Kingston Trio to perform next week at River Campus

The Kingston Trio will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Bedell Performance Hall at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus.

Continuing the 2015-2016 River Campus Touring Series, the Kingston Trio will perform songs such as "Tom Dooley," "M.T.A.," "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and more.

In 1957, just out of college, Bob Shane, Nick Reynolds and Dave Guard rejuvenated folk music and gave it a comic twist. The Kingston Trio took the country by storm from San Francisco's North Beach club scene. The band name, the Kingston Trio, was selected for its Ivy League/Calypso crossover appeal.

During the 1950s and 1960s, the Kingston Trio experienced massive record sales and worldwide fame. "Tom Dooley," one of their songs, topped the charts in 1958.

The Kingston Trio brought the tradition of American folk music into the mainstream.

Bob Cerchio, assistant director of Southeast's Earl and Margie Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts, who booked the show, said one of his biggest disappointments is not being able to mention ahead of time the songs the group will sing.

"Like many long-running music groups, everyone has a favorite selection," he said. "Since the trio can't play them all, they don't want us to appear to make any promises. They'll choose their program pretty much on the spot. Of course, this is a holiday show, so there's bound to be a seasonal song or two, but all will be delivered in magnificent, Kingston Trio style."

Tickets, which range in price from $29 to $39, may be purchased by contacting the River Campus box office in the Cultural Arts Center, 518 S. Fountain St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, by calling (573) 651-2265 or online at RiverCampusEvents.com.

Pertinent address:

518 S. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.