TWINKLE BROTHERS

TWINKLE BROTHERS

The Twinkle Brothers hail from the north coast of Jamaica in the ghettos of Falmouth,

the Parish of Trelawny. The two brothers, Norman and Ralston Grant, were baptized in

the church of Anglican Diocese. They started singing in the Sunday school choir and

concerts at the age of six and eight respectively. At that time they started to make their

own instruments since they could no afford to buy them. They made guitars and drums

from various tin cans (garbage can, sardine, milk, etc.) and fishing line.

After Jamaica received her independence from England in the early 60's, the Twinkle

Brothers started to sing in real competitions. At that time the government of Jamaica

started National Competitions called "Pop and Mento" festivals. In these competitions

you would start at Parish level, then go the regional level. If successful there, you move

on to the National finals. For years the Twinkle Brothers were Parish champions, then

went onto the Regional finals where (according to the crowds and the Twinkle

Brothers) they were cheated out of the winning crown for two consecutive years.

However, the third time being the charm, they broke the barriers at the Regional finals in

Montego Bay, and then went on to the Nationals in Kingston. This time they were

victorious, winning first place in the "group" category! Norman won first place in the

"solo" category. They reigned supreme for years in that competition coming away with

several medals.

In the early sixties they joined a band in their hometown, Falmouth. The band was called

The Cardinals. All the members were Falmouthians, some from middle-class society-

teachers, bankers, and accountants. Norman and Ralston were the only "ghetto boys."

The Cardinals started playing in hotels and nightclubs throughout the island.

By the late sixties the Twinkle Brothers decided to do some recording and went to

Kingston to try to get an audition with labels like Coxson, 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 the got their first group single, "Matthew and Mark",

recorded by Duke Ried on the Treasure Isle label.

In 1970, the entered the Jamaica Festival Song competition and placed third behind

Hopeton Lewis and the Jamaicans - both groups on the Treasure Isle label. During that

time, the Twinkle Brothers were on the Jack Pot label, produced by Bunny Lee. From

there 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.

They currently have 60+ albums (and counting) and numerous singles to their credit

(this could change before you read this!) a live Sunsplash album and video, one live

album in Poland and three albums on the Virgin label. They have toured the United

States many times and several times in Europe, Africa and Scandinavia. They've

performed at festivals nationally and internationally; a few of them are the Essential

Festival in Brighton, England, Bob Marley Days, Reggae on the River, Sunsplash,

Reggae in the Park, the Hemp Festival, Roots Mountain Festival, Monterey Bay Reggae

Fest, Helsinki Reggae Festival, Holland's Reggae Eruption, Festivals in Canada, Spain,

Germany, Poland and many more.



Twinkle Brothers - Live @ Juvisy 2007



TWINKLE BROTHERS



Twinkle Brothers - Breaking Down The Barriers



Dogman Presents Twinkle Brothers-Jah Kingdom Come



Twinkle Brothers - Rasta Pon Top (Live)



TWINKLE BROS LIVE 3 - NEVER GET BURN/ FREE AFRICA



twinkle brothers reggae dub brocwell



TWINKLE BROTHERS - LIVE roto



Jarocin 2007 - "Zbójnicki" - Trebunie Tutki Twinkle Brothers



TWINKLE BROTHERS - LIVE 2



Twinkle Brothers & Trebunie Tutki



Jarocin 2007 - Trebunie Tutki - "W dusak"



THE TWINKLE BROTHERS - FREE AFRICA



Twinkle Brothers pon top TATRA



Twinkle Brothers- Faith Can Move Mountains



TWINKLE BROTHERS REGGAE FESTIVAL OSTRODA



Twinkle Brothers at Belly Up Tavern Solano Beach, CA



Twinkle Brothers - Faith. live in San Diego Bob



Twinkle Brothers 4



Back in Portland Oregon after 15 years



Twinkle Brothers 3



Twinkle Twinkle Brothers @ The Belly Up Tavern



Twinkle Brothers & Trebunia Tutka new album session - TVN



Twinkle Brothers @ Paris New Morning 11/07



Twinkle Brothers @ New Morning 03.11.07



Jarocin 2007