Modern Folk Quartet
Encyclopedia
The Modern Folk Quartet recorded two albums of folk revival music in the early 1960s, with an emphasis on group harmonies, and have subsequently re-formed more than once and made further recordings.
The four original members were Cyrus Faryar
, Henry Diltz
, Chip Douglas
, and Stan White. They formed the quartet in Honolulu in 1962, when Faryar returned from the mainland after a period singing with Dave Guard
's Whiskeyhill Singers. The newly-named Modern Folk Quartet - its name taken as a conscious parallel with the Modern Jazz Quartet
- then moved to Los Angeles and became regulars at The Troubadour club. However, White then became ill, and was replaced by local singer Jerry Yester
.
Managed by Herb Cohen
(later manager of Frank Zappa
, Tim Buckley
and others) the quartet recorded their first album in 1963, produced by Jim Dickson (later manager of the Byrds). In November of this same year, they appeared as themselves in the Warner Bros. film, Palm Springs Weekend
(in the sequence at Jack's Casino) and are shown singing two songs, “The Ox Driver’s Song” and one currently unidentified song.
The Quartet released a second album in 1964 that included early songs by Bob Dylan
, Phil Ochs
, John Stewart and Chet Powers
(aka Dino Valente). Over the next two years they continued to perform but did little recording. A final session with Phil Spector
yielded "This Could Be the Night" (cowritten by Spector and Harry Nilsson
), which was used as the theme to the rock concert film The Big TNT Show.
The MFQ disbanded in 1966, and the various members went on to develop their own careers. They re-formed between 1975 and 1978, and again in the 1980s, becoming the Modern Folk Quintet when Yester's brother Jim, formerly of The Association
, joined in 1988. After a 12-year break they reformed again in 2003 for a tour of Japan, where they have remained popular.
The four original members were Cyrus Faryar
Cyrus Faryar
Cyrus Faryar is an American folk musician, songwriter, and record producer. He was active in musical, theatrical, and performance events in high school. After graduating from high school and attending college, he became involved in the entertainment industry, opening the first coffee house in...
, Henry Diltz
Henry Diltz
Henry Stanford Diltz is a folk musician and photographer, who has been active since the 1960s....
, Chip Douglas
Chip Douglas
Douglas Farthing Walter Hatlelid, better known as Chip Douglas, is a songwriter, musician , and record producer, whose most famous work was during the 1960s...
, and Stan White. They formed the quartet in Honolulu in 1962, when Faryar returned from the mainland after a period singing with Dave Guard
Dave Guard
Donald David "Dave" Guard was an American folk singer, songwriter, arranger and recording artist. Along with Nick Reynolds and Bob Shane, he was one of the founding members of The Kingston Trio.Guard was educated in Honolulu, Hawaii, at Punahou School in what was then the pre-statehood U.S....
's Whiskeyhill Singers. The newly-named Modern Folk Quartet - its name taken as a conscious parallel with the Modern Jazz Quartet
Modern Jazz Quartet
The Modern Jazz Quartet was established in 1952 by Milt Jackson , John Lewis , Percy Heath , and Kenny Clarke . Connie Kay replaced Clarke in 1955...
- then moved to Los Angeles and became regulars at The Troubadour club. However, White then became ill, and was replaced by local singer Jerry Yester
Jerry Yester
Jerry Yester is an American folk rock musician, record producer, and arranger.Growing up in Burbank, California, Yester formed a duo with brother Jim Yester, the Yester Brothers, and starting playing folk clubs in Los Angeles in 1960...
.
Managed by Herb Cohen
Herb Cohen
Herbert "Herb" Cohen was an American personal manager, record company executive, and music publisher, best known as the manager of Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, and many other Los Angeles-based musicians in the 1960s and 1970s.-Life and career:Cohen was born in New York...
(later manager of Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
, Tim Buckley
Tim Buckley
Timothy Charles Buckley III was an American vocalist, and musician. His music and style changed considerably through the years; his first album was mostly folk oriented, but over time his music incorporated jazz, psychedelia, funk, soul, avant-garde and an evolving "voice as instrument," sound...
and others) the quartet recorded their first album in 1963, produced by Jim Dickson (later manager of the Byrds). In November of this same year, they appeared as themselves in the Warner Bros. film, Palm Springs Weekend
Palm Springs Weekend
Palm Springs Weekend is a 1963 Warner Bros. bedroom comedy film directed by Norman Taurog. It has elements of the beach party genre and has been called “a sort of Westernized version of Where the Boys Are" by Billboard Magazine...
(in the sequence at Jack's Casino) and are shown singing two songs, “The Ox Driver’s Song” and one currently unidentified song.
The Quartet released a second album in 1964 that included early songs by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, Phil Ochs
Phil Ochs
Philip David Ochs was an American protest singer and songwriter who was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, earnest humanism, political activism, insightful and alliterative lyrics, and haunting voice...
, John Stewart and Chet Powers
Chet Powers
Chester William Powers, Jr. was an American singer-songwriter, and a member of the rock group Quicksilver Messenger Service. He was also known by the stage name "Dino Valenti" and, as a songwriter, as Jesse Oris Farrow...
(aka Dino Valente). Over the next two years they continued to perform but did little recording. A final session with Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
yielded "This Could Be the Night" (cowritten by Spector and Harry Nilsson
Harry Nilsson
Harry Edward Nilsson III was an American singer-songwriter who achieved the peak of his commercial success in the early 1970s. On all but his earliest recordings he is credited as Nilsson...
), which was used as the theme to the rock concert film The Big TNT Show.
The MFQ disbanded in 1966, and the various members went on to develop their own careers. They re-formed between 1975 and 1978, and again in the 1980s, becoming the Modern Folk Quintet when Yester's brother Jim, formerly of The Association
The Association
The Association is a pop music band from California in the folk rock or soft rock genre. During the 1960s, they had numerous hits at or near the top of the Billboard charts and were the lead-off band at 1967's Monterey Pop Festival...
, joined in 1988. After a 12-year break they reformed again in 2003 for a tour of Japan, where they have remained popular.