The Magic Of Their Singing

Red GNP Crescendo mono labels with original Gene Norman Presents printed on label perimeter Joe Gilbert and Eddie Brown began singing together at Willard Jr High School,Berkeley, California, but had no formal training until they entered Berkeley High School where they were tutored by Dr. Earl B. Blakeslee, director of Acapella choir at the school, and one of the guiding forces in their career. Their lives and backgrounds run nearly parallel courses; they were both born in the South (Joe in New Orleans, Eddie in Norfolk, VA.) but moved with their families to Berkeley when they were very young. Both lads come from large families, Joe has two brothers, five sisters; Eddie has three brothers and two sisters. Most important, both have the ambition and talent to become important stars. Joe and Eddie became a team when they decided to enter a talent contest some eight years ago. They were fast friends and didn't welcome the idea of competing against each other. The only solution, then, was to enter as a team. They did; they won; and they've seldom been more than five miles apart ever since. Joe and Eddie began performing at fraternity and sorority parties at the University of California, but didn't get their first big break until, at the urging of Dr. Blakeslee, they auditioned to appear on the Don Sherwood television show in San Francisco. Their first appearance on the Sherwood show brought them offers from San Francisco's famed new talent showcase, The Purpple Onion, and from Leonard Sillman's review "New Faces." Later, they made one appearance at San Francisco's "Hungry I" for two weeks and were such an instantaneous success, they were brought back a short time later for an extended eight week engagement. Since then they have gained international recognition through regular appearances on The Danny Kaye TV series as well as the "Tonight Show," "Hullaballoo" and many other prominent programs. They've toured the US appearing in concerts and have played circuit leading supper clubs, both in the US and Canada. Joe and Eddie are equally at home singing Bach in a choir loft. In fact, both lads regularly sing in the choir at the First Calvary Presbyterian Church. They have a philosophy about their career; "We like what we're doing. If we can sing and get paid for it, all the better; but we're going to sing, no matter what!"