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 2007TWINKLE BROTHERSTwinkle Brothers - Breaking Down The BarriersDogman Presents Twinkle Brothers-Jah Kingdom ComeTwinkle Brothers - Rasta Pon Top (Live)TWINKLE BROS LIVE 3 - NEVER GET BURN/ FREE AFRICAtwinkle brothers reggae dub brocwellTWINKLE BROTHERS - LIVE rotoJarocin 2007 - "Zbójnicki" - Trebunie Tutki Twinkle BrothersTWINKLE BROTHERS - LIVE 2Twinkle Brothers & Trebunie TutkiJarocin 2007 - Trebunie Tutki - "W dusak"THE TWINKLE BROTHERS - FREE AFRICATwinkle Brothers pon top TATRATwinkle Brothers- Faith Can Move MountainsTWINKLE BROTHERS REGGAE FESTIVAL OSTRODATwinkle Brothers at Belly Up Tavern Solano Beach, CATwinkle Brothers - Faith. live in San Diego BobTwinkle Brothers 4Back in Portland Oregon after 15 yearsTwinkle Brothers 3Twinkle Twinkle Brothers @ The Belly Up TavernTwinkle Brothers & Trebunia Tutka new album session - TVNTwinkle Brothers @ Paris New Morning 11/07Twinkle Brothers @ New Morning 03.11.07Jarocin 2007
