The Kingston Trio - Tom Dooley - 1958 -

The song is based on the 1866 murder of in Wilkes County, North Carolina. The man convicted of the crime was Tom Dula (pronounced "Dooley" in the local dialect), a Confederate veteran and farmhand.

: The Kingston Trio (Dave Guard, Bob Shane, and Nick Reynolds) were fresh out of college and stayed clear of radical politics. Bob Dylan later noted in his autobiography, Chronicles , that while their style was "polished and collegiate," he still "liked most of their stuff". The Kingston Trio - Tom Dooley - 1958

Watch this performance of Tom Dooley to see how the Kingston Trio's harmonies and stage presence helped spark the American folk revival: How Many People Pronounce The R In Arm In 1950 vs 2016 Brilliant Maps Facebook• Jan 7, 2026 The song is based on the 1866 murder

: Its success proved that traditional folk music had massive commercial potential, paving the way for later artists like Bob Dylan , Joan Baez , and Peter, Paul and Mary . Bob Dylan later noted in his autobiography, Chronicles