The Talbot Brothers of Bermuda

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The Talbot Brothers

Origin| Bermuda
Genres|

* Calypso
* Swing
* Traditional Pop

Years active| 1942 (1942) – 1980s
Past members|

* Archie Talbot
* Austin Talbot
* Bryan Talbot
* Ross Talbot
* Roy Talbot
* Cromwell Manders
* Ernest Stovell (or Stowell)

The Talbot Brothers were a musical group based in Bermuda that were among the most popular calypso performers of the 1950s. The band was composed of brothers Archie (lead singer, acoustic guitar, harmonica), Austin (acoustic guitar, harmonica), Bryan, a.k.a. "Dick" (tipple, a large, 10-stringed ukulele), Ross, a.k.a. "Blackie" (electric guitar) and Roy Talbot (bass), and their cousin Cromwell "Mandy" Mandres (accordion).[1]

## Early life and background[edit]

Austin Gerald Talbot (1905-1985), Archibald Maxwell Talbot (1907–1972), Roy Almer Denmond Talbot (1915–2009), Hastings Ross Fanshaw Talbot (1918-2000), and Bryan Kingston Talbot (1920-1979) were the sons of Osmond Charles Fanshaw Talbot and Mamie Susan Kennedy Augusta Lambert, who had married in 1904, with an extended family centred in Tucker's Town (the only part of the Main Island that lies within St. George's Parish) and eastern Hamilton Parish, between Bailey's Bay and Paynter's Vale. Talbots had lived in this area since at least the 18th Century, and the brothers were related by descent to many other families of this area, including the Seon and Outerbridge families. They had five other siblings. Their mother's sister, Ainslie Letitia Dansmore Lambert, married Charles Adolphus Mansfield Manders in 1895, and gave birth to William Cromwell Manders in 1906.

Oliver Constantine Lambert and Osmond Charles Fanshaw Talbot

Most of the signatories of 23 July 1920, petition by residents of Tucker's Town against the planned land acquisitions and redevelopment called for in the "Bermuda Development Company Act (No. 2), 1920" were related to the Talbot Brothers, including their maternal grandfather, Oliver Constantine Lambert (born in Southampton Parish, the son of Samuel Deers Lambert and Ann Newbold), parents Osmond Charles Fanshaw Talbot and Ainslie Letitia Dansmore Manders, maternal uncles Stewart Hastings Lambert and Oliver Ceylon Lambert,[2] maternal aunts Essie Celina Gertrude Lambert, Ann Mahew Constantine Simmons, and Ada Permelia Arlene Simmons, and other relatives Eliza Harriet Talbot (Smith), Rose Ann Smith, Dina Smith (the sister of their maternal grandmother, Rose Ann Lambert, born Rose Ann Smith), and five other Smiths, to whom they were related through both the Lambert (via their maternal grandmother) and Talbot families. Other signatories were Minnie Andrew Palmer, Henry Nelms, Clarkson Frederick Burgess, Henry Thomas Harvey, Oscar Anderson, and Lancelot Laud Havard, the Rector of Hamilton and Smith's Glebe.[3] The petition was unsuccessful and Tucker's Town was compulsorily purchased with Dina Smith the last resident to leave when she was forcibly removed from her property in 1923.[4] Many of their relatives were participants in the civil suit of the descendants of Josiah Smith (the maternal grandfather of Mamie Susan Kennedy Augusta Lambert and Ainslie Letitia Dansmore Lambert) against the Bermuda Development Company in the Supreme Court in 1924 that resulted in compensation paid to the descendants for the land known as the Josiah Smith Estate at Tucker's Town.

## Career[edit]

The original members of the Talbot Brothers circa 1936: Ernest Stovell, Roy, Archie and Austin Talbot

Before achieving a degree of fame with their best-known line-up, the Talbot Brothers had originally been composed in the 1930s of Austin Gerald Talbot, Archibald Maxwell Talbot, Roy Almer Denmond Talbot, and their cousin Ernest Stovell. As the Talbot Brothers, of Tucker's Town, quartet, accompanied by banjo, they won third prize at an amateur concert at the exclusive Coral Island Club in Flatts Village, in Hamilton Parish, on 1 March 1936.[5][6]

The Talbots were the first of Bermuda's many notable singing groups to gain international acclaim.[7] With a population of fewer than 20,000 scattered over numerous islands totalling 21 square miles, Bermuda had no professional musicians or theatres until the advent of tourism during the latter 19th Century. The tourism industry was pioneered by wealthy visitors from North America, such as Samuel Clemens and Princess Louise, who would winter in Bermuda. New large hotels were built to cater to them, notably the Hamilton Hotel (completed in 1863), the Princess Hotel (completed in 1885), and the Hotel St. George (completed in 1906),[8] and these created employment opportunities for professional musicians. Beyond the hotels, public entertainment relied primarily upon amateur theatrics and music hall-type performances, notably by soldiers assigned to the Bermuda Garrison.[9]

After the First World War, Bermuda's tourism industry went through considerable change as Prohibition led to a flood of affluent middle class visitors seeking sun and alcohol, and Bermuda became a summer rather than a winter destination. The large urban hotels were replaced by resorts sandwiched between private beaches and golf courses, such as the Castle Harbour Hotel, built near Paynter's Vale in the 1920s, and the Elbow Beach Hotel. The construction of the Castle Harbour Hotel (completed in 1931) and the related Mid-Ocean Club had resulted in the forced relocation of the inhabitants of Tucker's Town, with their homes replaced by golf links. The families that had lived there, including the Talbots, were mostly been resettled in Smith's Parish (a parish also known as Harris' Bay, from the coastal area at the southern end of its western boundary with Devonshire Parish,[10] today identified as Devonshire Bay and Sue Wood Bay) near Devil's Hole and John Smith's Bay, where Talbot Lane is found today. Bermuda's new visitors demanded entertainments that the genteel community was ill-equipped to provide, including a new type of music. Musical tastes in Bermuda were little different from North America and Britain. West Indian musicians were consequently brought in by the hotels,[11] and local musicians quickly adopted the Calypso they brought with them. The entertainments provided for tourists through the hotels remained separate and quite different, however, from the entertainments that catered to Bermudians, which still relied largely upon amateurs performing in church halls and similar venues.[12]

the ladies aid society of the Marsden Methodist Church of Harris Bay gave an old fashioned concert at g u 0 of o.f hall somerset on Friday evening 25th may they were assisted by the barber shop four who are well known at the east end having performed at the castle harbour hotel and other places every available seat was occupied long before the time of opening the programme m

The Talbots organized in 1942 and performed a variation of Trinidadian calypso in a smooth melodic style influenced by popular music. They performed and recorded cover versions of calypso classics in addition to many of their own originals. They became a popular attraction in local hotels, but it was an early recording they made in the United States that made them even more popular in their homeland, and heralded fame beyond their shores. Bermuda Buggy Ride, according to the essay "Gombeys, Bands and Troubadours" on Bermuda's official website...

> ...brought them wide recognition in the USA, and made them the group tourists most wanted to see. The song was a swing ballad and was actually written… in a buggy en route to Tom Moore’s Tavern. A young student from Yale was in the buggy, and he seems to have had a hand in the evolution of the song. On arriving at their destination, the musicians rehearsed the song until it was ready for performance that very day. It’s been riding along ever since.[7]

Their popularity with American tourists resulted in tours of the U.S. starting in the early 1950s. Notable in their instrumentation was Roy Talbot's home-made upright bass dubbed the "doghouse." Roy created the instrument out of a large meat-packing crate and a single fishing line. This item was a particular curiosity, and during the Talbots’ tours many of their fellow performers and visiting celebrities would autograph the crate.

The Talbots released 10" and 12" vinyl records on the small Audio Fidelity label in the mid-1950s before being signed to ABC Paramount Records in 1957, where they made two LPs[13] that were more accessible in North America.

They were frequent performers on television in the 1950s, appearing on Ed Sullivan's variety shows and other programs.[14]

Archie Talbot composed the title song to the 1956 Columbia motion picture Bermuda Affair. It is included on their first ABC Paramount LP.[15]

Ross, the penultimate survivor of the group, died in 2000 at the age of 82.[14][16] An avid golfer, there is an annual charity golf tournament in Bermuda dedicated to him.[14]

Bassist Roy Talbot, who died on 15 May 2009, was the last surviving brother.[17]

## Recordings[edit]

Notable songs recorded by The Talbot Brothers include:

* "Atomic Nightmare" (Archie Talbot)
* "Back to Back (Zombie Jamboree)" (Lord Intruder)
* "Bermuda Buggy Ride" (Archie Talbot)
* "Bermuda Affair" (Archie Talbot)
* "Bermuda’s Still Paradise" (Ross Talbot)
* "Castro Twist" (Ross Talbot)
* "Old Uncle Joe" (Roy Talbot)
* "Give an Ugly Woman Matrimony" (Ross Talbot - F. Reid)
* "Gonna Cut You with the Razor" (Archie Talbot - F. Reid)
* "Is She Is or Is She Ain’t" (The Charmer)
* "Last Train to San Fernando" (Mighty Dictator)
* "Nora, Nora" (Lord Kitchener)
* "She's Got Freckles On Her But She Is Nice" (no author listed; sometimes attributed to Larry Vincent)
* "You Can Go, But You'll Return" (Archie Talbot - F. Reid)

## Partial discography[edit]

* Bermuda Talbot Brothers in their favorite selections Jay 3009 (10")
* Bermuda Talbot Brothers  ("Bermuda, Vol. 2"); Audio Fidelity AFLP-903 (10")
* Bermuda Calypso Party ("Bermuda, Vol. 3"); Audio Fidelity AFLP-1807; c.1957
* Calypsos; ABC-Paramount ABC-156; 1957
* Calypso; ABC-Paramount A-156; 1957 (7" E.P.; excerpts from above)
* Talbot Brothers of Bermuda; ABC-Paramount ABC-214
* Talbot Brothers of Bermuda (Volumes 1-3); Talman (reissue)
* Bermuda Holiday; Polyphonic Records (Bermuda) FLP-2001

## References[edit]

1. ^ "HYP RECORDS/Vinyl Safari: Calypso--The Talbot Brothers of Bermuda". Hipwax.com. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
2. ^ General James Willcocks, Governor of Bermuda (14 September 1917). "Catalogue description: Reports two cases of people being rescued from drowning and suggests that the rescuers..." National Archives. British Government. Retrieved 30 December 2023. "Reports two cases of people being rescued from drowning and suggests that the rescuers be referred to the Royal Humane Society. Encloses a letter from E F Johnson, and statements from David Beckwith, Ceylon Oliver Lambert, plain clothes Constable Charles E Simons, and the Inspector of Police."
3. ^ "Petition of Residents of St. George's and Hamilton Parishes Against The Bill Entitled "Bermuda Development Company Act (No. 2), 1920"" (PDF). Ombudsman for Bermuda. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
4. ^ Land loss inquiry hears from Tucker’s Town descendant of pilot, by Sarah Lagan. The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. 16 January 2021
5. ^ "AMATEUR HOUR AT CORAL ISLAND CLUB". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke Parish, Bermuda. 4 March 1936. p. 2\. "The third of a series of amateur concerts was enjoyed Sunday night at the Coral Island Club by an audience of more than one hundred people. The entertainment was excellent and a great deal of real ability was displayed in the twelve acts put on.

The prizes, awarded by volume of applause from the audience, were:

First, to Arthur and May Smith, of Princess Street, Hamilton, singing and dancing.

Second, to Donald Smith of St. George's, singing.

Third, to Talbot brothers, of Tucker's Town, quartet, accompanied by banjo.

The Terrace Room was filled to overflowing and it was necessary to turn away many who applied for tables. In the future, the management will allocate tables by reservation only, so be sure to call in advance and avoid being disappointed.

Among those present Sunday evening were:—Ray Allen Van Cleef, Sir Algernon and K. Lee Guinness, Capt. and Mrs. Ross Winter, Mr. and Mrs.Cortland Van Cleef, Mrs. Hilda Heffinger, Misses Sheila West and Sylvia Appleby and party of friends, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Fownes, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Mowbray, Jr., The Rev. Ralph Huffer and many others from Paget, Tucker's Town, Hamilton and Bailey's Bay. The amateur nights at Coral Island Club, we believe, are fast becoming the most popular Sunday night rendezvous on the Island.

Mr. Don Parker and his famous scotty were greatly missed by the audience, who remembered his very amusing, extemporaneous performance of the previous Sunday night."
6. ^ "Doings of Bermuda's Orchestras and Musicians: Amateur Hour at Coral Island". The Recorder. City of Hamilton, Pembroke Parish, Bermuda. 14 March 1936. p. 3\. "Sunday night March 1st, the third performance of the Sunday night Amateur Hour entertainment took place at the Coral Island Club House. These Amateur entertainments are getting to be a big thing down there, drawing large crowds of guest from different Hotels and different parts of the Island. Quite a lot of good talent has been displayed every Sunday night. On Sunday night the prize winners were Little Arthur and May Smith. They took the house by storm having to give many encores of their fine singing and dancing. The second prize was won by Dewey Smith of St. Georges, our fine tenor singer, he also had to give many encores, and third prize to the Talbot Brothers Quartette of Harris's Bay, they did swell with good singing and playing their novelty home made instruments. Other good talent displayed were the Rythm Boys Quartette from Hamilton, also Quartette from St. Georges and young Earlton Flood from Bailey's Bay, George Dixon, Baritone; Gerald Minors, Saw solo; Oswald Lindsay, dancing; (Robert Joell the local Bing Crosby), Fred Ingham and Prof. Anderson, and several others, all escaped the Gong except one. Mr Ross Winter acts as Master of ceremonies and gong master also. Six more Sunday night entertainments have to be performed before all the prize winners will compete for the Big Prize Trip to New York. The progammes are arranged by the Club Orchestra leader, Mark Williams. Anyone wanting to be included in these entertainments may give their name to him, or at the Club House. The contest is open to anyone, young or old, men and women."
7. ^ a b "Gombeys, Bands and Troubadours" (PDF). Gov.bm. Retrieved 22 July 2020.[permanent dead link]
8. ^ "Saxon and Teuton". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. 16 October 1906. p. 2.
9. ^ Compiled under the general editorship of FREMONT RIDER BY DR. FREDERIC TABER COOPER (1922). Rider's BERMUDA: A GUIDE BOOK for TRAVELERS, with 4 maps. NEW YORK: HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY. Pages 20 and 21, VIII. Theatres and Other Places of Entertainment. "High-class professional performances, either musical or dramatic, are a rare treat in Bermuda. Touring companies from England or Canada, and more rarely from the United States, occasionally visit the Islands. But for the most part Bermudians are dependent for theatrical entertainments upon local amateur talent, and that afforded by the Garrison troops......the three small Garrison theatres do a valiant share in each season's entertainment."
10. ^ Forbes, Keith Archibald (2020). "Bermuda's Smith's Parish". Bermuda Online. Bermuda Online. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
11. ^ Commissiong, Rudolph (22 May 2016). "Steel pan man's 40 years of music". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
12. ^ BERMUDA: Nature's Fairyland; Official Tourists Guide Book An Authoritative Publication Issued for the Convenience of Bermuda Tourists 1915-1916. Bermuda: ISSUED BY THE BERMUDA TRADE DEVELOPMENT BOARD, A DEPARTMENT Of THE BERMUDA GOVERNMENT. 1915. p. 35\. "The Concerts Given In the Public Parks by the Regimental Bands Are of a High Order and Appeal to the Public Generally......A number of Americans and Canadians have permanent homes in Bermuda which they occupy regularly for a large part of each year, and with the wealthier class of Bermudians, entertain generously, while concerts, dancing and theatricals enliven the evenings at the prominent hotels."
13. ^ "ABC-Paramount Album Discography, Part 1". Bsnpubs.com. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
14. ^ a b c [1][dead link]
15. ^ "CONELRAD | ATOMIC PLATTERS: by". Atomicplatters.com. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
16. ^ "Bermuda-Online.org". Bermuda-online.org. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
17. ^ Grimes, William. "Roy Talbot, Calypso Musician, Dies at 94", The New York Times, 23 May 2009. Accessed 24 May 2009.

## External links[edit]

* Vinyl Safari
* CalypsoWorld.org
* "Atomic Nightmare" discussed at Atomic Platters
* 1959 clip of the Talbots singing "Bermuda Buggy Ride"
* 1959 clip of the Talbots singing "Yellow Bird"

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

Other|

* IdRef