The Alexander Brothers (band)

The Alexander Brothers
The Alexander Brothers on tour in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, in the 1990s
Background information
Origin	Scotland
Genres	Folk music, country and western
Years active	1950–2012
Labels	Pye Records
Members	Tom Alexander; Jack Alexander

The Alexander Brothers were an easy-listening folk-music duo from Scotland, who had been performing since the 1950s.

Tom Alexander (born 1934) and Jack Alexander (1935–2013) were born in Thrashbush Avenue Cambusnethan, near Wishaw. On leaving school in the early 1950s, the brothers pursued a trade as painters and decorators by day, and entertainers by night, and spent most of their spare time performing for elderly people in hospitals and for various charitable institutions in and around their hometown. In the spring of 1958, they entered a talent contest which was held in their local cinema. They easily won the contest and one of the judges (who was a well known Scottish theatrical agent) was so impressed, he placed the boys under contract that summer. They made their professional debut at the Webster Hall, Arbroath. It was during this season that they received their first long term contract for five winter seasons at Glasgow's Metropole Theatre. Following Arbroath they were engaged to appear at the Metropolitan Theatre, Edgware Road, London, and it was during this season they were spotted and signed to Pye Records. They cut their first LP six weeks later.

Their biggest hit single was "Nobody's Child" in 1964. It sold more copies in Scotland that year than did recordings by The Beatles. Their other hits include "These Are My Mountains", "The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen", "Bonnie Wee Jeannie McColl", and "Two Highland Lads". Their 1966 album, These Are My Mountains, peaked at #29 in the UK Albums Chart. They have toured Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. They appeared at the Sydney Opera House with Jimmy Shand as a guest, and have also played in Carnegie Hall in New York City.