The Browns were an American country and folk music vocal trio best known for their 1959 Grammy-nominated hit, "The Three Bells". The group, composed of Jim Ed Brown and his sisters Maxine and Bonnie, had a close, smooth harmony characteristic of the Nashville sound, though their music also combined Contact online >>
The Browns were an American country and folk music vocal trio best known for their 1959 Grammy-nominated hit, "The Three Bells". The group, composed of Jim Ed Brown and his sisters Maxine and Bonnie, had a close, smooth harmony characteristic of the Nashville sound, though their music also combined elements of folk and pop. They disbanded in 1967 and were elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in March 2015.
James Edward, older sister Maxine, and younger sister Bonnie Brown sang individually in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, until 1954, when Maxine and Jim Ed signed a record contract as a singing duo. They earned national recognition and a guest spot on Ernest Tubb''s radio show for their self-penned song "Looking Back to See",[1] which hit the top ten and stayed on the charts through the summer of 1954.[2] The song would be a hit again nearly 20 years later for Buck Owens and Susan Raye in 1972.
The Browns appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and American Bandstand, and followed up with "Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair)" and "The Old Lamplighter", recordings that also did well on both the pop and country charts.[1] With an international following, they toured Europe extensively and saw further moderate success on the country music charts.[1] In 1963, they joined the Grand Ole Opry.[8]
Jim Ed began recording as a solo artist for RCA Victor in 1965,[1] and these efforts quickly began overshadowing the trio''s recordings. Maxine sang lead vocal on the group''s final singles released in 1968, "Big Daddy" and "I Will Bring You Water," with Jim Ed only supplying background vocals. The trio officially disbanded that year and Maxine signed with Chart Records in 1969, resulting in a small hit with "Sugar Cane County".[1]
In the 1980s, The Browns began performing occasionally in concert for the first time in nearly 20 years. In 2006, the trio performed "The Old Lamplighter" and "The Three Bells" for the PBS special, Country Pop Legends.
On June 11, 2015, Jim Ed Brown died from lung cancer at age 81.[9] On July 16, 2016, Bonnie Brown also died from lung cancer at the age of 77.[10] Maxine Brown died on January 21, 2019, at the age of 87 from complications of heart and kidney disease.[11]
The Browns were honored with the "Lifetime Achievement Award" during the inaugural Arkansas Country Music Awards on June 3, 2018, alongside fellow Arkansas natives Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Ed Bruce, and Wayne Raney. The event was held at the Center for Performing Arts at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.[12]
†Honorary former member; was scheduled to be invited, but died before the invitation was extended
Country Music Hall of Famer and Grand Ole Opry member Jim Ed Brown has died. He passed away Thursday, June 11th at the Williamson Medical Center in Franklin, TN after a long battle with lung Cancer. Though Jim Ed’s Cancer originally diagnosed in September of 2014 had gone into remission earlier this year, the country star recently announced it had returned.
According to The Tennessean, when it was clear Brown would not make it to the formal Hall of Fame induction, he was inducted in his hospital room.
The Browns were a country and folk trio that rose to prominence in the mid and late 50''s, principally with their Grammy-nominated song "The Three Bells" which became a #1 hit on Billboard''s country and pop charts, and eventually sold over 1 million copies.
Formed in Pine Bluff, Arkansas after Jim Ed and Maxine signed a record deal as a singing duo, The Browns got their big break on Ernest Tubb''s radio show after singing their original song "Looking Back to See." After the 18-year-old Bonnie graduated high school, she joined the act and they began performing regularly on the Louisiana Hayride and the Ozark Jubilee. As the family band continued to perform and release music, their prominence only grew, eventually making appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and American Bandstand. Some of the trios other hits included "Scarlet Ribbons," "The Old Lamplighter," and a version of "Blue Christmas."
“Just a lonely bell was ringing, in the little valley town. Twas farewell that it was singing, to our good ‘ol Jimmy Brown.”
Very sad to lose another member of country music’s greatest generation.
Damn. I saw him at the Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree last year and he was one of the nicest people I ever met. He was surprised to see that I had his old records and gladly signed them and took a picture with me. What a kind man. His are another pair of shoes that will never be filled.
Our Jimmy Brown has passed away…
RIP Jim Ed. Lost my Dad to lung cancer. He was a big Jim Ed fan. He used to sing The Browns Three Bells to me when he took me fishing. A little metal boat, with a little Evinrude motor, not a care in the world, and my Daddy singing to me. Some of the best days of my life. This one hurts a little more. My sympathies to his friends and family.
Wow. What a touching memory.
RIP Jim Ed, I;m popping a top in your memory tonight (even though, if I recall correctly, the ones being popped in the recording of the song were Dr. Pepper.)
I got to meet him a couple of times at the Opry, and he was a nice man. If you want to listen to one of the great country songs ever, check out Bottle, Bottle. Here’s a link so you can hear that song:
Rest in peace Jim Ed Brown you will be missed.
I remember the first time I heard “The Three Bells.” My dad played it for me when I was seven years old, and I fell in love with it right away. Fifteen years later, it is still one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. RIP Jim Ed.
A great shame. I saw him at the Grand Ole Opry two years ago. He will be sorely missed.
I am kicking myself that I didn’t get to see him and meet him in 2012 when he performed at a local cowboy gathering in the town I used to live in. I didn’t really know about it until after it happened. May he live on no matter what.
Very sad as he improved enough to release a new album and promote it just earlier this year. I haven’t purchased it when it came out, but he had a song that stood out to me called “Am I Still Country?” as it cuts down the bro-country songs on the radio. He and The Browns paved their ways into the country music industry, and as of around April of this year, I was starting to get the feeling that he was becoming relevant in regards to different parts of digital media since I saw his album in iTunes’ top downloads during that time. Jim Ed Brown will be very missed.
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