Nick Reynolds, a founding member of The Kingston Trio, has died at age 75. When I was 11, in 1959, I bought my first Kingston Trio album. “…from the Hungry i.” It was their second album. Nick’s the one on the right.
I eventually had 19 of the trio’s albums in my collection, from their first, “The Kingston Trio,” to “Somethin’ Else” released in late 1965. They had moved to Decca from Capitol by then I didn’t like the Decca trio.
Dave Guard, an original member who left the group in 1961 (he’s the one in the middle) had been my favorite of the trio. After Guard left, Reynolds became my favorite member. I eventually got used to John Stewart, Guard’s replacement, whose lead vocals were featured on such hits as “The Reverend Mr. Black.”
I learned to play guitar using “The Kingston Trio Songbook.” By 1964-65 I had moved on to Bob Dylan, Eric Andersen and Tom Paxton, but I never turned my back on the trio, even after I”d moved on to more edgy folk music. My new folky friends would make fun of me for defending them, but I didn’t care. I made a point of seeing them in concert when I was a freshman at the University of Georgia in 1965. It was the K Trio that got me interested in folk music. I have an iTunes mix of their music that I still listen to today.
Nick was the short one who played the tenor guitar, bongos and conga. He and Bob Shane, the other original member, had voices that complemented each other in a way usually reserved for brothers, like the Everlys or the Louvins.
As I go to work tomorrow I’ll be sure to listen to “The Mountains O’Mourne,” one of Nick’s best solo performances with the trio. God bless you, Nick. You’ll be missed.
