As Mark stated, we’ve known each other for a long time, and I would actually add a few more years to that timeline. When we were pret-teens growing up in Spokane we were both taking (plectrum) banjo lessons from Dutch Groshoff. We’re talking around 1956 - 1958 or so. So we’re really talking over 70 years. While we weren’t necessarily “friends” per se back then, I was definitely aware of Mark as one of Dutch’s students and it’s likely that we may have performed together in Dutch’s Banjo Band. Mark’s father was a well-known doctor in the area, and my family often mentioned that I was rubbing shoulders with local “royalty” by sharing a seat in Dutch’s music studio.
When I found out who I was replacing in The Brothers Four in 1970, it was one of those “small world” moments. I’m glad Mark was available to rejoin the group when I moved on to The Kingston Trio. He has been a main-stay in the Bros. for all these years since. When we booked the Bros. to perform two fund-raising concerts for Parkinson’s in Colorado we had an opportunity to rekindle our plectrum banjo duet on a medley of tunes that we mutually learned in our formative years in Spokane. We definitely have a unique connection.
With four dates coming up in September for the “Tri-fecta of Folk” (Kingston Trio, Bros. 4 and Limes) it would be interesting to hear Mark’s evaluation of the KT’s performance. I’m sure, knowing Mark, that he would not expound negatively in any public forum, but - Mark - if you’re reading this, it would be fun to hear from you privately. And I promise I would not share your thoughts with anyone. (Well, maybe with Meri). My personal opinion is that The Brothers Four should be the headliners for this tour, but because of The Kingston Trio’s history as the top-selling folk act of all time, the name recognition trumps the current quality of the act. I’m curious who the Limes got to replace Don. Or maybe Don will do double duty one this tour? That would be interesting!
That reminds me - the tour Mark mentioned that The Kingston Trio shared with The Brothers Four and Glenn Yarbrough (the “This Land Is Your Land” tour) had an interesting personnel twist. Dick Foley, one of the original members of the Bros., had left the group by then, but he traveled with us on that tour as a member of Glenn’s group.
Responses