'Kingston Trio's founding member Nick Reynolds dies at 75

London, October 4 : Nick Reynolds, the founding member of 'Kingston Trio,' who jump-started the revival folk scene of the late 1950s, has passed away. He was 75.

The American folk musician, who died in San Diego on October 1, had been hospitalised with acute respiratory disease and left the world after his family decided to take him off the ventilator.

Taught to play the guitar by his father, the artist wooed the people through his honest and reachable music.

"Dad was so happy he turned people onto music in a way that people could really approach it, in a simple and honest way," BBC quoted son Josh Reynolds.

"He was a very gracious and loving performer," he added.

A 'devoted family man' Reynolds left the group in 1967 to give concentrate on raising his family.

Moving back to California, he, however, reunited with the band in mid-1980s until his retirement

'The Kingston Trio's cover of the folk song 'Tom Dooley', that launched the band's career, was a chart hit in 1958, while their debut hit by the same name topped the country and western performance category at the inaugural Grammys in 1959.

The group went on to win a Grammy in the following year for 'Best Folk Performance', with their album 'The Kingston Trio At Large'.

The Trio even paved the way for artists such as Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.

ANI