The Browns - Three Bells (The Grand Ole Opry) video free download


324,567
Duration: 03:13
Uploaded: 2012/03/27

During the '50s and '60s, the vocal harmonies of the Browns gave the lie to those who would stereotype country music as a raw product distinguished more by pure feeling than by art; perhaps the single word that best describes their music is "polished." The original brother-sister duo of Jim Ed Brown and Maxine Brown were joined by younger sister Bonnie in 1955, creating a trademark smooth trio sound that proved wonderfully adaptable to down-home harmony singing, to folk-pop arrangements that rode the crest of the hootenanny craze, and to lush Nashville sound extravaganzas. Bonnie and Jim were born in Sparkman, AR, where their father owned a sawmill and a large farm; older sister Maxine was born in Campti, LA. With the encouragement of their parents, the Brown children began singing and developing their characteristic close harmonies early on. In their teens they performed in school and began appearing at local events.

In 1952, Jim Ed placed second in a talent contest and won a slot on Little Rock's Barnyard Frolics radio program. Joined by Maxine, he was soon appearing on other local radio shows, which led to local TV appearances as well. The duo earned national recognition and a guest spot on Ernest Tubb's television show for their humorous song "Looking Back to See," which hit the Top Ten and stayed on the charts throughout the summer of 1954.

The Browns were joined by recent high school graduate Bonnie and began appearing on Shreveport's Louisiana Hayride. By the end of 1955, the trio had another Top Ten hit with "Here Today and Gone Tomorrow," which was given a boost by their national appearances on The Ozark Jubilee. The show's producer arranged for them to sign with RCA Victor in 1956, and soon afterward they had two major hits, "I Take the Chance" (a cover of a Louvin Brothers composition that showed how close the Browns remained to traditional harmony textures) and "I Heard the Bluebirds Sing." When Jim Ed was called to serve in the military, the group continued to record while he was on leave, and sister Norma filled in for him on tours.

By the late '50s, the Browns, now teamed with RCA's visionary producer Chet Atkins, had become one of the country acts that were most successful in exploiting the new national enthusiasm for folk music. On album covers they were pictured with a clean-cut, almost collegiate look that diverged sharply from country norms. The Nashville songwriters responsible for creating the sentimental, romantic world of Eddy Arnold's music contributed idealized visions of small-town life such as "The Old Village Choir" to the Browns' repertoire, but a song whose origin was not even American gave the trio its biggest hit. "The Three Bells," a translation of a hit song by hard-bitten French chanteuse Edith Piaf, not only spent ten weeks on top of the country charts in 1959, but also crossed over and spent four weeks at number one on the pop charts. As a result, the Browns appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Jimmy Dean Show, and American Bandstand.

The Browns remained in the folk mode for their two follow-up hits, "Scarlet Ribbons" and "The Old Lamplighter," both of which did extremely well on both country and pop charts. Their string of hits continued until 1961, when the first phase of the folk boom died down. Two years later, after touring widely in the U.S. and Europe, the Browns joined the Grand Ole Opry. In late 1967, the Browns disbanded. Maxine and Bonnie went back to Arkansas to concentrate on their families, while Jim Ed focused on the successful solo career he had launched in 1965. A four-disc retrospective of the Browns' music was released under the title The Three Bells on Germany's Bear Family label in 1997. ~ Sandra Brennan & James Manheim, Rovi

PLEASE NOTE: I divided my uploads among multiple channels, Bookmark this link in your browser for instant access to an index with links to all of John1948's oldies classics. LINK: http://john1948.wikifoundry.com/page/John1948%27s+Youtube+Index

Comments

8 years ago

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

love this song. Rest in Peace Jim Ed Brown. I bet they love you in God's Choir

8 years ago

prairie mark

Several decades ago Jim Ed was singing at the local fair here in rural Montana. The mosquitoes got too bad and he swallowed a few. He walked off the stage and ended the concert early. The chairman of the fair board poked him in the chest and gave him a piece of his mind. But he had to reach up high cause he was short and Big Jim Ed was tall. Just a little local history. I always liked his music.

8 years ago

Dale E

RIP to a smooth voice.

8 years ago

Kyle Stacy

"Just a lonely bell was ringing, in the little valley town, t'was farewell that it was singing, to our good ole' Jimmy Brown." In memory of Jim Ed Brown 4/1/1934 - 6/11/2015

8 years ago

Vivian Tracy

RIP Jim Ed. You gave us some super good music. You were very good. Loved your music.

8 years ago

John N.

R. I. P. Jimmy Brown.

8 years ago

Janet Hough

The song most remember. Well done you will be missed but your music goes on forever.

8 years ago

Tasha Sayah

Jimmy brown really is gone now rip jim ed brown. 

8 years ago

Sandra Garand

Thank you..for your gift to the world Jim Ed Brown. Go in peace and know you are loved.

8 years ago

petermca

RIP Jimmy Brown

8 years ago

Zeta Bazzano

R.I.P.

8 years ago

Zeta Bazzano

Remember your songs very well.

8 years ago

John Nelson

And now Jim Ed himself has passed away.

8 years ago

Charlotte Camp

RIP, Mr. Brown

8 years ago

Deborah Altizer

RIP Jim Ed Brown

8 years ago

william b Ault

rest in peace big jimmy

8 years ago

becky baylor

Love this mans voice with his sisters.

8 years ago

william b Ault

rest in peace.

8 years ago

Victor Wadsworth

'Another one my friend', I did love his music, they don't have the smooth captivating voices like that anymore. R.I.P.

8 years ago

Pamela Icantsay

R I P Jim.. You were loved...

Related Videos