Biography
The Twinkle Brothers have maintained a presence in reggae nearly since the genre first emerged, with Norman Grant at the helm. The ensemble originated in the early 1960s as a three-member vocal group comprising Grant and his two brothers, whose polished harmonies echoed the approach of the Melodians and the Mighty Diamonds. An early 1970s partnership with producer and arranger Bunny Lee generated multiple reggae successes, among them the tracks “We Can Do It Too” and “Miss Laba Laba.” Their 1975 album Rasta Pon Top stands as their strongest and best-known effort, a roots-oriented, Rastafarian-themed release that wove soul and gospel inflections into its dense arrangements. Although dedicated reggae listeners formed the group’s primary audience, the Twinkle Brothers continued to place records at the top of the charts. Such commercial consistency nevertheless generated friction once Grant began to regard himself less as one-third of a trio and more as an independent artist, leading him to launch a solo career oriented toward middle-of-the-road soul. That move proved reasonable yet yielded work that never matched the standard set by the Twinkle Brothers. Relations within the group were strained further when, in 1981, Grant replaced the late Jacob “Killer” Miller as lead singer of Inner Circle. The Twinkle Brothers’ activities consequently appeared to recede in importance. The Grant brothers nonetheless proved adept at repairing rifts, and the trio soon resumed activity. Many of their recordings, issued on their own Twinkle label, prove difficult to locate, yet they contain compelling music. During the mid-1990s the group traveled to Poland, where their catalog reportedly enjoys robust sales, to collaborate with the Trebunia Family. The seemingly unlikely alliance produced the album Twinkle Inna Poland Style. Delivering exceptional results has remained a consistent hallmark of the Twinkle Brothers.
Albums
