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The Twinkle
Brothers hail from the North
Coast of Jamaica and the ghettos
of Falmouth, in the Parish of
Trelawny. The two brothers,
Norman and Ralston Grant,
started singing in the Sunday
school choir at ages six and
eight. They made their musical
instruments because they could
not afford to buy them. Various
tin cans and fishing lines
became guitars and drums.
After Jamaican
independence from England in the
early 1960s, The Twinkle
Brothers began singing in
competitions. At that time, the
government of Jamaica started
National Competitions called "Po
and Mento" festivals. In these
competitions, you would start at
Parish level, then move up to
Regional level. If successful
there, you moved on to the
National finals. They broke the
barriers at the Regional Finals
in Montego Bay and went on to
the Nationals in Kingston,
winning First Place in the
"group category". They reigned
supreme for years in the
National competition and won
several medals.
In the early 60s,
the Twinkles Brother joined a
band in their hometown of
Falmouth called "The Cardinals".
The members were Falmouthians,
from middle-class society;
teachers, bankers and
accountants. Young Norman and
Ralston were the bands only
'ghetto boys'. The Cardinals
started playing in hotels and
nightclubs throughout the
island.
By the late 60's, the Twinkle
Brothers started recording,
going to Kingston to try for
auditions with Coxsone, Prince
Buster, Beverly's and Treasure
Isle, to name a few. They were
fortunate enough to get their
first recording, a solo by
Norman called "Somebody Please
Help Me', recorded by Leslie
Kong on the Beverly's label. A
year later came their first
single, 'Matthew and Mark',
recorded by Duke Reid on the
Treasure Isle label.
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In 1970, they entered the
Jamaica Festival Song
competition and placed third
behind Hopeton Lewis and The
Jamaicans. During that time, the
Twinkles were on the Jack Pot
label, produced by Bunny Lee.
From there on they moved to
bigger and better things:
recording for Dynamic Sounds,
Federal Records, Sun Shot and
Upsetter labels. In 1970, they
formed their own Twinkle label.
The band established itself as
an accomplished vocal and instrumental
group on Jamaica's North Coast
at an early age. It's quite a
feat for musicians to support
themselves with music anywhere
--- let alone in Jamaica's hard
economy. The Twinkle Brothers
went into self-production,
financing their sessions through
Norman's employment as a solo
artist.
In 1975, the Twinkles released
the celebrated 'Rasta Pon Top'
which included such intrinsic
Rastafari anthems as 'Give Rasta
Praise', 'It Gwine Dreada',
'Beat Them Jah Jah' and the
fiery, assertive title track:
'Rasta Pon Top'. In 1997, they
signed to Virgin Records' newly
established Frontline label, a
move that saw the release of the
highly acclaimed 'Love'. This
was followed by 'Praise Jah' and
triumphantly, in 1980 by the
class 'Countrymen' which
featured premier, heavy roots
items such as 'Never Get Burn',
'Since I Threw the Comb Away'
and 'Jah Kingdom Come'.
Today, The Twinkle Brothers have
produced more than 65 albums
(with more to come!) plus
numerous singles, a 'live'
Sunsplash album and video, one
live album in Poland, three
albums on Virgin label and one
on Quiet Storm record label.
The Twinkle Brothers have toured
Europe, America, Africa,
Scandinavia, Poland, Belgium,
Spain and other countries. In
Europe, The Twinkle Brothers are
an in-demand live attraction.
The Twinkle Brothers career is
still in full flight and the
Sierra Nevada World Music
Festival is looking forward to
their 'landing' in Boonville at
this year's festival.
Music from The Twinkle Brothers
The Twinkle Brothers Links:
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