What does it take to sing a good folk song? According to Hugh Hefner, “An Ivy League suit and an Eastern accent.”
Jazz cats weren’t the only musicians who took to the Brooks Brothers look in the ’50s and ’60s. Here’s Bud & Travis from Hef’s short-lived TV show “Playboy’s Penthouse” circa 1960.
Was that not John Denver in the Chad Mitchell Trio?
Great videos and clearly the early days of folk music contained a lot of Ivy style.
That probably is John Denver as he was a member of the Chad Mitchell Trio from 1965-69.
As to Hef’s comment about “an Ivy League suit and an Eastern accent”, while he’s right about the Ivy League suit, he’s only partially right about the accent.
Bud Dashiell was born in Paris, France, raised in Virginia and served as a Battery Commander and Artillery Officer in Korea so he may have had an Eastern accent.
On the other hand, Travis Edmondson grew up in Nogales, AZ on the US/Mexico border and is still as Western as they come.
Travis used to come to my school as a child and perform and tell stories for us. He still lives in Tucson, AZ and current information can be found at http://www.travisedmonson.com/
Thanks for the videos though, it’s nice to see some recognition of folk music and especially Bud & Travis!
Actually, just realized that the Chad Mitchell clip is from 1963. That means the lineup is likely Chad Mitchell, Joe Frazier and Mike Kobluk. Denver replaced Mitchell in 1965.
The Kingston Trio certainly contributed to the popularity of striped ocbd’s.
https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/kingston-trio-folk-music/
Poison Ivy Leaguer:
This group (The Ivy League Trio) was certainly influenced by the Kingston Trio with regard to striped button down collar shirts and repertoire:
https://images.recordsale.de/600/600/the-ivy-league-trio-rare-and-well-done-1.jpg
@Old School, Here’s another copycat group: https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/the_princeton_trio According to Dave Guard, the name Kingston was chosen because it sounded both Calypso and Ivy League. In addition to obscure copycats, scads of popular folk groups were inspired by the Kingston Trio, The Bro 4 (Phi Gams, not blood brothers,) The Limeliters, PP&M, The Highwaymen, The Smo Bro, The Chad Mitchell Trio, The New Minty Crystals 🙂 etc.
@Poison Ivyleaguer,
Thanks for reminding me of The Limeliters:
far better musicians and singers (and far wittier) than The Kingston Trio.