The Forum were a one-man, two-woman easy listening vocal group with sunshine pop overtones, landing a number 45 hit with "The River Is Wide" in 1967 (the song also became a Top 40 hit for the Grass Roots a couple of years later). "The River Is Wide" sounded something like an easy listening spin on the Righteous Brothers, particularly in Phil Campos' deep and slightly operatic vocals. An album of the same name also appeared featuring (as had the single) production by easy listening maestro Les Baxter, who also wrote about half of the material. While intricately produced and boasting creamy soft California pop harmonies, the songs and arrangements were at the most saccharine end of sunshine pop, complete with oh-so-slight psychedelic touches on "Trip on Me" (which became the follow-up single to "The River Is Wide"). Comprised of Phil Campos, his future wife Rene Nole, and teenager Riselle Bain, the Forum were formed in 1966 by Campos, who had appeared on numerous hootenanny folk albums during the folk revival. The group didn't last long after "The River Is Wide," with Bain going solo while Campos and Nole married and formed a duo. The album The River Is Wide was reissued on CD in 2002 with numerous alternate takes, unreleased tracks, and B-sides appended as bonus cuts. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide