In 1961, the Trio was described as the most envied, the most imitated, and the most successful singing group, folk or otherwise, in all show business and the undisputed kings of the folksinging rage by every yardstick.
Music historians characterized their impact as phenomenal popularity. The Kingston Trio's massive record sales in its early days made acoustic folk music commercially viable, paving the way for singer-songwriter, Rock Folk and Americana artists who followed in their wake.
