Non-Fiction
Date to be Published: August 11th
Publisher: Acorn Publishing
Of all the groups to emerge during the folk era of the 1960’s, first the Chad Mitchell Trio and later The Mitchell Trio were unequivocally the best. Their complex harmonies, sense of comedic timing and stage presence were unique to the folk movement. They didn’t enjoy the commercial success of other groups because their material made political and social statements that radio and television refused to play. They were wildly popular, though, on college campuses throughout the country during this turbulent time and fostered political and social awareness among thousands of young men and women as they faced the challenging era ahead.
But as Mike, Chad and Joe Frazier raced along a frantic treadmill of rehearsals, recording sessions, nightclubs and concerts, Mike and Chad began to realize the demand for musical perfection was the only thing they had in common. Their personalities were and remain polar opposites. When Chad left in 1965, neither mourned the parting. John Denver replaced Chad. Two years later, Joe’s demons caught up to him forcing Mike and John to fire Joe.
When folk reunions became popular, fans and folk historians agreed that The Trio was the one group that would never take the stage again. Their schism was just too great.
Mike and Chad and Joe hadn’t spoken in twenty years. Then came a call. I will if he will. Their mentor and music director Milt Okun worried they were making a mistake. They couldn’t possibly be as good as their fans remembered.
They were. Mike and Chad kept their day jobs, and their distance. But once again, they shared the music.
What was your main drive to write this book?
I first heard The Chad Mitchell Trio’s records when I was
in the seventh or eighth grade. At first I was captured by their humor. Then,
as I listened closer, I was exposed to political and social concepts
unavailable elsewhere in the conservative small-town culture where I grew up.
When I moved to Spokane, Washington in 1982 to work for the local newspaper, I
learned that Mike Kobluk lived there and was director of entertainment
facilities for the city. We crossed paths in my job as a reporter. That’s when
I began thinking about a book.
Some 27 years later, I’d finished my fourth novel and was
looking for a new project. By then, Chad had moved back to Spokane. I
approached them about the idea of a book and they agreed.
What do you hope readers will learn by reading this book?
I hope they will understand what The Chad Mitchell Trio
was really all about—how good they were, how they sacrificed commercial success
in order to deliver political statements and pleas for social justice.
Did you do much research when planning this book?
Yes. In
addition to hours and hours of interviews, I had to delve deeply into the
history of American folk music, and the popular folk music era which lasted
from 1958 to 1968.
Did you have any main people who helped you in the process
of this book or influenced you to write it?
Yes. Mike and Chad both had tremendous influence over the book. They were not always comfortable with each others’ stories. But they agreed that each would be able to tell their separate story in their own way. Shanna McNair and Scott Wolven, who among other things run The Writers Hotel writing conference and year-long writer consultation programs, have helped to shape all my books. My editor Laura Taylor, who I met through the Southern California Writers’ Conference, has a hand in all my books. Chad Mitchell’s wife, Christine, offered particularly helpful insight during this process.
How long did this book take you to write from initial
thought to hitting publish?
A little
over three years.
Do you have plans to write more about this topic or new
topics?
I’m sure I
will return to non-fiction at some point. In my research for this book, I came
across a woman named June Rizher who wrote some of the funniest and biting
satirical material for The Trio. I was surprised to learn they never met her,
and didn’t come across anyone in the folk music world of the 60’s and 70’s who
knew her or knew much about her. I only know she did in a car accident sometime
in the 70’s. I am intrigued and fascinated to learn more of her story.
For now
though, I’m turning back to fiction. It’s a relief, for a change, to just make
things up.
About The Author
Contact Links
Twitter: @BooksMurphey
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