The "brother" duets

[don richards]

the #Blue Sky Boys..., the Delmore Brothers..., the Louvins.., the Stanleys- #a very EXCLUSIVE "club" -"oft' imitated - never to be equalled" - Thanks for the great music, gentlemen. Moose. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

[earthsave]

Monroe Brothers

[jjboone101]

yeah, a lot of the brother acts were influenced by Charlie and Bill Monroe, even though they didn't play together for a long time (approx. 1934-1938). "What Would You Give in Exchange for Your Soul?" was a big Monroe Brothers hit in 1936 and Bill started the first Blue Grass Boys configuration in about 1938, with their recordings hitting by about 1940.

[ALog]

How 'bout Jim & Jesse and the Whitsteins? The song off of Jesse's CD with Charlie Whitstein Tribute to teh Brother Duets..."Gone But Not Forgotten"...a classic!

[JeffD]

Floyd and Lloyd Armstrong - the mandolin brothers!!!

[Michael H Geimer]

Lot's of great stuff to be heard under this heading, but I there is sure something about The Monroe Brothers that stands out to me. Their harmonies and sense of tempo are superb.

I like dou settings in general. As a listener, I get to hear the players clearly. As a players, I like the having the room, and I like the challenge of needing to fill that room itelligently.

Less is More.

[MandoSquirrel]

Indeed. One of the great overlooked lessons of music. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[jim simpson]

There is something special about family harmonies. I like all mentioned - listen to the Gibson Brothers - they have that quality.
Hi Moose!
Jim

[Brad Weiss]

Allmans, Nevilles, Gallaghers. Oh, and Sly and the Family Stone. Rock on.

[Jon Hall]

Don't forget Roland and Clarence White. How about those Darlins; Rodney and Doug Dillard.

[Fred Keller]

For another contemporary take, you can't beat the Hunger Mountain Boys.

[Paul Kotapish]

Check out the Canote Brothers up in Seattle. They offer a splendid pairing of sprightly old-time fiddle and guitar or banjo with sweet brother harmonies. Great sense of humor, interesting, playful repertoire, and a wonderful vibe. They've had a huge impact on the old-time music scene on the Left Coast.

http://www.bluejaylivemusic.com/CanoteBrothers/CanoteBrothers.html

[lgc]

The Hunger Mt. Boys from Western Mass ain't brothers but they do it as well as almost any I've heard.

[MDW]

Check out "The Get Up Johns" - nice contemporary version of the brother duet style.

[MikeEdgerton]

Dare I mention the Everly Brothers?

There is something to be said regarding sibling harmonies no matter what the genre.

[Paul Kotapish]

That Skaggs & Rice duet was pretty exquisite, too, even if they aren't true brothers. I'd say they managed to imitate and equal as well as anyone.

[Gary S]

how about the Williamson brothers?

[allenhopkins]

Dare I mention the Everly Brothers?
Yes indeedy! Songs Our Daddy Taught Us is one of the great traditional country brother duet albums of all time.

Others to add to the roster: Allen Brothers (both the old
"hokum" duet from Chattanooga, and Red's sons), Dixon Brothers, Sam & Kirk McGee, Goins Brothers.

[cooper4205]

I always like the Lilly Bros., even though most of their stuff had a full backing band. I read they were influenced heavily by another brother act, "The Callahan Brothers"

[John Flynn]

For mandolin content, I gotta go with the Buckhannon Brothers!

[don richards]

The Everleys' thank you!! Great harmonies' - thanks for the ":heads-up!!! same hometown #AS #the great MERLE TRAVIS!!! -- http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[hoffmannia2k7]

yeah! The Allen Brothers, great tenor banjo stuff to be had there. Check out Bow Wow Blues. Who would guess those brothers are white!!

[Mandomax]

The Bray Brothers- Nate, Francis, and Harley

[bones12]

The Cofer Brothers for that great beat. Doug in Vermont

[keith_rowan]

howzabout The Rowan Brothers...

no relation http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[hoffmannia2k7]

Cofer brothers.

When you go down to Black Bottom, keep your money in your shoes, cause those black bottom women.....

[allenhopkins]

Cofer brothers.

When you go down to Black Bottom, keep your money in your shoes, cause those black bottom women.....
Or, When you go down to Deep Ellum, keep your money in your pants, 'cause those Deep Ellum women never...

[Jim Yates]

Anyone heard of the Milo Twins?

[mando83]

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif I'm just shocked that with the mentioning of all these Brother groups...no one has mentioned the OSBORNE BROTHERS... who completely changed vocal arangements in Bluegrass and Country music. I don't know of anyone in Bluegrass Music's voice that is more imitated than that of Bobby Osborne. (I know alot that try to imitate his mando playing..but thats just REALLY difficult).

They are still my favorite Brother's group!!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[don richards]

ahh.....Sonny and Bob!! They PERFECTED three-part harmony in Bluegrass Music - they "set-the-mark" - Long-live-the-Osbornes!!!!- that third-part 'd #curl the hair on the back 'o your neck!!!! - MOOSE. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[poymando]

As to the Osbornes, they are certainly excellent but perhaps they have a better home in the Bluegrass rather than Old Time "brother duet" category.
The Armstrong Twins are pretty exciting and while not brothers, Karl and Harty did a nice job with the mando/guitar close harmony style.

[Gene Bragg]

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif The Barton Brothers (not the Brothers Barton) of Bakersfield CA

[allenhopkins]

ahh.....Sonny and Bob!! They PERFECTED three-part harmony in Bluegrass Music - they "set-the-mark" - Long-live-the-Osbornes!!!!- that third-part 'd curl the hair on the back 'o your neck!!!! - MOOSE.
Any duet that can "perfect three-part harmony" gets my vote.

[ryanh]

I think the guys from Bakersfield are the Brothers Barton. The Barton Brothers are, I think, an old comedy team that did most of their stuff in Yiddish.

[Michael H Geimer]

Not the tightest, or most sonorous vocals, but I like Norman and Nancy Blake's singing.

Not Old-Timey, or Bluegrass ... but Gillian Welch (and David Rawlings) put on a fantastic show using just two voices, and two instruments.