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.
Oh Miss Mary
The Kingston Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where are you wanderin'?
Oh, Miss Mary,
Where are you wanderin'?
Oh, Miss Mary,
Where are you wanderin'?
Three days and Mary's comin' home
She took to wanderin'
Never would she leave me
And not come back again.
Swear I hear her singing,
Singing in the western wind
Three days and Mary's comin' home.
Oh, Miss Mary,
Where are you wanderin'?
Oh, Miss Mary,
Where are you wanderin'?
Oh, Miss Mary,
Where are you wanderin'?
Three days and Mary's comin' home
Mary chased a rainbow
Over the mountains
Crossed so many rivers, Lord,
That I can't count them
She wouldn't want those rainbows
Even if she found them
Three days and Mary's comin' home
Oh, Miss Mary,
Where are you wanderin'?
Oh, Miss Mary,
Where are you wanderin'?
Oh, Miss Mary,
Where are you wanderin'?
Three days and Mary's comin' home
Watchin' for my Mary,
Wish she was home again
Home from the rivers, Lord,
Home from the mountains
If I turn my back, say,
She'd just be gone again
Three days and Mary's comin' home
Oh, Miss Mary,
Where are you wanderin'?
Oh, Miss Mary,
Where are you wanderin'?
Oh, Miss Mary,
Where are you wanderin'?
Three days and Mary's comin' home (one more time!)
Oh, Miss Mary,
Where are you wanderin'?
Oh, Miss Mary,
Where are you wanderin'?
Oh, Miss Mary,
Where are you wanderin'?
Three days and Mary's comin'
(Three days and Mary's comin')
Three days and Mary's comin'
Home
"Oh Miss Mary" is a folk song by The Kingston Trio, originally released on their 1961 album "Close-Up". The song is about a girl named Mary who loves to wander and travel. She has left home for three days, but the singer is eagerly awaiting her return. He is worried that she may wander away again, and he is longing to have her back home again.
The song describes Mary as a free spirit who is always searching for something new. She chases rainbows over mountains and crosses rivers, and enjoys singing in the wind. Despite her love for traveling, the singer knows that Mary would not want to stay away forever. He is hopeful that Mary will return to him soon and remain with him for a long time.
The song's lyrics are simple and straightforward, expressing a longing for someone who has gone away. The melody is catchy and easy to sing along with. The Kingston Trio's harmonies are tight and powerful, adding to the emotional impact of the song. "Oh Miss Mary" is a beautiful love song that celebrates the joy of wandering while recognizing the importance of home and family.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, Miss Mary,Where are you wanderin?
The singer is looking for Mary and doesn't know where she went.
Three days and Mary's comin' home
Mary will be back soon.
When Mary was a young girlShe took to wanderin'
Mary used to leave home and travel when she was young.
Never would she leave meAnd not come back again
Mary always came back home after traveling.
Swear I hear her singing,Singing in the western wind
The singer can imagine Mary singing in the wind.
Mary chased a rainbowOver the mountainsCrossed so many rivers, Lord,That I can't count them
Mary traveled over the mountains and across many rivers in search of something.
She wouldn't want those rainbowsEven if she found them
Mary was not looking for material possessions, like rainbows.
Watchin' for my Mary,Wish she was home again
The singer is waiting for Mary to come back home.
If I turn my back, say,She'd just be gone again
Mary might leave again if the singer is not careful.
Three days and Mary's comin' home (one more time!)
Mary will be back soon.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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