Released in 1958, "Tom Dooley" became a "mammoth hit" that reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts and sold over three million copies.
: The Kingston Trio’s version traded the graphic details of the original "love quadrangle" for "Appalachian atmospherics," turning a gritty tragedy into a polished pop-folk hit. Cultural and Commercial Impact The Kingston Trio - Tom Dooley - 1958
: Despite proclaiming his innocence, Dula was hanged in Statesville, N.C., on May 1, 1868. Released in 1958, "Tom Dooley" became a "mammoth