Kalin Twins
The Kalin Twins (born 16 February 1934, Port Jervis, New York, USA) were a … Read Full Bio ↴The Kalin Twins (born 16 February 1934, Port Jervis, New York, USA) were a pop music recording duo, comprising twin brothers Hal and Herbie Kalin (d. 24 August 2005 and 21 July 2006, respectively).
A classic example of one-hit-wonder syndrome, the Kalin Twins have a more interesting history than many who fall into this age group. They were real life twins (many references give their birth date as 1939 but this was a Decca Records diversion, in an attempt to make them appear younger than they were).
Their first public appearance came in just five years at a local Christmas party, and the error stayed with them. They graduated from Port Jervis High School in June 1952, but has plans to break into the music industry was delayed when Hall was drafted in Air Force as a radio operator. They kept in touch during this period, recording and writing songs on a tape recorder and send them back and forth. After Hal's discharge in 1956 they set about resurrecting their double act. During these early struggles a demo single was pressed, combining the compositions "Beggars Of Love" and "The Spider And The Fly." The result was an audition for Decca, and their first single proper, "Jumpin 'Jack" / "Walkin' To School."
While searching through piles of writers' demo tapes to find the appropriate monitoring of twins found a song titled "When", written by Paul Evans and Jack Reardon. It became their second single. However, the record company chose to plug its flip side, "Three o'clock Thrill" instead. It was not until disc jockeys belatedly began to play "When" that the single took off. It reached number 5 in the Billboard charts but topped the UK charts for no less than five weeks (selling over two million copies worldwide). Coast to coast touring of the U.S. ensued before a two week engagement at the Prince of Wales Theater in England (later dates introduced Cliff Richard as support artist on his first national tour). The subsequent "Forget Me Not" and "Oh, My Goodness" both made reasonable showing in the Billboard charts, but neither entered the UK equivalent. Two more minor U.S. hits followed, "It's Only The Beginning" and "Sweet Sugar Lips', but their remaining Decca sides failed to sell. With the arrival of the Beatles there seemed little place in the market for the Kalin Twins" innocent harmonies, although a further single, "Sometimes it comes, sometimes it Goes" for Amy Records, did appear in 1966.
Disillusioned with their diminishing rewards, the brothers mutually agreed to return to their day jobs, with each pursuing college degrees. They did not perform again until 1977 when a friend booked them to appear weekly at his new night spot, the River Boat Club. This led to a further one-off commitments, in which they were sometimes joined by younger sibling Jack to emerge as the Kalin Brothers. A brace of singles appeared on small labels: "Silver Seagull" (1979) and "American Eagle" both used the same backing track. A brace of singles appeared on small labels: "Silver seagull" and "American Eagle" both used the same backing track. They disappeared again until old hand support Cliff Richard invited them to play at his 30th Anniversary shows in 1989. They disappeared again until old hand support Cliff Richard invited them to play at his 30th anniversary show in 1989. Harold Kalin was killed in an automobile accident in August 2005. Harold Kalin was killed in a car accident in August 2005. His brother suffered a fatal heart attack less than a year later. His brother has suffered a fatal heart attack less than a year later.
A classic example of one-hit-wonder syndrome, the Kalin Twins have a more interesting history than many who fall into this age group. They were real life twins (many references give their birth date as 1939 but this was a Decca Records diversion, in an attempt to make them appear younger than they were).
Their first public appearance came in just five years at a local Christmas party, and the error stayed with them. They graduated from Port Jervis High School in June 1952, but has plans to break into the music industry was delayed when Hall was drafted in Air Force as a radio operator. They kept in touch during this period, recording and writing songs on a tape recorder and send them back and forth. After Hal's discharge in 1956 they set about resurrecting their double act. During these early struggles a demo single was pressed, combining the compositions "Beggars Of Love" and "The Spider And The Fly." The result was an audition for Decca, and their first single proper, "Jumpin 'Jack" / "Walkin' To School."
While searching through piles of writers' demo tapes to find the appropriate monitoring of twins found a song titled "When", written by Paul Evans and Jack Reardon. It became their second single. However, the record company chose to plug its flip side, "Three o'clock Thrill" instead. It was not until disc jockeys belatedly began to play "When" that the single took off. It reached number 5 in the Billboard charts but topped the UK charts for no less than five weeks (selling over two million copies worldwide). Coast to coast touring of the U.S. ensued before a two week engagement at the Prince of Wales Theater in England (later dates introduced Cliff Richard as support artist on his first national tour). The subsequent "Forget Me Not" and "Oh, My Goodness" both made reasonable showing in the Billboard charts, but neither entered the UK equivalent. Two more minor U.S. hits followed, "It's Only The Beginning" and "Sweet Sugar Lips', but their remaining Decca sides failed to sell. With the arrival of the Beatles there seemed little place in the market for the Kalin Twins" innocent harmonies, although a further single, "Sometimes it comes, sometimes it Goes" for Amy Records, did appear in 1966.
Disillusioned with their diminishing rewards, the brothers mutually agreed to return to their day jobs, with each pursuing college degrees. They did not perform again until 1977 when a friend booked them to appear weekly at his new night spot, the River Boat Club. This led to a further one-off commitments, in which they were sometimes joined by younger sibling Jack to emerge as the Kalin Brothers. A brace of singles appeared on small labels: "Silver Seagull" (1979) and "American Eagle" both used the same backing track. A brace of singles appeared on small labels: "Silver seagull" and "American Eagle" both used the same backing track. They disappeared again until old hand support Cliff Richard invited them to play at his 30th Anniversary shows in 1989. They disappeared again until old hand support Cliff Richard invited them to play at his 30th anniversary show in 1989. Harold Kalin was killed in an automobile accident in August 2005. Harold Kalin was killed in a car accident in August 2005. His brother suffered a fatal heart attack less than a year later. His brother has suffered a fatal heart attack less than a year later.
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Kalin Twins Lyrics
Dream of Me Dream Of Me The Kalin Twins Dream of me every night. Dream …
Forget Me Not FORGET ME NOT Kalin Twins Forget the fellows that…
It's Only The Beginning [Chorus:] It's only the beginning It's only the beginning of…
Sweet Sugar Lips Hey hey sweet sugar lips You sweet sweet sugar lips You don'…
When When, when you smile, when you smile at me Well, well…
When - Live When, when you smile, when you smile at me Well, well…
When I Look in the Mirror When, when you smile, when you smile at me Well, well…
Zing ! Went the String on My Heart Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
Zing Went the Strings of My Heart Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…
Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…