As a young teenager (13), Judy began taking piano lessons from a woman named Antonia Brico, but a couple of years later decided to quit.
Judy told Antonia she preferred Folk Music and wanted to learn how to play guitar.
Years later, when Judy Collins became an international celebrity and "star", she invited Antonia Brico to one of her concerts in Denver.
When they met after the performance, Antonia Brico took both Judy's hands, looked wistfully at her fingers and said:
"Oh my little Judy. Imagine what you could've accomplished if you only continued with your piano lessons."
Larry, I was 12 years old at the time. And I knew I wanted to do what they did. I walked around the house with a badminton racket pretending it was a guitar or banjo, singing along with the tunes. And being from a musical family, I had already tried and given up on trumpet and was taking piano lessons. I eventually bought a Harmony Stella guitar for $20 and my Grandfather, who had an orchestra, just happened to have an old banjo in his attic that he gave me. I quit piano (wish I hadn't), and the rest is history.
I'm with you, Rick. "At Large" is not only my favorite album, it prompted Life Magazine to do a cover story on the Kingston Trio in August 1959.
I loved everything about "At Large" from the jacket cover to the liner notes and to the picture of our heroes on Waikiki Beach in back.
Listening to that record became addictive.
"At Large" was my first album. A Christmas gift to me from my parents in 1959. It was what got me hooked on the Trio. Always has been and still is my favorite album!
Please raise your hands if you liked The Kingston Trio At Large album. EVERYBODY!!!!! I knew it. :>)
This awesome record also included our Trio's first 45rpm hit single entitled Scarlet Ribbons. (pre-Tom Dooley)
So as much as the KT was inspired by The Weavers, they were also big fans of Harry Belafonte.
And didn't our Trio get their name from Belafonte's Calypso song Jamaica Farewell, which includes his leaving a girl in KINGSTON Town?
HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE / BACK IN 2024 :>)
Here's the Belafonte version of Scarlet Ribbons as performed on the Ed Sullivan Show:
I got this Belafonte At The Greek Theatre LP packed away with most of my Kingston Trio records. The KT albums were reissued on CD but never Belafonte's Greek Theatre concert.
There's an unknown gem written by Woody Guthrie entitled Why 'n' Why'? Cute little song which ends with the child asking his Dad:
Why don't you answer my questions?
Why 'n' Why 'n' Why?
Cuz I don't know the answers,
Good Night, Good Night.
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