Brothers-In-Law

What do you get when you put together four talented policemen who happen to play instruments and sing better than your average cop? The answer -- a folk-pop group called Brothers-in-Law. Guitarists Larry Reaume and Howard Duffy, bassist Ken Clarke, and banjo-picker Alec Somerville began moonlighting as Brothers-in-Law in late November of 1963. The foursome did small local gatherings at first, creating a loyal band following almost accidentally. The group's music is comparable to that of the Westerleys, Crosby, Stills & Mash, or the Dillards. In 1965, the group recorded its debut album, Oh! Oh! Canada, under the ARC Sound label. A short year later, Clarke and Duffy were both gone, and a new bassist by the name of Bob Lee was in the lineup. The band recorded three double-sided singles that year, along with a sophomore album, The Brothers-in-Law Strike Again. One album a year followed after that. The last one, Onward the Establishment, was released in 1969. Brothers-in-Law received a good measure of success, considering the members kept their day jobs and only took gigs during free time, most within a reasonable driving distance from home. Some of the tunes the group performed over the years include "Can You Say You Didn't Know," "Pollution," "Buy Now, Pay Later," "Hockey Night in Canada," and "Liberal Christmas." In 1970, Brothers-in-Law did its final show. ~ Charlotte Dillon, All Music Guide