Singing Sisters Help to Save Country Music with Harmony
Whenever I find myself thirsting for inspiration, I tend to search out the blessed gift that is the harmonies of sister pairings. Any two great singers can harmonize, but few can match the instinct and tone of two blood relatives, making the artform seem as effortless as breath. From The Carter Family to The Louvin Brothers, harmony is one of the most indelible foundations of country and roots music, and will always be relevant to the audio palette no matter what the trends of popular music are.
Following is a list of singing sisters who never cease to inspire.
The Church Sisters
Sisters Sarah and Savannah Church from the coal mining region of Dickerson County, Virginia bring some of the most exquisite harmonies to their love for traditional country and gospel music. The fraternal twins are regularly joined by their brother Seth Church on lead guitar, and have all the potential in the world, whether they decide to stay performing more traditional material, or try and branch out into original compositions. Ain’t no Auto-tune here folks! Just simple, God-given talent.
Paige and Aimee Anderson & The Fearless Kin
It borders on being criminally negligent that Paige Anderson has yet to be presented with a broader audience. But it will happen, and when it does, you can bet sister Aimee will not be far behind. And neither will younger brother Ethan, and youngest sister Daisy, who’ve all been performing in the Anderson Family Bluegrass band for years. Impeccable harmonies flow from this family, yet Paige’s greatest attributes may be her flat-picking guitar and burgeoning songwriting, bolstered by sister Amiee’s sweet fiddle and accompanying voice.
The Secret Sisters
Sisters Laura and Lydia Rogers from Muscle Shoals, AL are signed to Universal Republic and had the prestigious T Bone Burnett executive produce their debut album. With they opportunities they’ve been bestowed, they’re able to bring beautiful harmonies and a neotraditional sound to a much wider audience.
First Aid Kit
From Sweden, these two talented sisters are turning the world onto the beauty of Americana music when it is mixed with the roots of traditional country. First Aid Kit’s voices rise like few I’ve ever heard, and their songwriting challenges the best composers on any continent. No better example of how roots music can progress while still preserving its roots than First Aid Kit.
The Quebe Sisters
Don’t say that Western Swing is dead! One listen to The Quebe Sisters (pronounced Kway-bee) from Texas and you’ll see that Western Swing is safe in the hands of an up-and-coming crop of sincere, authentic, and talented young artists. Over the years the Quebe’s have showcased their savvy on The Marty Stuart Show, The Grand Ole Opry, been on tour with Asleep At The Wheel, and have appeared on stage with Merle Haggard and Ricky Skaggs to name a few. As soon as their voices crack the air, you’re immediately transported back to a time when the heart and soul of country music was alive and pure.
Other singing sister groups: The Staves, The Shook Twins…
May 29, 2013 @ 2:51 pm
What about The Staves?
May 29, 2013 @ 3:27 pm
I guess I consider them more folk rock than the rest, but nonetheless excellent harmonies that folks should check out. I added their name to the bottom.
May 29, 2013 @ 2:54 pm
Wow! The Church Sisters sound like Allison Kraus and Emylou doing a duet!!! Apparently not related to Eric in any shape, form, or fashion!
May 29, 2013 @ 3:02 pm
That Swedish group – dang. Nice.
May 29, 2013 @ 3:05 pm
The Shook Twins??
May 29, 2013 @ 3:42 pm
Looks like a cool band I need to check them out more. Added them to the bottom of the list.
May 29, 2013 @ 6:03 pm
Awesome! Those girls are from Sandpoint, ID. Real close to home for me. I remember seeing them playing in Sandpoint pubs a few years ago. Good to see them get some publicity on here. Sorry I haven’t pushed them sooner…
May 29, 2013 @ 3:57 pm
Thanks Trig – great stuff!
May 29, 2013 @ 4:02 pm
I love good harmony thanks for sharing !
May 29, 2013 @ 10:30 pm
Have you checked out The Vespers? I watched them once on a show called Bluegrass Underground. A couple sisters sing in the group and are pretty awesome.
May 30, 2013 @ 6:42 am
Anderson sisters = High Lonesome! That’s nice!
May 30, 2013 @ 6:46 am
Trigg, check out the band, Della Mae!
May 30, 2013 @ 6:50 am
Sorry, I thought a couple of the girls in Della Mae were sisters, maybe cousins? Anyway, you should give them a listen!
May 30, 2013 @ 3:52 pm
Does my heart good to know that the fine art of singin and singin harmony is alive and well in the next generation! Thanks so much for sharing this.
May 30, 2013 @ 5:21 pm
They may not fit in exactly, but the Tuttles are quite the family of musicians… Giv’m a couple years, they’ll be up here…
May 31, 2013 @ 4:25 am
Great list – heard of Paige Anderson from an earlier post of yours and the Quebe sisters is a new one to me so look forward to checking that one up. Really appreciate all these lists you put up (and will show appreciation by clicking through the Amazon link when buying any of these!)
May 31, 2013 @ 6:22 am
I”™m partial to The Toy Hearts. There is something heartwarming about a Dad and his two daughters gettin”™ down. Definitely worth a listen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZbA_CxsTu0
May 31, 2013 @ 6:06 pm
Good stuff. Would like to hear these girls on a better recording/video.
May 31, 2013 @ 10:32 am
I would add Larkin Poe, who are 2 sisters I heard as a warm-up band before a REK show a couple of years ago.
May 31, 2013 @ 6:04 pm
Thanks, we’ll check them out!
May 31, 2013 @ 3:31 pm
It’s a rare thing indeed but we are on the same page on this one Triggerman. I am fortunate enough to get to see the Quebe Sisters perform live every other year at the Santa Clarita Cowboy Music Festival in April and they are outstanding!
The previous post mentioned Larkin Poe who are two of the three sisters who were previously performing as The Lovell Sisters bluegrass band (whom I much preferred). When one of the sisters defected Larkin Poe was born. The Lovell Sisters songs “Time To Grow” and “In My Time of Dyin'” give me goose bumps every time I listen.
For female bluegrass sister harmonies you can’t beat 3 Fox Drive who started off as the Fox Family Band. Talk about a band that deserves much wider recognition than they’ve garnered over the years. Their song “Cold at the Bottom of Your Heart” is killer dude!
For top notch “sort of sister” harmonies from the past, the mid 1950’s SUN label recordings of the Miller Sisters (actually sisters in law) are impossible to beat. These gals opened a show for Elvis around 1955 and Colonel Tom Parker asked if he could be their manager! Sadly their manager at the time was the brother of one of the gals and husband of the other, so he told the Colonel to take a hike! Sam Phillips commented later that of all the artists he recorded with at SUN who didn’t make it big he wished he’d focused more time and effort on supporting the Miller Sisters than any of the others. After their four single releases spanning 1955 and 1956 failed to generate any sales, the Miller Sisters went their separate ways. It wasn’t until the AVI label scoured the SUN vaults and master tapes in the 1990’s that an album was ever released of their recordings. Talk about buried treasure…
May 31, 2013 @ 6:05 pm
Some good names to check out, thanks!
June 3, 2013 @ 8:53 am
How about the Rankin Twins? http://www.therankintwins.com/
June 3, 2013 @ 7:54 pm
When I”™m looking for the latest country music, I always end up in one spot ”“ 103.1 WIRK. I was even lucky enough to catch up with Keith Van Allen in the streets and got free ”˜Rib Round Up”™ tickets. Just one of the many events that keep me tuned into http://www.wirk.com
June 4, 2013 @ 12:33 am
Awesom article. Awesome music. I love every one of these pieces. However, I think the first video was replaced by a John Cage track. HAHA! Apparently they made that video private after you put this piece together.
It’s happened to me too.
Thanks for the education sir.
DK
June 9, 2013 @ 8:45 pm
Came back to this article 2 weeks later to tell you that since reading this when it was first published, I’ve had my way with First Aid Kit’s album a tremendous amount of times. Thanks for the suggestions! Much appreciated!
July 24, 2013 @ 1:08 pm
Ever heard of The Redheads Britta-N-Brooke – hands down the most talented country music artists today, but they can’t get their break. They have been around while too. Their live show sounds like a record – flawless, entertaining and the kindest people on earth. Not an arrogant bone in their body. They have true talent so guess that’s why they can’t get a break. They could save country music. They have an old country vibe, but with a modern twist and their original music is cool, modern and heartfelt. Not pop. Awesome guitar players to boot. Someone should help these girls get a foot in the door, they could take it to an authentic level. http://www.theredheads.net
February 19, 2014 @ 10:57 am
WOW! I just listened to some of this, and immediately went to iTunes to buy some of it-I was grinning ear to ear after hearing the Quebe Sisters! Now why in the world is this stuff being overlooked by the “tastemakers” of country music? After hearing things like this, I almost have to wonder if there’s not a deliberate strategy to destroy country music, when this is being passed over in favor of…you all know without me telling you! And First Aid Kit-beautiful! This is where country music is, what in the world is wrong with Nashville? I just don’t understand it!
February 19, 2014 @ 11:06 am
Just added The Church Sisters album to my purchases-my favorite genre of music, and they’re helping to keep it alive, vital, and gorgeous! Thank you!