runnin' like a dog through the Everglades
The man was in a constant state of fear, trying to evade capture while navigating the dense and dangerous terrain of the Everglades.
Now, the posse went in and they came back out
A search party was organized to find the man, but they were unsuccessful in their efforts.
They said he'll die and there ain't no doubt
The search party believed that the man would surely perish in the unforgiving wilderness.
It's an eye for an eye so the debt is paid
The group searching for the man felt that his violent actions required retribution and punishment.
He won't last long in the Everglades
The harsh conditions of the Everglades made survival difficult, especially for someone on the run with limited resources.
A man can't live in the Everglades
The swampland was not a sustainable or livable environment for long-term habitation.
Where a man can hide and never be found
The vast and dense wilderness of the Everglades offered plenty of hiding spots for someone trying to evade capture.
And have no fear of the bayin' hound
Unlike in other areas, there were no trained hunting dogs in the Everglades, so the man did not need to worry about being tracked by them.
But he better keep it movin' and don't stand still
Even though there was a lower risk of being caught, the man needed to constantly change his location to stay one step ahead of the search party.
If the skeeters don't get him then the gators will
Apart from the search party, the Everglades themselves were filled with potential dangers such as mosquito-borne illnesses and alligators.
Now, the years went by and his girl was wed
As time passed, the man's loved ones assumed he was dead and moved on with their lives.
His family gave him up for dead
His family accepted that he was likely never coming back and mourned his loss.
But now and then the natives would say
Residents of the area occasionally claimed to see the man still on the run in the Everglades.
They'd seen him runnin' through the Everglades
These sightings reinforced the idea that the man was actively trying to evade capture in the unforgiving wilderness of the Everglades.
Now, he never heard the news on the radio
The man's isolation from society meant that he was completely unaware of any news or information from outside of the Everglades.
He was deep in the 'Glades so he'll never know
The man was in such an isolated location that he would never have known about the outcome of his case, even if he had been found not guilty.
His runnin' and hidin' didn't make much sense
In hindsight, the man's decision to go on the run made little sense, as it only delayed the inevitable facing of consequences for his actions.
For the jury had ruled it was self-defense
Ironically, even though the man went to such great lengths to avoid punishment for his violent actions, the eventual ruling was in his favor, with the jury deciding that he acted in self-defense.
Skippin' like a frog through the slimy bog
This line is a playful description of the man's ongoing evasion of authorities in the treacherous and unpleasant conditions of the Everglades.
Runnin' through the trees from the Everlys
This is another playful description of the man's efforts to avoid capture, this time with the added element of being pursued by authorities.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harlan Howard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind