Dave Guard facts for kids

Donald David Guard (born October 19, 1934 – died March 22, 1991) was an American folk singer and songwriter. He was also an arranger and recording artist. Dave Guard was one of the founding members of The Kingston Trio. He started this famous group with Nick Reynolds and Bob Shane.

Guard was born in San Francisco, California. He later attended Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii. At that time, Hawaii was a U.S. Territory. He finished high school at Menlo School in California. Then, he went to Stanford University, where he studied economics.

While at Stanford, Guard formed a music group with Reynolds and Shane. He first called it Dave Guard and the Calypsonians. Their sound was like The Weavers, using two guitars, a banjo, and lively singing. After some changes, the group became The Kingston Trio in 1957. They signed with Capitol Records and became very popular.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Dave Guard spent his early years in San Francisco. Later, he lived in Honolulu, Hawaii, during his junior high and high school years. He grew up listening to the gentle melodies of Hawaiian music. He especially liked the unique sounds of slack-key ukulele and guitar. Many of his neighbors played these instruments.

Guard went to Punahou School, a private school in Hawaii. Hawaiian culture and music were a big part of the school. In 7th grade, Guard and his future bandmate Bob Shane learned to play the ukulele. This class helped them start their musical journey. Shane later taught Guard how to play the six-string guitar.

Guard also played sports and joined the school's ROTC. He performed in musical skits with other talented students. He finished high school at Menlo School. This helped him get into Stanford University. At Stanford, Guard was part of the Sigma Nu fraternity. He earned his degree in economics in 1956.

Building a Career (1955–1961)

After college, Dave Guard continued to develop his music. When Bob Shane left their first group, Guard added new members. He changed the group's name to The Kingston Quartet. He was exploring different folk music styles.

The Kingston Trio Forms

In 1956, a publicist named Frank Werber offered to help Guard's group. He suggested bringing Bob Shane back. So, in 1957, Guard, Shane, and Reynolds reunited. They decided to call themselves The Kingston Trio.

The Kingston Trio quickly became very successful. Dave Guard was in charge of the music arrangements. He helped create the group's special sound, using two guitars and a banjo. Bob Shane was great at performing and knowing what audiences liked. Nick Reynolds helped manage the group's plans.

The Kingston Trio recorded many hit songs with Capitol Records. Some of their famous songs include "Tom Dooley", "The Tijuana Jail", "Sloop John B", and "M.T.A.". They had a big impact on folk music.

Dave Guard Leaves the Trio

Dave Guard could read music and understood music theory. He felt his bandmates were not trying to improve their musical skills. This made him frustrated. By late 1960, Guard decided to leave The Kingston Trio.

He agreed to stay until Shane and Reynolds found a new member. In early 1961, John Stewart took Guard's place. The Kingston Trio continued to perform for six more years.

After The Kingston Trio (1961–1978)

The Whiskeyhill Singers

In 1961, Guard started a new group called The Whiskeyhill Singers. The group included Judy Henske, Cyrus Faryar, and David "Buck" Wheat. They toured and released an album. They also sang several folk songs for the movie How the West Was Won.

Their voices can be heard on songs like "The Erie Canal" and "900 Miles." The Whiskeyhill Singers eventually broke up in late 1962. This happened after Guard moved to Australia.

Dave's Place in Australia

In late 1962, Dave Guard moved to Sydney, Australia, with his family. He performed music there, sometimes using a different name. He also worked as a music consultant for an Australian TV show called Jazz Meets Folk.

In 1965, Guard hosted his own TV show called Dave's Place. It was a national variety show on ABC-TV. He also taught guitar lessons. With his wife, Gretchen, he wrote a book about a unique guitar teaching method.

Guard did not keep in touch with his former Kingston Trio bandmates while in Australia. After returning to the United States in 1968, he worked with his wife on books about old folk tales. One was about an Irish tale, and another about a Hawaiian tale.

Pure Gabby Project

After the Whiskeyhill Singers, Guard returned to Hawaii. He became interested in slack-key Hawaiian folk guitar music. He worked with famous slack-key guitarist Gabby Pahinui. They recorded an album called Pure Gabby. It featured classic Hawaiian songs.

Guard tried to get major record companies to release the album. But they were not interested at first. In 1978, the album was finally released by Hula Records in Honolulu.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1981, Dave Guard reunited with Bob Shane and Nick Reynolds. They performed for a PBS TV special called "The Kingston Trio and Friends Reunion." He also sometimes performed with John Stewart, who had replaced him in the Trio.

Guard continued to write and record music. He also taught music during the 1980s. He released a final solo album called Up & In in 1988. This album included his arrangement of "Scotch and Soda."

Dave Guard worked with many other musicians over the years. These included Judy Henske and Cyrus Faryar. He remarried and lived in Los Altos, California.

Death

Dave Guard developed lymphoma, a type of cancer. He passed away on March 22, 1991, at age 56. His memorial service was held in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Many people from the folk music world attended. He was survived by his mother, his former wife Gretchen, and their three children.

Discography

Dave Guard & The Calypsonians

• Run Joe 1957 (Capitol)
• Fast Freight 1957 (Capitol)

The Kingston Trio

• The Kingston Trio 1958 (Capitol)
• ...from the Hungry i 1959 (Capitol)
• Stereo Concert 1959 (Capitol)
• At Large 1959 (Capitol)
• Here We Go Again! 1959 (Capitol)
• Sold Out 1960 (Capitol)
• String Along 1960 (Capitol)
• The Last Month of the Year 1960 (Capitol)
• Make Way 1961 (Capitol)
• Goin' Places 1961 (Capitol)
• Live At Newport 1994 (Capitol)
• The Kingston Trio and Friends Reunion 1994 (DVD)
• The Capitol Years 1995 (Capitol)
• The Capitol Collector Series 1998 (Capitol)
• The Best of Kingston Trio Vol 1-3 (Capitol)
• The Kingston Trio: The Guard Years 1997 (Bear Family)

Top 40 Hit Singles

• Tom Dooley 1958 (Capitol) #1 Gold hit record
• The Tijuana Jail 1959 (Capitol) #12
• M.T.A. 1959 (Capitol) #15
• A Worried Man 1959 (Capitol) #20
• El Matador 1960 (Capitol) #32
• Bad Man Blunder 1960 (Capitol) #37

The Whiskeyhill Singers

• Dave Guard & The Whiskeyhill Singers 1962 (Capitol)
• Whiskeyhill Singers 2nd Album (unreleased) (1962)
• How The West Was Won: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 1963 (MGM)
• The Kingston Trio Capitol Years 1995 (Capitol)

Solo Career

• Up & In, 1988 (Folk Era, later re-released on Silverwolf) Dave Guard
• All Along the Merrimac, 1986 (Four tracks on the Folk Era cassette to accompany a touring show with Dave Guard, The Shaw Brothers and The White Mountain Singers)
• Pure Gabby, 1978 (Hula) Gabby Pahinui (producer)

Songs Arranged by Dave Guard

• All My Sorrows (with Bob Shane & Nick Reynolds)
• Banua (Traditional (Arr by Dave Guard))
• Bay Of Mexico (Traditional (Arr by Dave & Gretchen Guard))
• Blow Ye Winds
• Bonnie Hielan' Laddie (with Joe Hickerson)
• Buddy Better Get On Down The Line (with Jane Bowers)
• Bye Bye Thou Little Tiny Child
• Come All Ye Fair And Tender Ladies (with Gretchen Guard)
• Coplas (Traditional (Arr by Dave Guard))
• Corey Corey (with Bob Shane & Nick Reynolds)
• Coventry Carol (Bye Bye Thou Little Tiny Child)
• Dodi Li (with Bob Shane & Nick Reynolds)
• Don't Weep Mary (with Bob Shane & Nick Reynolds)
• Dorie' (with Bob Shane & Nick Reynolds)
• Farewell Adelita (with Bob Shane & Nick Reynolds)
• Getaway John
• Go Where I Send Thee (with Bob Shane & Nick Reynolds)
• Goober Peas
• Gue' Gue (with Bob Shane & Nick Reynolds)
• Haul Away
• The Hunter (with Bob Shane & Nick Reynolds)
• Little Maggie
• Oh, Cindy (with Bob Shane, Nick Reynolds & Frank Werber)
• Oh, Yes, Oh (with Gretchen Guard)
• Pay Me Money Down
• Sail Away Ladies
• Scotch and Soda
• Sing We Noel
• Santy Anno
• Somerset Glouchestershire Wasail (with Erich Schwandt)
• Three Jolly Coachmen
• When The Saints Go Marching In (Traditional, Arr. by Dave Guard)
• With You My Johnny (with Bob Shane & Nick Reynolds)
• You're Gonna Miss Me (with Mike Seeger, Tom Paley & John Cohen)
• You Don't Knock
• A Worried Man (with Tom Glazer)

Songs Composed With Jane Bowers

• "Coast of California"
• "Senora"
• "When I Was Young"