Rest in Peace Nick Reynolds of the Kingston Trio

[Chris L. Christensen]

Nick Reynolds, one of the founding members of the seminal and groundbreaking folk group The Kingston Trio passed away October 1st. I've loved the Kingstons since I was very small, my mother was in college in the early 1960s and was very into the folk scene which was all the rage. It's my opinion that The Kingston Trio was one of the most underrated and underappreciated musical groups of all time. Their harmonies were razor sharp, their musicianship flawless and while they didn't have the protest songs many of the other folk groups did their material was nonetheless full of variety and well-chosen. They actually did have a few socially conscious songs in their later years. They represented the fun, optomistic and positive side of folk music. Certainly their commercial success cannot be disputed but sadly it's worked against them as far as many critics are concerned.

I haven't heard many of their songs done on steel but I would imagine that many of them would work. It's interesting that the Kingstons gave many songwriters a start and the songs they did were great successes with other artists.

Nick Reynolds was many times the butt of the trio's onstage humor and antics but he took everything with grace and good fun. Nicky was by everything I've read a good hearted, ego free and down-to-earth guy. Rest in Peace, Nicky, now you're singing with Dave Guard, John Stewart and all the angels!

[Larry Bressington]

Thanks Chris, for bringing this sorry news to us, he was a wonderful and powereful influence, in the musical community. Rest in peace Nicky, and thankyou for all that you did!