The Brothers Four

The Brothers Four, an American folk group, formed in 1957 when Mike Kirkland, John Paine, Dick Foley, and Bob Flick began performing together at the University of Washington in Seattle. Their professional music career started by chance after a prank led to their first performance at the Colony Club in Seattle. In 1958, following the success of "Tom Dooley" by The Kingston Trio, The Brothers Four moved to San Francisco and secured a residency at the Hungry I Club. Manager Mort Lewis discovered them there and helped secure a deal with Columbia Records in July 1959. Their debut single "Greenfields," reached number 2 on the charts in 1960, followed later that year by their self-titled debut album The Brothers Four which peaked within the Top 20. The Brothers Four gained further recognition with their contribution to the soundtrack of The Alamo, featuring "The Green Leaves of Summer," which was nominated for an Oscar despite its modest chart performance. Throughout the early 1960s, they released several successful albums and singles, including "Frogg" (1961) and "Blue Water Line" (1962). Their popularity waned in the mid-1960s as musical tastes shifted towards more politically charged folk music. In 1969, Mike Kirkland left the group following his son's death, marking the first of several lineup changes. The Brothers Four continued performing and releasing new material into the 1990s and beyond, primarily focusing on hotel performances and occasional album releases.