The Tarriers

The Tarriers recorded "Tom Dooley" on their debut album in 1957, a year before the song became a massive hit for <a href="spotify:artist:3qtcbDvdIgQOXkPbtRvBaQ">the Kingston Trio</a>. They also released and had a minor hit with "The Banana Boat Song," before <a href="spotify:artist:6Tw1ktF4xMmzaLLbe98I2z">Harry Belafonte</a> recorded the same song and started the calypso craze. Despite the talent of <a href="spotify:artist:10d2A1Q9bdMCwYnh1yp4rI">Erik Darling</a>, Alan Arkin, and Bob Carey, the Tarriers never received credit for their originality, nor did they find a niche in the bourgeoning folk boom of the late '50 and early '60s.

<a href="spotify:artist:10d2A1Q9bdMCwYnh1yp4rI">Darling</a> put together several combos in the early to mid-'50s, hoping to emulate the success of <a href="spotify:artist:4E5eAkpbJLO40r8fWNWm6X">the Weavers</a>. He formed a group called the Tunetellers with Bob Carey, <a href="spotify:artist:6gYjIUFuKIBVJfxXnmrd5P">Carl Carlton</a>, Al Wood, and Ray Yavneh, but an ill-fated appearance at the Circle in the Square Theatre brought a quick end to the partnership. <a href="spotify:artist:10d2A1Q9bdMCwYnh1yp4rI">Darling</a>, Carey, and <a href="spotify:artist:6gYjIUFuKIBVJfxXnmrd5P">Carlton</a> regrouped with Alan Arkin and named their group after the Irish folk song "Drill, Ye Tarriers, Drill." Former <a href="spotify:artist:4E5eAkpbJLO40r8fWNWm6X">Weavers</a>' manager Pete Kameron worked to find the band a recording contract, but the major labels initially showed no interest. The band dissolved and re-formed without <a href="spotify:artist:6gYjIUFuKIBVJfxXnmrd5P">Carlton</a>, then polished their live act in New York's Catskill Mountains.

In the fall of 1956, the Tarriers recorded their first tracks in a Manhattan studio for Glory Records. The sessions produced "The Banana Boat Song," a calypso-influenced piece that <a href="spotify:artist:10d2A1Q9bdMCwYnh1yp4rI">Darling</a> had first heard from <a href="spotify:artist:5WLoAqg0ZvFZhRImCFIuBE">Bob Gibson</a> in Washington Square. While the song reached number four on Billboard, <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22RCA%22">RCA</a> quickly grabbed it for inclusion on <a href="spotify:artist:6Tw1ktF4xMmzaLLbe98I2z">Belafonte</a>'s new album. The Tarriers returned to the studio in 1957 to record additional tracks for their self-titled debut, and released "Those Brown Eyes," "Pretty Boy," and "Quinto" as follow-up singles. When these singles failed to chart, Glory allowed the band's year-long contract to lapse.

The Tarriers launched a European tour in 1957, playing a number of dates at the Olympia Theater in Paris and releasing a live set on a French record label. Despite this success, Arkin opted to leave the group, going on to a successful career as an actor, and was replaced by Clarence Cooper. The Tarriers recorded a second studio effort tilted Hard Travelin' on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22United+Artists%22">United Artists</a> in 1959, but the album failed to find an audience. <a href="spotify:artist:10d2A1Q9bdMCwYnh1yp4rI">Darling</a>'s talent was nonetheless recognized by <a href="spotify:artist:4rjIYhUqzIyGqaJiLMWH57">Fred Hellerman</a>, who invited him to take part in <a href="spotify:artist:4E5eAkpbJLO40r8fWNWm6X">the Weavers</a>' next rehearsal. Throughout 1959, <a href="spotify:artist:10d2A1Q9bdMCwYnh1yp4rI">Darling</a> juggled his career between the two bands until scheduling conflicts led to his departure from the Tarriers.

After <a href="spotify:artist:2dIzGSHkciATTqFH3Xox5g">Eric Weissberg</a> joined the Tarriers, the band recorded Tell the World About This on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Atlantic+Records%22">Atlantic Records</a>. Internal problems began to threaten the group, however; Carey became less reliable and Marshall Brickman was hired as a standby in case he failed to show. In 1963, Carey was booted from the group. In the spring of 1964, when <a href="spotify:artist:2dIzGSHkciATTqFH3Xox5g">Weissberg</a> departed for National Guard duty, the group temporarily disbanded. When he returned, the band re-formed with Al Dana replacing Brickman and in 1965, they joined <a href="spotify:artist:5yzE49FicYiSxN61oaxkNn">Judy Collins</a> on a tour of Poland and Russia. After the tour, the Tarriers fizzled out. Brickman would later find success as a playwright and screenwriter, winning an Oscar for co-writing the script to Annie Hall with <a href="spotify:artist:7HPDGnxb8oSBQ0HuNx2xqR">Woody Allen</a>.

The Tarriers left behind a handful of worthy folk recordings, but in a number of ways, they were ahead of their time. Other groups would emulate their arrangements and song choices with greater success. The presence of Carey, and later Cooper, also reflected a racial diversity that was unusual, especially during the early part of the revival. In 2001, <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Folk+Era%22">Folk Era</a> reissued the band's debut along with a number of live tracks. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., Rovi