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.
Goo Ga Gee
The Kingston Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, the Goo Ga Gee is a mighty funny bird. He sings the best song that you ever, ever heard.
He learned this song from a little baby 'cause ev'ry little baby goes "Goo ga gee."
Well, the Goo Ga Gee is from the Milky Way. It flies down to earth ev'ry other day.
It hides in the corner where you can not see and as he flies away he sings, "Goo ga gee."
And if you think my song is a little crazy, it's only 'cause you never sing the Goo Ga Gee.
(Repeat first verse)
The Kingston Trio's song Goo Ga Gee is about a mythical bird that sings a special song that can only be learned by observing a baby's babbling. This bird, named the Goo Ga Gee, is said to come from the Milky Way and visit earth every other day. The bird is elusive and hides in corners where it cannot be seen, but as it flies away it sings its song: "Goo ga gee."
The song's catchy tune and repetitive lyrics make it an enjoyable tune to sing and listen to. However, the song's deeper meaning is about the idea of the importance of listening to and learning from those who are often dismissed or overlooked. Babies are often thought of as not having much to offer in terms of knowledge or wisdom, but the Goo Ga Gee's song proves that even the seemingly insignificant can teach us something powerful.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, the Goo Ga Gee is a mighty funny bird. He sings the best song that you ever, ever heard.
The Goo Ga Gee is an unusual bird species that has the ability to sing an incredible song that surpasses all others.
He learned this song from a little baby 'cause ev'ry little baby goes 'Goo ga gee.'
The Goo Ga Gee acquired his singing abilities by mimicking the sounds made by infants.
Well, the Goo Ga Gee is from the Milky Way. It flies down to earth ev'ry other day.
The Goo Ga Gee is a celestial being that periodically descends from the cosmos.
It hides in the corner where you can not see and as he flies away he sings, 'Goo ga gee.'
The bird is often camouflaged and hard to spot, but as it departs, it serenades listeners with its signature song.
Well, the Goo Goo Ga Ga, Goo Goo Ga Ga, Goo Ga Gee, the Goo Ga Gee is the bird for me
The catchy tune of the Goo Ga Gee's song inspires a fondness and admiration for the bird.
And if you think my song is a little crazy, it's only 'cause you never sing the Goo Ga Gee.
If someone doesn't appreciate the song, it's because they've never heard or sung the Goo Ga Gee'
(Repeat first verse)
Restating the opening verses of the song to emphasize how special the Goo Ga Gee is.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MIKE SETTLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind