The Brothers Four are an American folk group founded in 1957 in Seattle, Wa… Read Full Bio ↴The Brothers Four are an American folk group founded in 1957 in Seattle, Washington. Bob Flick, John Paine, Mike Kirkland, and Dick Foley met at the University of Washington, where they were members of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity in 1956. Their first professional performances were the result of a prank played on them in 1958 by a rival fraternity, who had arranged for someone to call them, pretend to be from Seattle's Colony Club, and invite them to come down to audition for a gig. Even though they were not expected at the club, they were allowed to sing a few songs anyway, and were subsequently hired. Flick recalls them being paid "mostly in beer."
They left for San Francisco in 1959, where they met Mort Lewis, Dave Brubeck's manager. Lewis became their manager and later that year secured them a contract with Columbia Records. Their second single, "Greenfields," released in January 1960, hit #2 on the pop charts, and their first album, Brothers Four, released toward the end of the year, made the top 20. Other highlights of their early career included singing their fourth single, "The Green Leaves of Summer," from the John Wayne movie The Alamo, at the 1961 Academy Awards, and having their second album, BMOC/Best Music On/Off Campus, go top 10. They also recorded the theme song for the ABC television series Hootenanny, "Hootenanny Saturday Night," in 1963.
The British Invasion and the ascendance of such folk musicians as Bob Dylan put an end to the Brothers Four's early period of success, but they kept performing and making records, doing particularly well in Japan and on the American hotel circuit.
The band attempted a comeback by recording a highly commercial version of Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man." But the band was unable to release it because of licensing issues, and The Byrds eventually stole their thunder by releasing their heralded version.
Mike Kirkland left the group in 1969, and was replaced by Mark Pearson, another University of Washington alumnus. In 1971, Pearson left and was replaced by Bob Haworth, who stayed until 1989 and was replaced by a returning Pearson. Dick Foley left the group in 1990 and was replaced by Terry Lauber. Despite all the changes and having spent 47 years in the business, the group is still active today (2004).
They left for San Francisco in 1959, where they met Mort Lewis, Dave Brubeck's manager. Lewis became their manager and later that year secured them a contract with Columbia Records. Their second single, "Greenfields," released in January 1960, hit #2 on the pop charts, and their first album, Brothers Four, released toward the end of the year, made the top 20. Other highlights of their early career included singing their fourth single, "The Green Leaves of Summer," from the John Wayne movie The Alamo, at the 1961 Academy Awards, and having their second album, BMOC/Best Music On/Off Campus, go top 10. They also recorded the theme song for the ABC television series Hootenanny, "Hootenanny Saturday Night," in 1963.
The British Invasion and the ascendance of such folk musicians as Bob Dylan put an end to the Brothers Four's early period of success, but they kept performing and making records, doing particularly well in Japan and on the American hotel circuit.
The band attempted a comeback by recording a highly commercial version of Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man." But the band was unable to release it because of licensing issues, and The Byrds eventually stole their thunder by releasing their heralded version.
Mike Kirkland left the group in 1969, and was replaced by Mark Pearson, another University of Washington alumnus. In 1971, Pearson left and was replaced by Bob Haworth, who stayed until 1989 and was replaced by a returning Pearson. Dick Foley left the group in 1990 and was replaced by Terry Lauber. Despite all the changes and having spent 47 years in the business, the group is still active today (2004).
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The Brothers Four Lyrics
25 Minutes to Go Well, they're buildin' the gallows outside this jail. I've …
500 Miles If you miss the train I'm on You will know…
Abilene Abilene, Abilene Prettiest town I've ever seen. Woman ther…
And I Love Her (Lennon/McCartney) I give her all my love That's all I do An…
Blue Water Line The City Council met last week, the vote was four…
Both Sides Now Bows and flows of angel hair And ice cream castles…
Changes Sit by my side Come as close as the air Share in…
Darlin' Sportin' Jenny As I was a goin' over Kilgary mountain I met colonel…
Four Strong Winds Four strong winds that blow lonely, Seven seas that run high…
Goodnight Irene When I asked your mother for you She told me you…
Greenfields Once there were greenfields Kissed by the sun Once there w…
I Am a Rovin' Gambler I am a roving gambler, I gamble all around And when I…
I'll Follow The Sun oh tomorrow may rain, so I'll follow the sun One day you'll…
Island in the Sun This is my island in the sun Where my people have…
Jamaica Farewell Down the way where the nights are gay And the sun…
Just a Little Rain Chorus: Oh, no, dont let the rain come down Oh, no, dont…
Lady Greensleeves Alas, my love, you do me wrong To cast me…
Michelle Michelle, ma belle. These are words that go together well, M…
Sakura Sakura sakura Yayoi no sora wa Miwatasu kagiri Kasumi ka kum…
San Francisco Bay Blues I got the blues from my baby Left me by…
Scarborough Fair Are you going to Scarborough Fair Parsley, sage, rosemary an…
Seven Daffodils I may not have mansion, I haven't any land Not even…
Summertime (G.Gershwin-DuBose Heyward) Summertime and the livin' is …
The Green Leaves Of Summer Oooh ooh, oooh ooh..... A time to be reaping, a time…
The Midnight Special Well, I wake up in the morning, hear the ding…
The Song of the Ox Driver To me rol, to me rol, to my rideo To me…
This Land Is Your Land This land is your land, this land is my land From…
Try To Remember Try to remember the kind of September When life was slow…
Where Have All The Flowers Gone Where have all the flowers gone Long time passing Where ha…
Yellow Bird Yellow bird, up high in banana tree. Yellow bird, you sit…
Yesterday Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away Now it looks…