The Brothers Four are an American folk singing group, founded in 1957 in Seattle, Washington, known for their 1960 hit song “Greenfields”.Bob Flick, John Paine, Mike Kirkland, and Dick Foley met at the University of Washington, where they were members of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity in 1956 (hence the “Brothers” appellation). Their first professional performances were the result of a prank played on them in 1958 by a rival fraternity, who had arranged for someone to call them, pretend to be from Seattle’s Colony Club, and invite them to come down to audition for a gig. Even though they were not expected at the club, they were allowed to sing a few songs anyway, and were subsequently hired. Flick recalls them being paid “mostly in beer.”
They left for San Francisco in 1959, where they met Mort Lewis, Dave Brubeck’s manager. Lewis became their manager and later that year secured them a contract with Columbia Records. Their second single, “Greenfields,” released in January 1960, hit #2 on the pop charts, and their first album, Brothers Four, released toward the end of the year, made the top 20. Other highlights of their early career included singing their fourth single, “The Green Leaves of Summer,” from the John Wayne movie The Alamo, at the 1961 Academy Awards, and having their second album, BMOC/Best Music On/Off Campus, go top 10. They also recorded the theme song for the ABC television series Hootenanny, “Hootenanny Saturday Night,” in 1963. They also gave a try at “Sloop John B”, released as “The John B Sails”.
The British Invasion and the ascendance of edgier folk rock musicians such as Bob Dylan put an end to the Brothers Four’s early period of success, but they kept performing and making records, doing particularly well in Japan and on the American hotel circuit.
The group co-built with Jerry Dennon a radio station in Seaside, Oregon (KSWB) in 1968. The station was subsequently sold in 1972 to a group from Montana, and later to a self-proclaimed minister, and finally merged into a larger conglomerate of radio stations.
The group attempted a comeback by recording a highly commercial version of Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man,” but were unable to release it due to licensing issues, and The Byrds eventually stole their thunder by releasing their heralded version.
Mike Kirkland left the group in 1969, and was replaced by Mark Pearson, another University of Washington alumnus. In 1971, Pearson left and was replaced by Bob Haworth, who stayed until 1989 and was replaced by a returning Pearson. Dick Foley left the group in 1990 and was replaced by Terry Lauber. Despite all the changes and having spent 54 years in the business, the group is still active.
“Greenfields,” by the Brother Four, released in January 1960, hit #2 on the pop charts.
The Brothers Four are an American folk singing group, founded in 1957 in Seattle, Washington, known for their 1960 hit song “Greenfields”.Bob Flick, John Paine, Mike Kirkland, and Dick Foley met at the University of Washington, where they were members of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity in 1956 (hence the “Brothers” appellation). Their first professional performances were the result of a prank played on them in 1958 by a rival fraternity, who had arranged for someone to call them, pretend to be from Seattle’s Colony Club, and invite them to come down to audition for a gig. Even though they were not expected at the club, they were allowed to sing a few songs anyway, and were subsequently hired. Flick recalls them being paid “mostly in beer.”
They left for San Francisco in 1959, where they met Mort Lewis, Dave Brubeck’s manager. Lewis became their manager and later that year secured them a contract with Columbia Records. Their second single, “Greenfields,” released in January 1960, hit #2 on the pop charts, and their first album, Brothers Four, released toward the end of the year, made the top 20. Other highlights of their early career included singing their fourth single, “The Green Leaves of Summer,” from the John Wayne movie The Alamo, at the 1961 Academy Awards, and having their second album, BMOC/Best Music On/Off Campus, go top 10. They also recorded the theme song for the ABC television series Hootenanny, “Hootenanny Saturday Night,” in 1963. They also gave a try at “Sloop John B”, released as “The John B Sails”.
The British Invasion and the ascendance of edgier folk rock musicians such as Bob Dylan put an end to the Brothers Four’s early period of success, but they kept performing and making records, doing particularly well in Japan and on the American hotel circuit.
The group co-built with Jerry Dennon a radio station in Seaside, Oregon (KSWB) in 1968. The station was subsequently sold in 1972 to a group from Montana, and later to a self-proclaimed minister, and finally merged into a larger conglomerate of radio stations.
The group attempted a comeback by recording a highly commercial version of Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man,” but were unable to release it due to licensing issues, and The Byrds eventually stole their thunder by releasing their heralded version.
Mike Kirkland left the group in 1969, and was replaced by Mark Pearson, another University of Washington alumnus. In 1971, Pearson left and was replaced by Bob Haworth, who stayed until 1989 and was replaced by a returning Pearson. Dick Foley left the group in 1990 and was replaced by Terry Lauber. Despite all the changes and having spent 54 years in the business, the group is still active.
“Greenfields,” by the Brother Four, released in January 1960, hit #2 on the pop charts.
The Brothers Four are an American folk singing group, founded in 1957 in Seattle, Washington, known for their 1960 hit song “Greenfields”.Bob Flick, John Paine, Mike Kirkland, and Dick Foley met at the University of Washington, where they were members of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity in 1956 (hence the “Brothers” appellation). Their first professional performances were the result of a prank played on them in 1958 by a rival fraternity, who had arranged for someone to call them, pretend to be from Seattle’s Colony Club, and invite them to come down to audition for a gig. Even though they were not expected at the club, they were allowed to sing a few songs anyway, and were subsequently hired. Flick recalls them being paid “mostly in beer.”
They left for San Francisco in 1959, where they met Mort Lewis, Dave Brubeck’s manager. Lewis became their manager and later that year secured them a contract with Columbia Records. Their second single, “Greenfields,” released in January 1960, hit #2 on the pop charts, and their first album, Brothers Four, released toward the end of the year, made the top 20. Other highlights of their early career included singing their fourth single, “The Green Leaves of Summer,” from the John Wayne movie The Alamo, at the 1961 Academy Awards, and having their second album, BMOC/Best Music On/Off Campus, go top 10. They also recorded the theme song for the ABC television series Hootenanny, “Hootenanny Saturday Night,” in 1963. They also gave a try at “Sloop John B”, released as “The John B Sails”.
The British Invasion and the ascendance of edgier folk rock musicians such as Bob Dylan put an end to the Brothers Four’s early period of success, but they kept performing and making records, doing particularly well in Japan and on the American hotel circuit.
The group co-built with Jerry Dennon a radio station in Seaside, Oregon (KSWB) in 1968. The station was subsequently sold in 1972 to a group from Montana, and later to a self-proclaimed minister, and finally merged into a larger conglomerate of radio stations.
The group attempted a comeback by recording a highly commercial version of Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man,” but were unable to release it due to licensing issues, and The Byrds eventually stole their thunder by releasing their heralded version.
Mike Kirkland left the group in 1969, and was replaced by Mark Pearson, another University of Washington alumnus. In 1971, Pearson left and was replaced by Bob Haworth, who stayed until 1989 and was replaced by a returning Pearson. Dick Foley left the group in 1990 and was replaced by Terry Lauber. Despite all the changes and having spent 54 years in the business, the group is still active.
By Brothers Four (Green Fields, Michael Row the Boat Ashore)
Lyrics
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Greenfields Once there were green fields kissed by the sun Once there were valleys where rivers used to run Once there were blue skies with white clouds high above Once they were part of an everlasting love We were the lovers who strolled through green fields
Green fields are gone now, parched by the sun Gone from the valleys where rivers used to run Gone with the cold wind that swept into my heart Gone with the lovers who let their dreams depart Where are the green fields that we used to roam ? I’ll never know what made you run away How can I keep searching when dark clouds hide the day I only know there’s nothing here for me Nothing in this wide world left for me to see Still I’ll keep on waiting until you return I’ll keep on waiting until the day you learn You can’t be happy while your heart’s on the roam You can’t be happy until you bring it home Home to the green fields and me once again |
綠 野
曾有一片被陽光親吻過的綠野 曾有一片山谷，河水潺潺流過 曾有一片藍天，白雲高掛天上 它們都曾是永恆的愛的一部分 我倆正是漫步穿過綠野的戀人 綠野已不再，被太陽晒成焦黃 從潺潺河水曾經流過的山谷中消失 隨著吹進我心裡的寒風消失 隨著讓夢想分道揚鑣的戀人消失 我倆曾漫步其中的綠野如今何在？ 我永遠無法得知你為何要離開？ 當烏雲蔽日，我該如何找尋？ 我只知道此地已無容身之處 天地之大，已沒有屬於我的景色 我依然在等待，等你回來 我會等下去，等到你回心轉意 你不可能快樂，當你的心仍在漂泊 你不可能快樂，除非你的心已歸來 再度回到這片綠野，和我身邊 |