After a strong week for Conway Twitty, the american public was tired of making believe and wanted something a little more surreal.
This came in the package of the next #1 song "Tom Dooley" by The Kingston Trio
The Kingston Trio began as a frat party band under the name of Dave Guard and the Calypsonians. Dave Guard, Bob Shane, and Nick Reynolds enjoyed diddling in the world of music and liked to show off their talents by covering popular songs at parties for their friends. They didn't have any thoughts that this would get them anywhere further. So much so that Bob went back to his hometown after graduation, leaving the trio a Duo. Dave and Nick continued to perform around town under the name The Kingston Quartet, with the addition of Joe Gannon and Barbara Bogue. It was in this phase of the band that they were seen by Frank Werber, an up and coming publicist. Frank said he would love to Manage them as long as the gave Joe the boot because, according to Frank, had no musical prospects. Joe left, followed by Barbara, because they were bumpin' uglies at the time. Dave and Nick then insisted they give their old pal Bob a call, Frank abides. Soon the trio was enrolled in vocal sessions and 6 to 8 hour practices for several months before even attempting to perform. It was not until Frank pulled some strings to get them to replace a spot left open at The Purple Onion Club when a set of nights were canceled by Phyllis Diller. The Kingston Trio was such a hit, they continued to play nights at The Purple Onion Club for 6 months. Word got around and they were soon releasing a number one hit.
"Tom Dooley" is an old folk songs about Tom Dula and his murder of Laura Foster. Tom was a confederate soldier, who after the war began an adulterous relationship with childhood friend Anne Melton. Apparently, Anne was not enough to feed Toms sexual urges and began to also sleep with Anne's cousin, Laura Foster. Hearsay claims that Tom knocked up Laura and they decided to elope. Sadly, on May 25, 1866, the day of the wedding, Laura left her home to meet Tom and was never seen alive again. Rumors claim that Anne murdered her cousin, But because Tom still loved Anne he claimed to be the one. A witness account claimed they heard Tom say he was going to murder the one who gave him syphilis, believed to be Laura passed onto Tom and then onto Anne. Tom Fled town to avoid consequences but was soon caught on the Tennessee state line and later hung in Statesville, NC. A doctor later reviled that he had treated Laura's sister Pauline for syphilis first and was most likely the one who passed it to Tom, who later passed it to Anne and Laura. Locals claim that on Anne's deathbed she admitted to killing Laura and in 2001 locals signed a petition (no legal pull) to acquit Tom Dula of his crimes. The song mentions James Grayson, but Grayson was not part of this love triangle and merely a person who hired Tom Dula (who used the name Tom Hall) in Tennessee. Upon finding the truth about Tom, James helped turn Tom into the state for trial.