Last original member of The Kingston Trio died in Phoenix, a week before his 86 birthday. Bob was the solid voice behind most of the Trio's songs, singing lead in the original hit record, "Tom Dooley". Along with friend Dave Guard and Nick Reynold, the three men became the biggest, greatest, pop music folk group in America. Though largely forgotten today, their voices and style inspired everybody from Bob Dylan to John Lennon.
Bob outlived all the other members of the "original Trio", which included Dave Guard's replacement, John Stewart. He battled alcoholism and heart disease brought on by years of smoking. After the Trio retired in 1967, he tried a solo career but eventually picked up other singers to form another version of the original. He bought the Trio name from his former partners and struck out, making a number of "Trio-esque" records and entertaining thousands. Eventually he completely retired and leased the Kingston Trio name to a rather shoddy group of performers who still work as the most recent incarnation of the famous group.
Bob was a funny man and a terrific singer, and just a pleasant guy to meet and talk to. He and Dave Guard made amends prior to Guard's death, and parted as friends once again.