Britain had the Beatles, Bermuda the Talbot Brothers.
Anyone remembering the heady days of tourism on the island from the late 1940s through the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s inevitably recalls these charismatic performers whose music, wit, warmth and humour made them icons of Bermudian hospitality and drew thousands of guests to their shows.
Night after night in most of Bermuda’s resort hotels, brothers Archie (leader) on guitar and harmonica, Austin on guitar, Roy on his unique homemade bass, Ross (Blackie) on guitar, Bryan (Dick) on ukulele and cousin Mandy on accordion would woo audiences with the harmony of their mellifluous voices and their inimitable brand of calypso.
They all had that indefinable charm, thanks in part perhaps to their good looks, but also to their sheer love of life and their infectious
sense of humour that infused all their performances. In this regard they were more than singers; they were entertainers.
The Talbots reformed the group to go professional in 1942. During the Second World War, they became one of the primary sources of live island entertainment for many servicemen and were broadcast on ZBM radio. After the war ended hotels re-opened and the Talbot Brothers began their first professional engagement at the Elbow Beach Hotel in 1948. Throughout the 1950's & 1960's the group played in all the top hotels in Bermuda like the Bermudiana, The Reefs, Castle Harbour, Sonesta [formerly Carlton Beach] and the Hamilton Princess.
In 1953 they began their first American tour expanding their scope to Canada and the UK. At that time black people were not allowed in most country clubs, fine restaurants and hotels but The Talbots were an exception to the norm and were always treated well. They sat in the main dining room with the other guests at all the country clubs they attended and stayed in first class hotels. In fact it was a stipulation that the Talbot Brothers entered establishments where they performed through the front door.
Although the Bermuda Government held the Talbot Brothers in high esteem and patted them on the back for being instrumental with the tourists, they were never given monetary compensation and the group paid their airfares and travel expenses when travelling. During their performances in New York they met Frank Sinatra, Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart, Sammy Davis, and Nat King Cole. The Talbots performed at New York's 21 Club, and Boston's Parker House. Like all popular entertainers, the Talbot Brothers had numerous fans. It was said in the past when young tourists landed and went through customs the first questions to the Customs officers were: "Where's the best beach and how do we contact the Talbot Brothers?
Additionally, the Talbot band performed in London at the Palladium for seven sensational weeks. Their fame spread and they appeared on the ABC's Good Morning America and twice on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1957 & 1959. As their popularity grew they became subjects of feature stories in Life, Look, The Bermudian, and Holiday magazines. They released 10″ and 12″ vinyl records on the Audio Fidelity label in the mid-1950s before being signed to ABC Paramount Records in 1957, where they made two albums; “Calypsos” and “Talbot Brothers of Bermuda.”
Archie Maxwell Talbot [1906-1972]
Archie Talbot began his career in his early twenties working at the Mid Ocean Club when it first opened. It was there where he sang his first song publicly "Mr. Radio Man". He sang with the Talbot Brothers and also played the guitar and harmonica. At the high point of his career he appeared on the Ed Sullivan show with the group in 1957 and 1959. Probably his proudest moment was when he received the Queen's Certificate and Badge of Honor on behalf of the Talbot Brothers their service to the community. It was in fact Archie who started the whole idea of the colorful hats when he attempted to waterproof his with red paint.
Archie was almost 66 when he passed away and during his ceremony at Marsden Methodist Church a beam of light penetrated the hall resting upon his gleaming cedar casket seemingly symbolic of a great showman still in the spotlight.
Austin Gerald Talbot [Aug 6, 1905 - Nov 5, 1985]
Austin was the eldest of the brothers in the group and was well known as an avid fisherman. He also began his career at the Mid Ocean Club but has a horse and carriage driver, pretty much the only source of transportation on the island at the time. He would often be seen serenading tourists whilst they took in the sights of Bermuda.
Austin also played guitar and harmonica but at times he would fill in as bass player strumming Roy's Dog House bass the "Bermudavarius". Actually Austin can be seen on the clip from the Ed Sullivan show playing Roy's bass. Roy was taking lead singing at the time. Austin was famous for singing "Freckles "[on her butt] and "My Son".
Cromwell Craddock Manders [Nov 24, 1914 - May 2, 1990]
"Mandy", as he was affectionately known, grew up in Harris' Bay later moving to Pembroke where he found employment as a waiter at the Windsor Hotel. There he developed a keen interest in tennis and eventually became the undefeated tennis champion of Bermuda. Later he became a tennis pro teaching many children and even Governor Lord Ramsbotham himself. For more than 15 years he was the director of the Junior Developing Program of the Bermuda Lawn & Tennis Association. Mandy's other notable achievements included being one of the founding members of the Leopard's Club [Bermuda] and singing with the "Leopardtones".
He joined the Talbot Brothers in 1941 making a group of six. He brought with him an accordion which was a huge asset to the group. This instrument became the harmony for the Talbot Brothers until the end. Mandy was noted for singing "Ebb Tide" when he would often time the opening of the tune with the rolling surf at locations like The Reefs and the Breaker's Club [well known restaurant located at John Smith's Bay].
Roy Alma Talbot [Nov. 24, 1915 - May 15, 2009]
Roy Talbot was the last surviving member of the original Talbot Brothers group. He was born in Tucker’s Town, Bermuda, one of 10 siblings. Roy lent his voice to the Talbots’ distinctive blended harmonies and cut a striking figure onstage with his homemade bass. Called the doghouse or the Bermudavarius, it was fashioned from a Swift meatpacking crate and had a single string made from fishing line. As the Talbot Brothers toured the world, fans would sign the instrument, among them Babe Ruth, Bing Crosby and Tommy Dorsey. At the hi lite of his career Roy was one of the featured singers when the group appeared on the Ed Sullivan show in the 1950's.
Ross " Blackie" Talbot [April 5, 1918 - Nov 23, 2000]
Ross "Blackie" Talbot was born in Tucker's Town into a family of 10 brothers and sisters. His vocal career began at Marsden Memorial Methodist Church where his mother, the church organist, taught him to sing. he was considered too young for the original Talbot Brothers, which consisted of Archie, Austin, Roy and Mandy. He often sang solos at various social engagements in Tucker's Town, the first of which was his favorite melody "Bermuda Buggy Ride". Blackie also loved to fish off the rocks being a familiar site on South Shore (near John Smith's Bay) and Flatt's.
In April 1998, as a true goodwill ambassador and humanitarian he celebrated his 80th birthday by endorsing the 6th Classic "Ross Blackie Talbot Charity Invitational Golf Tournament", that raised over $100,000 and benefited five local charities. In the same year he was awarded the MBE for his contribution to tourism in Bermuda.
Bryan Kingston Talbot [Mar 9, 1920 - Feb 16, 1979]
Bryan Talbot, better known as "Dick", was born the tenth child of Mamie & Osmond Talbot in Tucker's Town. He attended the Talbot's Public school as a young boy and landed his first job as an office boy at the Bermuda Development Company. He was later forced to give up his position when he was drafted into the B.M.I. [Bermuda Militia Infantry] where he remained for about a year. He joined the Talbot Brothers in the 1940's where he played the ukulele and later the Tipple.
The Talbots
The Talbot Brothers continued their tours of North America until 1970. Archie died in 1972, Dick in 1979 and Austin and Mandy a few years later. Nephews Rodney and Ryan Tucker joined the group which became known as simply as The Talbots. they continued to perform during the early 1980s.
In November 1979 the Department of Tourism honoured the Talbot Brothers by holding a week long series of high profile activities in recognition of their roles as music ambassadors.
