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.
San Miguel
The Kingston Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
San Miguel is a great house
Wherein dwell Don Carlos
And La Dona Maria Elena Cantrell
I work at the ranch, I saddle her mare
I ride with the gun behind as she visits her friends here and there
She says, ?Thank you, Manuel? or ?Manuel, poor favor?
I dream of the mission San Miguel
And it says to me, the mission bell
?She is married, Manuel, the wife of the rancher
Don Carlos Cantrell?
You serve at the ranch, you hold her chair
You carry her boxes, trunks, letters, and books here and there
She says, ?Thank you, Manuel? or ?Manuel, poor favor?
Or ?Good evening, Manuel, La Dona Maria Elena Cantrell?
But I hear with my heart
What she says with her eyes with
?Good evening, Manuel? or ?Manuel, poor favor?
Or ?The carriage, Manuel? or ?Manuel, close the door?
The Kingston Trio's song San Miguel is a folky ballad that narrates a tale of a young ranch hand named Manuel who is infatuated with La Dona Maria Elena Cantrell, the wife of his boss Don Carlos Cantrell. The song's setting is in the mission town of San Miguel, where Don Carlos and La Dona live in a big house. Manuel's job is to work at the ranch, and sometimes he accompanies La Dona for her errands in the town. He carries her boxes, letters, and books and holds her chair, and it is clear he yearns for more than just a working relationship with her.
The lyrics reveal a deep sense of longing, as Manuel pours out his heart in his dreams of the Mission San Miguel. He hears the voice of the mission bell whisper to him that La Dona is married to Don Carlos. Yet Manuel cannot help indulging himself in his fantasies, and he continues to serve La Dona attentively, basking in the little moments of acknowledgement or gratitude she bestows upon him. He understands the societal norms that forbid him to have any chance of pursuing La Dona, but he can't deny the feelings he has for her.
The song is a testament to the human complexities of love, societal expectations, and a sense of duty. The lyrics portray the main character's internal struggle with his desire and his role in society. The melody's gentle tones and the harmonies of The Kingston Trio offer a soothing and captivating musical canvas, making it a heart-warming and poignant composition.
Line by Line Meaning
Down by the mission
Referring to the area near the church
San Miguel is a great house
San Miguel is a large and impressive home
Wherein dwell Don Carlos
Don Carlos lives there
And La Dona Maria Elena Cantrell
And so does La Dona Maria Elena Cantrell
I work at the ranch, I saddle her mare
I have a job at the ranch where I take care of her horse
I ride with the gun behind as she visits her friends here and there
I accompany her, carrying a gun, while she visits her friends
She says, "Thank you, Manuel" or "Manuel, poor favor"
She thanks me or asks me for a favor, calling me by my name, Manuel
Or "Good evening, Manuel, La Dona Maria Elena Cantrell?"
Or she greets me in the evening, calling me by my name and title
I dream of the mission San Miguel
I dream of the church San Miguel
And it says to me, the mission bell
The sound of the church bell seems to talk to me
"She is married, Manuel, the wife of the rancher
It tells me that she is the wife of Don Carlos, the rancher
Don Carlos Cantrell?
Asking if I understand who Don Carlos is
You serve at the ranch, you hold her chair
My job at the ranch includes holding her chair for her
You carry her boxes, trunks, letters, and books here and there
I also carry her belongings around
But I hear with my heart
Although I hear her words, I understand her true feelings
What she says with her eyes with
I understand her true intentions from the way she looks at me
"Good evening, Manuel" or "Manuel, poor favor"
Even when she asks for a small favor or greets me, I sense her deeper feelings
Or "The carriage, Manuel" or "Manuel, close the door"
Even when she gives me an instruction, I sense her deeper meanings
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
marina moran
love this. In the 60's we'd hear and sing all the K.Trio songs in the Folk clubs in Johannesburg.
Ana Christie
This takes me back to my student days in Christchurch NZ 1959-1962 - we sang them too!
Marcia Friedlander
THERE'S NO MUSIC LIKE GOOD FOLK MUSIC! THE K. TRIO, P.P.&M, AND SO MANY OTHERS
Barbara Johnson
This song is a love story.
Rollins Turner
Used to listen to this by the original Kingston Trio when I was in high school in the late 50's. I didn't understand the significance of "Manuel close the door." back then.
Emma Nation
me neither
John Benn
WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From a mad keen 75yo Aussie fan.
sony
Woooooow....sooooother
sgtmajtom06
Except that this album cover is the John Stewart Trio. - the second version. San Miguel was sung by Dave Guard of the ORIGINAL Kingston Trio.
Arthur Throovest
brill