It started as a lark in the spring of 1989. Three middle-aged retreads -- all of whom were old enough to know better -- decided to form a trio anyway. Three weeks and two rehearsals later, they were on stage as a warm-up act for the Florence Days Melodrama in Omaha, Nebraska. They sang every song they knew -- all five of them.

Show stoppers? Not exactly. Well, okay...so "not even close" says it better. But what do you want, anyway? You can't mix an insurance adjustor like Tom singing tenor, a marketing instructor like Ron singing lead, and a computer graphic artist like Bryan singing baritone and playing guitar and expect musical miracles. Not even they expected the trio to survive beyond the melodrama's four-day run. Survival, and maybe a couple of beers afterwards, was about all they were looking for.

But something odd happened on that stage. They found they enjoyed performing "their" music -- which wasn't a huge surprise. Odder still, they found that the audience liked them, and their music. That was something of a shock.

"Their" music is the music that an entire generation of baby-boomers had grown up with -- music that no one sang anymore, music that radio stations had stopped playing years ago.

Within a year or so they began performing under the name of Peter, Paul & Morrie. True, it was something of a rip-off from the well-known group. But the choice of a name did two things. It identified their kind of music, and it also said, "Don't take us too seriously."

In June of 1993, they competed -- and placed -- in an old-time music contest in Walnut, Iowa. That performance lead to the first of several appearances on "Country Roots Today," which for several years aired live on WOW Radio in Omaha.

In September of 1993, the trio won first place honors in the Woody Guthrie Folksinging Contest at the National Traditional Country Music Association Festival in Avoca, Iowa. In 1994, they placed second in the Comedy Act contest at the same festival.

A "let's have fun with music" approach to music remains their hallmark. The sound of laughter is common wherever they play, and they have a real knack for tuning in to their audience to make the humor hit home.

You never know what they're going to do or say next...or what's going to come out of the infamous "prop box" next. They've got more props than Carter's got pills, to quote a very old joke (that's still newer than some of theirs.) To call them irrreverent would be a promotion.

Still, every now and then they'll surprise you. About the time you conclude "These guys are just comedians," they break into a tight 3-part a capella harmony to a tune you haven't heard for forty years. You're likely to hear a Kingston Trio standard followed by a country tune from The Statler Brothers, and then maybe one that will make you wonder if you are listening to Spike Jones. Then they'll turn around and belt out a knock-your-socks-off Gospel tune. The mix is unique, to say the least, and is always hand-picked and geared toward their audience.

They currently have over 150 songs in their active repertoire. Well-known folk groups and individual artists of the 50s and 60s are generously represented. There are also quite a few songs that no other performers usually do...and to be be honest, more than a few that no other performers in their right minds would ever do.

Musically, you're apt to hear almost anything from these three. But one thing you won't hear is a boring show. Give these three gents a few minutes, and you'll find your feet tapping and a smile on your face. And chances are, you'll be singing along.

Different. Nostalgic. Off-beat. You can describe their shows a lot of ways. But it really all comes down to one fact: Peter, Paul & Morrie make music fun again.

Yeah, yeah...but what do they SOUND like??   Lemme HEAR 'em!