Nick, Bob and I all went to Menlo at
the time they were forming up with
Dave. Many wonderful Sunday afternoons at the Cracked Pot sipping
the Suds. The Trio was the Best. My
prayers to the family.
Pete- Flagstaff, Az.

You and the Trio WERE my youth.
God bless.

Been listening to Kingston Trio all morning on XM. The first song I played on guitar was Tom Dooley so long ago. We are blessed in this era to have such wonderful musicians with us. God bless.

I met the Trio backstage after a concert in NJ in 1962. I was trying to learn the 5-string banjo and wanted to ask John some questions. He was immediately and incredibly generous, never trying to brush me off or hurry me along. Nick came over to see what was going on; John introduced us, and all of a sudden Nick picked up a guitar and started to help me fill in the music and offer suggestions. Bob was off somewhere but reappeared later and also joined in. Now, we were near a locally famous ice cream place and when they all announced they were hungry, I lamely suggested we get in the car and go over. Off we went, got a circular booth in the back. Nobody recognized us and we talked — so easily — like we’d known each other for years. I was not believing what was happening. What a night! I didn’t want it to end.

Time went on and I wound up flying airplanes in the Air Force. I’d kept in touch with them and George Yanok (road manager) in the interim and even shared some playing ideas with John! On my way to Vietnam in early 1967, I stopped in at their Columbus Tower office building in San Francisco to say Hi, taking them up on many invitations to “come visit.” For two days, they wined me and dined me, I couldn’t spend a dime of my own money. All they wanted to talk about was what was it like to fly jet fighters and all I wanted to talk about was their impending breakup!! I was astonished to learn about it. It just couldn’t be! I even tried to talk them into signing up with the USO and come over to Vietnam for a concert tour. I though Bob and Nick seemed responsive, but John had other ideas.

I also got the impression that although the decision was a consensus, it was not one that I sensed that all three had equally intense feeling about.

I flew combat missions over North Vietnam and while getting shot at with flack, missiles and AAA fire, I had a small cassette tape deck wired into my helmet headset so I could listen to KT songs. When I hear them today, I can often visualize some mission or other when a certain song was playing. Once, when I got hit with AAA fire, the song Escape of Old John Webb was playing and I thought, “Oh, this better not be a precursor!”

I never got a chance to thank Nick or John for their incredible hospitality. When I got back, they had scattered. But I’ve since talked with Bob on a number of occasions and was able to thank him.

So, my friends: thank you for making such an intense, crazy part of my life a little less stressful and for riding along with me, always uplifting, always inspiring.
Most of all, for your complete generosity of friendship to an unknown college kid who was a very poor imitator.

I hope I get the chance to thank you in person one day in the heavenly band, where there will be live KT concerts forevermore!

May you be safely home in God’s Kingdom, Nick. Forever.

Without The Kingston Trio, there would never have been a Folk era. As a musician, I had
great respect for their abilities
on their instruments, and I learned many unknown but great songs by listening to their albums. Nick was always
the cut-up. His impish grin and
that sparkle in his eyes, not to
mention his wonderful voice
endeared him to all the Trio’s fans. Rest in peace, brother
Nick. Now you, John and Dave
can form a heavenly trio.

Still singing those Trio songs after all these years, and still trying to hit Nick’s high notes! I took up the bongos just so my little high school garage folk band could do some of the calypso stuff. I’ll be performing “The White Snows of Winter” in Nick’s honor (yea, I know he didn’t sing the lead on that one!) at a concert the day after Thanksgiving.

With John, Dave and now Nick gone from the original format, even though not active, it’s quite a shock for us War Babies who grew up with them.
I had the previdge to meet with Nick, Bob & George on a sereval occasions. I always enjoyed Nick’s abilities. I agree with Bob, Nick’s pitch and harmony will never be match. Nick - you gave us a good time and will miss you.

P.S. George, Bill & Rick you guys capture the original essence of the group - sound great. My favorite- ought to consider ressurecting “Poor Ellen Smith”. Absolutely the Best on “New Frontiers”, I believe. Fits into that catagory of Long Black Viel,Tom Dooley, etc.

With John, Dave and now Nick gone from the original format, even though not active, it’s quite a shock for us War Babies who grew up with them.
I had the previdge to meet with Nick, Bob & George on a sereval occasions. I always enjoyed Nick’s abilities. I agree with Bob, Nick’s pitch and harmony will never be match. Nick - you gave us a good time and will miss you.

P.S. George, Bill & Rick you guys capture the original essence of the group - sound great. My favorite- ought to consider ressurecting “Poor Ellen Smith”. Absolutely the Best on “New Frontiers”, I believe. Fits into that catagory of Long Black Veil, Laraedo, Tom Dooley, etc.

Farewell Nick……..
You were special to me as you let me fish in your backyard super stream, called the Elk River. You once told be things changed in music with the British Invasion of the Beatles etc. Well your music will live on forever right along with the Beatles. The Trio’s library is legend. thank you NICK!
steve of Gold Beach.

I was in 8th grade in 1958 when Tom Dooley became a mega-hit. My friend and I were riding in his brother’s car through City Park in Denver wheb KIMN, a legendary ROCK station in the Denver market, literally played this song back-to-back-to-back for the entire day!

I had the opportunity over the years to meet KT members, and Nick was always so humble. He kidded me once and claimed I was not a charter fan; but when he asked me my favorite KT song, I told him “South Coast.” He changed his mind.

I got an email yesterday from Bob Haworth, and he told me Nick obtained that weird sound from his tenor Martin by using a felt pick.

Condolences to the family and particularly to Bob Shane.

Bill Beuthe in Denver

we had a group formed back in ‘61 that mimic’d all the trio songs. i had a martin tenor guitar even and tried to mimic nick when we performed. we traveled to play hotennany’s at diff. colleges. they were our heros and will be missed alot. my favorite was nick. still play their songs and listen to their albums. so sad to here of nick’s passing away.

Met Nick on the stairs up, the Hungry I in 1957. When we shook hands, I asked him how he played tenor Martin with those comparatively big mitts- stupid question, but the followup was
“How about the humor in between songs?” “Practiced Ad lib,” was the great reply. Turned out, we’d been to Menlo, had same Profs Weaver & Tobin, guzzled suds at The Cracked Pot. Nick was very humble, I was not. We will miss him. He, Dave and Bob inspired thousands of we copy cats, who attempted to capture that tight harmony between Nick & Bob.

after a concert for the marshall university artist series concert at the esteemed keith-albee theatre in huntington wv,nick and i sat down at the hotel bar and chatted. being a “self-ordained” expert on kt history,nick answered my questions “very kindly”

folk-on nick…

What incredible music the Trio was capable of producing. This group of musicians created music that could be listened to, sung along with and enjoyed for lifetimes. We miss the clean harmony of Nick’s voice. God bless.

God Speed Nick. I know your back playing with John and Dave and all the Trio members we have lost.
Thank you for the music and memories of simpler times. “Revenge of the Budgie” lives.

My family and I were decorating the Christmas tree at our home in Trinidad when, amidst songs of snow and cider on a tropical evening, the opening notes of Tom Dooley and that spoken introduction drifted from the radio. That single special moment may well represent my own first discovery of popular music, certainly the music that would go on to define our generation, the music that - with PP&M, Dylan, Baez and The Beatles to follow - would be uniquely ours. The passing of Nick Reynolds reminds me of the enormous debt each succeeding musician owes The Kingston Trio, to their melodies and lyrics, their use of instruments and to Nick’s flawless harmonies. It is especially saddening to be taken back so vividly to the perfection of moments like those (to say nothing of listening to my first “live” album, the Trio at the Hungry i), only by news of the death of someone who for many years might just as easily have been a member of the family. Nick and the Trio warned us of war’s reverberating wounds, rode us joyously through the streets of Boston, gave us strength to walk life’s lonesome valleys, and wept with us upon the loss a beloved leader. Most of all, he - and they - remind us once again of our surpassing good fortune to have had the likes of Nick Reynolds in our lives. Thus will he, and they, endure.

The Trio came to Washington, DC every summer in the late 50s and early 60s and played under the stars. I knew Nick a little bit–he was a lovely man. I miss him.

The Trio came to Washington, DC every summer in the late 50s and early 60s and played under the stars. I knew Nick a little bit–he was a lovely man. I miss him.

Always remembered that night at Tahoe- thanks for everything you gave all of us. Made college days “folksy”

Kingston Trio=O.G. Gangsters. Kind of like Neil Diamond, Barry Manilow, ABBA. Everyone knows their influence is undeniable in their genres, but people never claim to listen to them or have their records or put them in with the cool kids. You want perfection? Spin “Tom Dooley”. Goosebumps.

Adios Dwarf… get Dave and John together and play harp. Thanks for many wonderful times.

I will miss you and our times of buying antiques together and listening to you sing as we drove along Hwy 101. Now you can sing forever.

Nick - You had a love of nice cars and speeding down the road, along Bridgeway and Hwy 1. God speed down the back straight and say hello to Nado.

Nick - You had a love of nice cars and speeding down the road, along Bridgeway and Hwy 1. God speed down the back straight and say hello to Nado.

I’m looking for the comments of Dylan, Baez and others who’d be in some other line of work if The Trio had not cleared the way…cleared the way and heard abuse from “purists”.
God bless, Nick, Dave and John.

Nick and the rest of the Trio understood that music must be shared and fun. They really did it better than anyone. We will Carry it on Nick! You will be missed.

First John in January and now Nick. Hang in there Bob, you guys were the best. I still play your songs. They remind me of a simpler and happier time. Steve

The Kingstons will always be one of those perpetually uncool groups (like Chad & Jeremy) that are irresistible once you start listening to them. ‘Once Upon A Time’ remains one of my favorite live albums of all time. Thanks to Reynolds, I had a version of Dylan’s “Mama You Been On My Mind” to propose to my wife with. He’s on the MTA now . . .