The Kingston Trio

The Kingston Trio formed in 1957 with Dave Guard, Nick Reynolds, and Bob Shane, starting at Stanford University before finding national attention. Their 1958 debut album included their version of the traditional Scottish ballad "O Willow Waly," which became a hit. The group's sound leaned on three-part harmonies and acoustic guitar arrangements of folk material, with songs like "Across the Wide Missouri" and "Ballad Of The Shape Of Things" in their repertoire.

Dave Guard left in 1961 and was replaced by John Stewart. By the mid-1960s, their popularity had faded as folk music trends changed. In 1967, Bob Shane was arrested for marijuana possession, which drew some negative publicity. The trio's recordings from their earlier period remain the ones most people remember.