Kalin Twins
The Kalin Twins (born February 16, 1934) were a pop music recording duo, comprising twin brothers Hal and Herbie Kalin (d. August 24, 2005 and July 21, 2006, respectively). The Kalin Twins remain the archetypal one-hit wonders. Their only Top 10 chart hit was "When".
Career
The twins were born in Port Jervis, New York. Originally discovered by Clint Ballard, Jr., the writer of many hit records such as "Good Timin'" for Jimmy Jones, and "I'm Alive" for The Hollies, the sibling duo had a couple of early recording flops.[1] However, in 1958, after searching through piles of writers' demo tapes, their management discovered the song called "When", written by Paul Evans and Jack Reardon.[2] It topped the UK Singles Chart, got to Number 5 in their U.S. homeland, and sold over two million copies in the process.[3] The track remained in the UK listings for eighteen weeks, five of which were at Number One.[4] They had no further UK chart entries.
Harold (Hal) and Herbert (Herbie) were the first set of twins to reach number one in the UK as a duo,[2] followed years later by The Proclaimers. They were supported by Cliff Richard on their only UK tour. Their second single, "Forget Me Not," reached Number 12 in the US Billboard chart later in 1958. After two further low-ranking entries in 1959, they never reached the charts again.
Family
Herbert Kalin was married and had four children, Suzan Lynn, Kelly Lee, Buddy Ladd, and Jonathan Ray.
Post-music career
Eventually, disillusioned with diminishing returns, the brothers returned to their day jobs, with each pursuing college degrees. They did not perform again until 1977, when a mutual friend booked them to appear at his new nightclub. Sometimes they performed with their younger sibling, Jack, and thus appeared as the Kalin Brothers.
They disappeared again as a performing act, until 1989. Then, their one-time support act, Cliff Richard, invited them to play at his Wembley Stadium 'The Event' concerts, as part of a sequence paying homage to the 1950s television pop show, Oh Boy!
Deaths
- Harold "Hal" Kalin died on August 24, 2005,[4] as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident, aged 71.
- Herbert "Herbie" Kalin died July 21, 2006 from a heart attack, aged 72.
Discography
- "Jumpin' Jack"/"Walkin' To School" - (1957) Each charted in the US publication Music Vendor, Feb-March 1958.
- "When" - (1958) - UK Number One - U.S. Number Five
- "Three O'Clock Thrill" - (1958) - U.S. jukebox favorite
- "Forget Me Not" - (1958) - U.S. Number Twelve
- "Oh! My Goodness" - (1959)
- "It's Only The Beginning" - (1959)
- "When I Look In The Mirror" - (1959)
- "Sweet Sugar Lips" - (1959)
- "Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart" - (1960)
- "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" - (1961)
- "Sometimes It Comes, Sometimes It Goes" - (1966) - Amy Records
- "Silver Seagull" - (1978)
- "American Eagle" - (1979)
References
- ↑ Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 39. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
- 1 2 Roberts, David (2001). British Hit Singles (14th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 31. ISBN 0-85156-156-X.
- ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 102. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 296. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.