The Brothers Four: Greenfields and Other Folk Music Greats
Looking for some great folk music to listen to? Check out The Brothers Four: Greenfields and Other Folk Music Greats. This album is packed with classic folk tunes that are sure to get your toes tapping.
The Brothers Four and Their Music
The Brothers Four are a folk music group who became popular in the 1960s with their hit song “Greenfields.” The group has continued to tour and release new music over the years, and their music has been featured in movies and TV shows. Let’s take a look at the group’s history and some of their most popular songs.
Early Years and Formation
The Brothers Four were formed in 1957 in Seattle, Washington by Bob Flick (bass guitar, vocals), Mike Kirkland (baritone guitar, vocals), Dick Foley (lead guitar, vocals), and Dick Weissman (banjo, vocals). The quartet initially met while students at the University of Washington; all four were members of the school’s rowing team. Although they took their name from a Chinese restaurant called “The Wonderful World of the Brothers Four”, they were not actually related.
The Brothers Four and the Folk Music Scene
The Brothers Four were an American folk music group, founded in 1957 in Seattle, Washington, known for their 1960 hit song “Greenfields”. The group’s repertoire included both traditional folk songs and original compositions.
The Brothers Four consisted of Bob Flick (bass guitar, vocals), Dick Foley (guitar, vocals), John Paine (banjo, vocals), and Mike Kirkland (mandolin, vocals). All four members were born in the Seattle area and attended the University of Washington. The group got its start singing at college dances and coffeehouses around Seattle.
The Brothers Four began recording for Columbia Records in 1958. Their first album was self-titled and contained their first hit song “Greenfields”. The album reached #2 on Billboard’s Folk Albums chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Folk Recording. The group continued to have success with their next two albums, Festival (1960) and Big Folk Hits (1961).
The Brothers Four were very popular in the early 1960s folk music scene. They appeared on numerous television shows, including The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and Shindig!. In 1964, they even had their own cartoon series on ABC called The New Adventures of the Brothers Four.
Sadly, the group’s popularity began to decline in the mid-1960s as tastes in music changed. They continued to release albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, but they never regained the same level of success they had in the early days. The Brothers Four stopped touring in 2006 but continue to make occasional appearances together.
The Brothers Four and the Civil Rights Movement
The Brothers Four were one of the most well-known and successful folk music groups of the 1960s, and their music was deeply influential in the American Civil Rights Movement. The group’s signature sound was a blend of traditional folk music with modern pop sensibilities, and their lyrics often dealt with social and political issues. The Brothers Four were staunch supporters of the Civil Rights Movement, and their music was frequently played at protests and rallies. “Greenfields,” one of the group’s most famous songs, is widely seen as an anthem of the Civil Rights Movement. In addition to their work in support of civil rights, The Brothers Four also wrote and performed several songs protesting the Vietnam War. The group’s music continues to be popular today, and their influence on American folk music is undeniable.
The Brothers Four and Their Legacy
The Brothers Four are a folk music group from the Pacific Northwest who found great success in the 1960s with their unique blend of folk, pop, and world music. The group’s sound is often compared to that of The Kingston Trio, but The Brothers Four’s repertoire is more varied, featuring traditional folk songs, original compositions, and covers of popular songs. The Brothers Four have been credited with helping to popularize folk music in the United States and their 1963 album, Greenfields, is considered a folk music classic.
The Brothers Four and the Folk Revival
The Brothers Four were one of the most popular folk groups of the 1960s, with a string of hits that includes their signature song, “Greenfields.” The group was founded in 1957 by Bob Flanigan, John Paine, Mike Kirkland, and Dick Foley, four friends who met while attending the University of Washington. Flanigan and Paine had been members of a jazz vocal group called the Kentones, while Kirkland and Foley were folk enthusiasts who had performed together as the Folksmiths. The four men soon began performing together as the Brothers Four, taking their name from a blackjack hand.
The group’s close harmonies and accessible repertoire made them popular with audiences of all ages, and they quickly became one of the most successful folk groups of the early 1960s. In addition to their hit records, the Brothers Four appeared on numerous television shows, including The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show. They also starred in their own NBC television special, The Brothers Four: An Evening with Folk Music’s Great Gentlemen (1964).
The Brothers Four were an important part of the folk music revival of the 1960s. Their success helped to bring traditional folk songs to a wide audience and sparked renewed interest in folk music among young people. The group continued to perform and record together for more than 50 years and remained popular with fans of all ages. They were inducted into the Washington Music Association Hall of Fame in 1999 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Folk Alliance International in 2006.
The Brothers Four and the American Folk Music Tradition
The Brothers Four are an American folk music group, founded in 1957 in Seattle, Washington, known for their 1960 hit song “Greenfields”. The group’s repertoire includes witty re-workings of well-known folk songs and originals by the members.
The Brothers Four were one of the most popular folk groups of the 1960s. They performed with various symphony orchestras and appeared on numerous television shows, including The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. They also continued to tour and release new albums throughout the 1960s and 1970s. In recent years, they have continued to perform live and tour internationally.
The Brothers Four were inducted into the Washington Music Association’s Hall of Fame in 2010. In 2012, they received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Seattle theatre community publication Broadway World.
The Brothers Four Today
It has been over fifty years since The Brothers Four first sang their way into America’s heart with their hit song “Greenfields.” Since then, the group has become a folk music legend, performing thousands of concerts and releasing more than two hundred albums. Today, The Brothers Four are still going strong, touring and recording new music.
The Brothers Four and the New Folk Scene
The Brothers Four were one of the most successful pop-folk groups of the early 1960s. The group’s single “Greenfields” was a Top Ten hit in 1961, and their version of “500 Miles” was perhaps their best-known recording. The Brothers Four were part of the new folk music scene that emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s, along with such other groups as the Kingston Trio, the Highwaymen, and the New Christy Minstrels.
The Brothers Four and Their Music Today
Since their formation in 1957, The Brothers Four have been entertaining audiences with their unique brand of vocal harmony and guitar-based folk music. Comprised of Bob Flick, Mike McCoy, Dick Foley, and John Paine, the group has released over two dozen albums of original songs and traditional folk tunes, earning them a place in the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Smithsonian Institution.
The Brothers Four continue to perform live today, delighting fans old and new with their trademark harmonies and irresistible onstage energy. In addition to touring throughout the United States, the group has also performed in Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. In recent years, they have shared the stage with such legendary performers as burlesque queen Dita Von Teese and country music star Willie Nelson.
Whether they’re performing for a small club audience or a stadium full of fans, The Brothers Four always bring their trademark sound and style to every show. If you’ve never seen them live, don’t miss your chance to catch these folk music greats in action!
