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POPULAR FOLK MUSIC TODAY, SPRING 1991

In the winter of 1974, while the Limeliters were on hiatus, Dave Guard, Mike Settle (an original member of the First Edition and the writer of many fine songs) and I were asked to work up some songs together for a folk music television special in New York City.

We had so much fun doing it that we briefly continued the collaboration and appeared at various venues in Northern California and Colorado. Singing, performing and hanging out with David during those few months was a constant pleasure for Mike and me. Dave's unfailingly original and entertaining approach to everything he did energized all three of us and when we reluctantly parted company to get back to our individual pursuits, the memories lingered and continue to linger to this very day. We'll miss you, Dave -- somewhere, someday, I know we'll sing together again.

--Alex Hassilev

Dave was one of the easy patients to take care of. He never complained. Everything was OK. When I used to visit him in the hospital, as I would leave the room he would say, "Don't forget. Everything is Terrifico." When I'd come back in the morning and I'd say "How are you?" (and you could see he was in pain) he'd say, "I told you yesterday--Terrifico."

-- Dr. Stephen Paul

Dave will be missed, really missed. He was so much a part of our group and it's too bad he left it early. If he had stayed I think things would have been a lot different than they were. I think it would have been a lot harder for groups like the Beatles to come in when they did and be as big as they were.

As it was we were looking forward to doing the reunion tour with Dave. When we saw him in California last fall he looked as though he was doing fine, but when he went back in the hospital soon after that we were very concerned. But at least I had the good fortune of having had one good day with him in Los Angeles talking about the good old days. It was very enjoyable, especially after all the junk we'd gone through over the years. We had a wonderful time together. I already miss him very much.

-- Bob Shane

It was with great irony and sadness that your Kingston Korner Kolumn arrived today indicating Dave Guard was critically ill.

Just twelve days ago my wife and I attended the services for Dave at Portsmouth. With Dave's passing also passed a huge chunk of my youth - a youth spent reproducing, with two friends, every song on every Kingston Trio album.

-- Pete Lincoln

I'm just SO thankful that the Good Lord put me on this Earth about six years after Dave, Bob and Nick. Because together, the KT embodied every feeling an exuberant, young college kid could and should have. Each member is/was very special and uniquely talented. For me, the Trio - and Dave Guard in particular - still epitomize all that was neat, effervescent, clever, cool, tasteful, and bright (both shiny and intellectual). When was the last time a news magazine cover actually sang and conveyed such a 'joie de vivre' since that August 3rd, 1959, cover of LIFE? And how appropriate, come to think of it, that it was, in fact, "Life."

How I loved the spirit in which Dave sang, the songs he selected, and his witty banter between numbers! His voice could raise barbells (Leave My Woman Alone/You Don't Knock) or tulips (San Miguel). Long live the Original Kingston Trio's music!!

-- John Breen

He was one of the major influences on my life. I love him and he will be missed.

-- Paul Surratt

In the inspiration of every creative hopeful, there is a glimpse of some person which brings all the possibilities together in one example. On "...from the 'Hungry i" Dave was the one for me. When I had a chance to meet him and to tell him how I felt he had influenced me and so many who came after him, he said, "Oh, I was just doing Lou Gottlieb".

But it was Dave I heard - he was present in a way we all hope to be. "Since then you've wanted to be like him?" "No, since then I've been like him."

-- Steve Gillette

It dawned on me the this week that I never asked Dad if the Falcons were a team or the birds. Then I realized that I was really glad because he would have given me a three hour answer about the various kinds of Falcons one could strangle.

-- Sally Guard