Country Music Legends: The Browns

In the 1950s and 1960s, The Browns, a country music trio made up of siblings Jim Ed, Maxine, and Bonnie Brown, emerged from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to become country, folk, and pop crossover hitmakers with songs like “The Three Bells,” "Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair)" and "The Old Lamplighter."

Image Credit: www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net

The Browns were an American country and folk music vocal trio comprised of siblings Maxine, James Edward (best known as Jim Ed), and Bonnie Brown. After moving around because of their father’s lumber and sawmill business, the Browns settled in Sparkman, Arkansas, a small town southeast of Pine Bluff. Living in Pine Bluff gave them more opportunities to showcase their musical talents as older siblings Maxine and Jim Ed started singing closer to Little Rock.

In 1952, Maxine entered Jim Ed into a talent contest sponsored by Little Rock’s KLRA radio. He did well enough to be invited to the “Dutch O’Neal’s Barnyard Frolic,” a stage show in the Robinson Auditorium in Little Rock. Soon after, Jim Ed invited Maxine to sing with him on the “Barnyard Frolic.” Their distinctive harmonies impressed country star Wayne Raney, who promoted them to record labels.

In 1954, they signed with Faber Robison of Fabor Records in southern California. That year, they released their first original single “Looking Back to See,” which became their first Top 10 country hit. Unfortunately, their contract with Robison prevented them from collecting any royalties from the song’s sales. 

In 1955, 18-year-old Bonnie graduated from high school and joined her siblings, officially turning The Browns into a trio. Jim Ed’s fluid baritone, Maxine’s resonant alto, and Bonnie’s lilting soprano created unforgettable harmonies. That year, The Browns appeared regularly on the Louisiana Hayride radio show on KWKH in Shreveport, Louisiana, which served as a launching pad for many country stars. They later performed on the Ozark Jubilee TV program, broadcast from Springfield, Missouri. They also released “Here Today and Gone Tomorrow,” another top-ten country hit. 

During their time performing on the Louisiana Hayride, they met and toured with country stars, including balladeer Jim Reeves, Eddy “The Tennessee Plowboy” Arnold, and Johnny Cash. They also befriended and toured with  Elvis Presley, who became a close family friend. 

During their time on “The Louisiana Hayride,” Bonnie and Elvis became romantically involved for a short time. When Bonnie and her siblings went home to visit their parents in Pine Bluff, Elvis often went with them. In the years just before Elvis Presley became a superstar, he toured as the opening act for the Browns. The Brown family home was open to Elvis, who often went through the garage when he was out after hours. In later years, other country greats would also visit Brown’s Pine Bluff home including June Cash, Mother Mabelle, and Carl Perkins. 

In 1956, The Browns signed a lucrative record contract with producer Chet Atkins of RCA Records in Nashville, Tennessee. They soon had three major hits, "I Take the Chance,” a Louvin Brothers cover, "I Heard the Bluebirds Sing,” and “Money.” 

In 1957, Jim Ed was drafted into the military to fight the Vietnam War. While Jim Ed was at war, The Browns continued to record while he was on leave and their older sister Norma and country singer Billy Walker filled in for him on tour. By 1959, the trio was pondering retirement as Jim Ed served in the army and ran their father’s sawmill, and the Brown sisters got married and started families. Fortunately, their single “The Three Bells” changed all of that.

In 1959, The Browns garnered their biggest hit when their folk-pop single "The Three Bells" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop and country charts. The song also peaked at No. 10 on Billboard's Rhythm and Blues chart. The single, based on Edith Piaf’s song "Les trois cloches,”  chronicles the life of a character ironically named "Jimmy Brown,”  and it sold over one million copies. Their signature harmonious sound and polished style contributed significantly to popularizing the Nashville Sound, blending country with elements of pop, and exemplifying their crossover appeal. That year, "The Three Bells" by the Browns was nominated for Record of the Year and Best Group or Vocal Performance in the Grammy Award categories. 

Their follow-up hits "Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair)" and "The Old Lamplighter," continued to establish their talent for crafting narrative-driven ballads with smooth harmonies. With their style and harmonies, they were able to capitalize on Nashville’s growing folk music scene. 

The Browns solidified their country stardom with “Send Me the Pillow You Dream On” (1961). In 1963, The Browns joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. The Browns toured widely, in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. They also appeared on many hit TV shows of the day, including The Ed Sullivan Show, The Arthur Murray Show, The Perry Como Show, American Bandstand, and The Jerry Lewis Show. In the mid-1960s they continued to produce country chart toppers like “Then I’ll Stop Loving You” (1964), “Everybody’s Darlin’ Plus Mine” (1964), “I’d Be Just Fool Enough” (1966), and “Coming Back to You” (1966).

In 1965, Jim Ed began his solo career, signing with RCA Records. His biggest solo hit was the jukebox classic “Pop-A-Top,” and he received numerous awards throughout the years for his solo work. In 1968, Maxine sang lead vocal on the group's final singles, "Big Daddy" and "I Will Bring You Water," with Jim Ed only supplying background vocals. The trio officially disbanded that year.  In 1969, Maxine signed with Chart Records, producing a nominal hit with "Sugar Cane County.”

In 1998, The Browns were inducted into the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame. Since then, their memorabilia has been displayed in the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. In the 1990s, Germany’s Bear Family label released The Three Bells, an eight-disc retrospective of the Browns. Other compilations include The Complete Hits (2008) and Complete Pop & Country Hits (2013).

In 2013, the Grand Ole Opry held a commemorative show to celebrate the Browns’ fiftieth anniversary with the Opry. In 2015, The Browns were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Jim Ed Brown was diagnosed with lung cancer that year. He was presented with his Hall of Fame honor at his bedside. Maxine and Bonnie attended the group’s official Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Nashville that fall. Jim Ed Brown died on June 11, 2015, at 81. Bonnie Brown died of lung cancer in Little Rock on July 16, 2016. On January 21, 2019, Maxine Brown died at the age of 87 from complications of heart and kidney disease in Little Rock. Arkansas.  

The Brown’s legacy lives on as their song “Looking Back to See” has been recorded by many musicians, including Justin Tubb & Goldie Hill, Buck Owens & Susan Raye, The Canadian Sweethearts, George Jones & Margie Singleton, Bill Anderson & Jan Howard and The Collins Kids. Their smooth harmonies have also influenced generations of singers, including the Beatles, Lady A, and Little Big Town.

Sources:

video.wixstatic.com - The Browns

encyclopediaofarkansas.net - The Browns

en.wikipedia.org - The Browns

www.explorepinebluff.com - Happy Birthday, Bonnie Brown

www.facebook.com - 1950s Music Al Cornelius: The Browns

musicrow.com - Singer-Songwriter Maxine Brown Of The Browns Dies 

Written by: Ninfa O. Barnard