Kingston Trio Calling It Quits
After $6,800,000

Hollywood, Jan 31

The Kingston Trio, molded in 1957 by Frisco publicist Frank Werber at a college hangout near Stanford U and vaulted to the big-time with the Capitol Records click "Tom Dooley" (3,500,000 units) the following year, will break up as a combo June 1.

Werber started group will honor their five-year pact, with Decca, signed a year ago, and finish out final four years. There will be no p.a.'s after the above date, when the trio will wind up with stint at hungry i, Frisco, where "across street from where we started -- Purple Onion," Werber observed.

Parting is wholly amicable boys assured, and reason for splitup is one of expedience. Werber averred working as a group has become too "restricting artistically" John Stewart, who replaced Dave Guard when latter decided to go it alone in 1961, is the only one of the three with definite plans; he's starting a new musical group of his own. Bob Shane and Nick Reynolds, both charter members, have no immediate plans.

According to Werber, Kingston's income over first eight years was $6,800,00. All tolled they sliced 27, 21 of which were for Cap. First eight of these attained gold disk status when RIAA rules required platter have a $1,000,000 gross.

Werber who owned 25% of group from inception and has spearheaded trio's entry into numerous side ventures under aegis of Kingston Enterprises, said corporation will maintain most of it's present holdings, though it will liquidate some. Werber was among the first indie disk producers to make a lease deal with major label.

He'll continue producing wax for some eight other acts, including We Five, Don Scaletta Trio, Blackburn and Snow, The Mystery Trend, Sons of Champlin, among others. Kingston's next vidappearance will beam Feb. 5 on NBC-TV "Andy Williams Show" and group tapes another shot March five for same show.

-- THANK YOU to Bill Welsch for sharing photo copies
of the foregoing articles for our reading enjoyment.

Last revised: February 23, 2006.