So, to answer your question (let's see, this will be "Chapter 67" I believe:
As a folk musician, how do you top being a member of The Kingston Trio? Certainly, being a member of The Brothers Four would not fall be far behind, if not equal the prestige. And I can't really think of any group that would have ranked higher on my "wannabe" list.
That having been said, I did audition for two other folk groups over the years. I can't recall what prompted these forays into uncharted territory, but neither of them panned out, and I can only thank God for guiding me in the right direction.
During the 1970's, The Brothers Four often had long stretches of inactivity between shows or tours. We had our annual Japanese tour, lasting anywhere from a month to 3 months, and that often provided a year's salary for me. But during those down-times I pursued other activities. I had a duo with Gary Ballard for many years. We played all the hotel lounges around Seattle and did pretty well. The duo was called "Bo Mooney", after the cartoon character that I had been drawing for years. Gary played electric guitar and 5-string banjo. I played acoustic guitar, plectrum banjo, harmonicas, foot-bass (right foot) and high-hat cymbal (left foot.) We had a really full sound for a duo. This was prior to the advent of digital back-up tracks.
At some point we added my ex-wife to the "band", which split the paycheck 1/3 to Gary and 2/3 to the Haworth family. But I was always looking to increase my income and at one point I took a day job as bookkeeper for LS Cedar Company, a local lumber yard on Vashon Island. Then an opportunity presented itself to audition for The New Christie Minstrels. I can't recall what prompted that - perhaps my connection with Bill Zorn, whom I had met when he was a member of that group.
I don't recall anything about the audition - where it took place, what the audition entailed, etc. But my ex and I auditioned together, hoping they'd take us both. My only recollection about the outcome of that was that they called us back and said they'd love to have us in the group, but that we were too old. We had not yet hit age 30, but they were not taking anybody over the age of 25. So we didn't get that gig (thankfully!)
The other group I auditioned for (twice!) was The Limeliters. My first audition for the Limes was an amazing experience. The Limes and The Brothers Four had done a show in Seattle, and Lou Gottlieb had mentioned to me that Glenn Yarbrough was leaving the group and they were casting around for his replacement. He invited me to come and sing with him and Alex Hassilev at his satellite Morning Star commune in Seattle the next night.
I met Alex at the hotel and we drove out to a house in the west part of town which was the home of the Seattle contingent of Lou's Morning Star Ranch. About 20 hippies lived in this house and when we walked in, Lou sitting cross-legged on the floor of the living room, holding forth to a circle of likewise cross-legged hippies. Alex and I took a similar pose and nestled into the circle.
Lou explained that they were sharing their spirituality in music that evening and each member of the group was being asked to lead a song. A guitar (and a joint) was being passed from person to person as the song leadership was going around the circle. When the guitar got to me I was pretty high and, and realizing that this was my audition, I was determined to knock 'em dead.
I'd been mentally scrambling for the right song to do and it wasn't until I had that guitar in my hands that it came to me: "Get Together" by The Youngbloods. A perfect choice for the occasion and all the hippies, including Lou and Alex sang along in glorious harmony (or so it seemed in our collective inebriated state.)
After the music, Lou did his guru thing for about 1/2 hour, lecturing on something profound in his professorial personna. Lou had a way with words and I always loved his introductions to songs during a Limeliters show. Somehow through his use of over-your-head language, he would say the funniest stuff.
Anyway, the session ended with cookies and tea and I drove Alex back to the hotel. I got a call from him a few days later informing me that they had selected Red Grammer to take Glenn's spot. As a life-long fan of the Limes (my dad had bought their first album in about 1960 and I was hooked immediately) I didn't think anybody could replace Glenn, but Red did a great job.
The other time I auditioned for The Limeliters was after my departure from The Kingston Trio in 2005. Alex was planning to retire after Bill Zorn and Rick Dougherty had left to become 2/3 of The Kingston Trio. He'd hired Andy Corwin to replace Bill (Andy recreated Lou's part incredibly well - did a very believable rendition of "Have Some Madeira, M'Dear") and after Rick left he'd replaced him with Mack Bailey. Meri and I had taken a 2-month vacation to Hawaii and Alex asked if I could route our return thru LA and come out to his house to audition to take his spot in the group.
Alex emailed me the audition song-list and some charts in Hawaii and I put in some very minimal time on trying to learn my parts. But my heart wasn't really into it - hey we were in Hawaii! And don't think I really wanted this gig anyway. I was sorta thinking - Brothers Four - Kingston Trio - Limeliters - nice resume. But I was also sorta thinking retirement - solo career.
So we got to LA, had a very nice evening with the boys and flew back to Denver the next day. I didn't think I'd get the gig, and sure enough, Alex called a few days later to inform me that they'd hired Gaylan Taylor. I was actually kinda relieved.
Oh - I did offer my services to one other group. Noel (Paul) Stookey was one of the artists who graced the stage at The Kingston Trio Tribute show at the Birchmere several years ago. Mary Travers had just been diagnosed with leukemia and wasn't planning on touring. So I told Noel that I'd be glad to take her spot if they needed me. He responded that "Peter, Paul and Bob" just didn't seem to have marquee appeal.
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