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The Alexander Brothers

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Years active
  
1950–2012

Active until
  
2012

Labels
  
Genres
  
Folk music, Country music

The Alexander Brothers Jack Alexander of the Alexander Brothers duo has died at the age of

Origin
  
Scotland, United Kingdom (1950)

Albums
  
A Toast from Scotland, Scotland We Love You

Members
  
Jack Alexander, Tom Alexander

Similar
  
Jimmy Shand, Andy Stewart, Calum Kennedy, Kenneth McKellar, Sydney Devine

The alexander brothers flower of scotland


The Alexander Brothers were an easy-listening folk-music duo from Scotland, who had been performing since the 1950s.

Contents

Nobody s child the alexander brothers wildlife waystation


Career

The Alexander Brothers Scottish folk music legend Jack Alexander seriously ill in hospital

Tom Alexander (born 1934) and Jack Alexander (1935–2013) were born in Thrashbush Avenue Cambusnethan, near Wishaw. On leaving school in the early 1950s, the brothers pursued a trade as painters and decorators by day, and entertainers by night, and spent most of their spare time performing for elderly people in hospitals and for various charitable institutions in and around their hometown. In the spring of 1958, they entered a talent contest which was held in their local cinema. They easily won the contest and one of the judges (who was a well known Scottish theatrical agent) was so impressed, he placed the boys under contract that summer. They made their professional debut at the Webster Hall, Arbroath. It was during this season that they received their first long term contract for five winter seasons at Glasgow's Metropole Theatre. Following Arbroath they were engaged to appear at the Metropolitan Theatre, Edgware Road, London, and it was during this season they were spotted and signed to Pye Records. They cut their first LP six weeks later.

The Alexander Brothers The Alexander Brothers At Your Request The Alexander Brothers UK

Their biggest hit single was "Nobody's Child" in 1964. It sold more copies in Scotland that year than did recordings by The Beatles. Their other hits include "These Are My Mountains", "The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen", "Bonnie Wee Jeannie McColl", and "Two Highland Lads". Their 1966 album, These Are My Mountains, peaked at #29 in the UK Albums Chart. They have toured Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. They appeared at the Sydney Opera House with Jimmy Shand as a guest, and have also played in Carnegie Hall in New York City.

The Alexander Brothers Renowned musical duo the Alexander Brothers announce their

They still gave shows up until Jack's death in 2013, and their hits are still in print, but the brothers' fame and popularity had probably peaked by the 1980s. However, the Alexander Brothers experienced something of a revival in the mid 1990s when they began to release music videos, and later DVDs, to supplement their live performances. These new recordings contained many religious or devotional songs.

The Alexander Brothers projectshandsupfortradscothalloffamefiles20

In recognition of their contributions to the world of music, they received MBEs from the Queen in the 2005 New Year Honours List. The ceremony took place in Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh.

The Alexander Brothers The Alexander Brothers Tour Dates amp Tickets

"Nobody's Child" is sometimes described as traditional but was actually written by Cy Coben and Mel Foree. The song was first recorded by Hank Snow in 1949, then by Lonnie Donegan in 1956. The Beatles recorded it in 1961 while they were a backing band for Tony Sheridan. Billy Connolly did a humorous version of it in his live shows. Billy Fury also did a recording of it. George Harrison and Ringo Starr recorded it again, in 1990, as part of the Traveling Wilburys; proceeds from the single were devoted to a Romanian children's charity.

The Alexander Brothers The Alexander Brothers Rothesay Bay YouTube

Their most recent CDs and DVDs are produced by Bill Garden and Dougie Stevenson of the Kilsyth based company Scotdisc.

On 2 November 2013, Jack Alexander died aged 77.

Songs

These Are My MountainsA Toast from Scotland · 2003
Let's Have a CeilidhA Toast from Scotland · 2003
Nobody's ChildNow · 1990

References

The Alexander Brothers Wikipedia


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