Kingston Trio's message still on pitch

Last Friday, from his Las Vegas home, George Grove reflected on his 32-year career with one of the most prolific vocal ensembles on the planet -- The Kingston Trio.

The Trio has been in the spotlight since 1958, when the release of "Tom Dooley" gave birth to the folk music revolution, paving the way for Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Peter, Paul and Mary.

Even rockers have sought advice. Lindsay Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac and Timothy Schmidt of Joe Walsh of the Eagles learned the ropes of the business from the Trio.

Only the Beatles have sold more records and filled more concert halls. The Trio has earned two Grammy Awards for "Tom Dooley" in 1959 and as Best Traditional Folk Recording in 1960. Their gold records are too numerous to count, and their appearance at Carnegie Hall in 1983 sealed their success.

When The Kingston Trio -- including Grove, Rick Dougherty and Bill Zorn -- appear at The Rialto Square Theatre this evening, expect an iron message wrapped in a velvet glove. The Trio refuses to spout bile - to shove revolutionary claptrap down anyone's throat. They prefer sharing true tales of everyday life, allowing their fans to identify and empathize.

"What I call the bully pulpit is never appropriate. You can polarize your audience if you are too outspoken," Grove said. "Our songs ask questions. We believe folks who attend our concerts are intelligent enough to think for themselves, to not be led."

But, just because the Trio refuses to officially take sides doesn't mean its members don't have an opinion, or a sense of humor.

"I can be a scathing type of guy without getting personal," Grove said. "Take the etymology of the word 'politics' -- poly means many, and, of course, ticks are blood-sucking insects."

The Kingston Trio has outlived Elvis and the Beatles. The Rolling Stones have been around nearly as long, but some feel the Stones have lost their fashion sense.

"There's nothing worse than 60-year-old men jumping around in Spandex," Grove reflected, then giggled. "On the other hand, I can't promise The Kingston Trio will NEVER wear Spandex."

How has the Trio survived when so many other groups have disbanded or fallen by the proverbial wayside?

"The state of folk music is thriving at the grass roots area," Grove said. "Folk music is oral history, and though every generation believes it's smarter, history tends to repeat itself. That's why our music continues to be popular."

From classics like "Tom Dooley," the tale of a jealous man who murders his lover, to the intoxicating delight of "Scotch and Soda," the messages are all too relevant today.

The classic "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" is particularly relevant to the ongoing war in Iraq. The words behind the posies pack a powerful punch:

"Where have all the young men gone? Gone to soldiers every one. When will they ever learn?"

The Kingston Trio has another longevity secret -- cooperation. There is no spotlight- hogging -- no big heads -- among the trio. Although Grove, Dougherty and Zorn are not the original members of The Trio, it makes little difference. Each successive generation has vowed to uphold the tradition of the originals.

"We share the spotlight. After all, we are a trio," Grove said. "We used to take solos, but it was mostly to give the guys a smoke break."

A group is only as successful as the loyalty of its fans. Their audience is 80 percent diehard fans from "the old days." The remaining 20 percent are fresh-faced youngsters who have discovered the timeless classics of the Trio on the Internet.

"I have mixed feelings about music on the Internet," Grove said. "On one hand, it's wrong to steal songs, on the other hand, the Internet draws people to our site and engenders interest, and that's good."

As he gazed out at the mountains surrounding his home, Grove reflected on his long years in the entertainment business.

"I've been blessed to have been a part of this entity for so long, it's become a way of life," Grove said. "Our songs pose the questions we should all continue asking during our stay on this earth."

For more information about The Kingston Trio, visit www.Kingstontrio.com.

Grammy Award winners, The Kingston Trio will perform at the Rialto Square Theatre tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20-$48 per person (additional fees may apply). Tickets may be purchased at the Rialto Box office located at 102 N. Chicago Street. The box office will remain open until the completion of intermission.