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The Cumberland Trio was formed in the early 1960’s by a
group of college students at the University of Tennessee
in Knoxville, during the folk music craze that dominated
pop culture and music during those turbulent and revolutionary
years.
In the late Fall
of 1962 Delta Tau Delta fraternity brothers Jerre Haskew,
Jim Shuptrine and Andy Garverick , along with Sigma Alpha
Epsilon’s Tom Kilpatrick, formed a folk group. Jerre brought
leadership talents, played rhythm guitar and banjo and sang
lead, while Jim was a musicologist, arranger, and was self-taught
on the upright bass. Tom possessed a great natural but trained
voice, performing as a soloist in the world reknowned college
choral group, the UT Singers. He was an excellent rhythm guitar
player as well, with a unique frailing strumming style. Andy
sang baritone/bass and contributed his exceptional lead instrumental
talents on the five-string banjo and guitar. So The Cumberland
Trio was actually a foursome, with Jim playing bass, while
the other three members sang. The four together produced a
magical musical chemistry. |
On
ABC-TV Hootenanny, January 1964
L-R: Jim Shuptrine, Jerre Haskew,
Andy Garverick and Tom Kilpatrick
[Click
on Photo for Enlargement] |
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Performing
at Carnicus, Spring 1963
L-R: Jerre Haskew, Tom
Kilpatrick,
Jim Shuptrine and Andy
Garverick
[Click
on Photo for Enlargement]
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The
Trio’s Big Debut
The
Cumberland Trio’s first important performance was on the
UT campus in Spring, 1963 at the annual Greek-sponsored
Carnicus show. The Trio performed three songs before a packed
house of 3,000. The guys were stunned by the standing ovation
they received, along with first prize money, and it reinforced
their belief that their efforts might develop into much
more than a college amateur lark. |
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