The Shaw Brothers
When thinking about the connection between New England and folk music, it’s very difficult, perhaps impossible, for The Shaw Brothers not to come to mind. When considering twins Ron and Rick’s birthplace in New Hampshire’s White Mountains and their musical journey via the University of New Hampshire to the wider world, it is hard to name a group that better personifies two artists performing at the top of their chosen genre while keeping their beloved New England in their hearts.
Early bands, Debut album, Opening spots
It all began in the early ‘60s on the UNH campus, when Ron and Rick played at frat parties and off-campus clubs as The Windjammers, then The Tradewinds. In 1962, as The Brandywine Singers, they brought top honors to New England in the National Inter-Collegiate Music Competition. For the first time, folks from far outside their home state were able to hear the magic they created, and they loved what they heard.
Ron and Rick played a major role in expanding folk music’s popularity across New England during the nationwide folk revival of the early ‘60s and their rising reputation led to their first record in 1964 (as The Brandywine Singers), which saw significant airplay throughout the six-state region. After the William Morris Agency came knocking on their door and signed them up, the twins suddenly found themselves working alongside some of the era’s biggest stars, opening for a number of them and touring with Johnny Mathis.
The Shaw Brothers, “I’d Like to Teach The World To Sing”
The late ‘60s saw the Vietnam War and active service for Rick which, for a time, brought an end to the brothers’ musical collaboration. Ron continued in the music business and became part of The Pozo Seco Singers alongside the late great Don Williams and Susan “Pie” Taylor. Upon Rick’s return from the service, it wasn’t long before the twins reunited as musical partners and adopted the name by which the world, and those in New England in particular, know them best: The Shaw Brothers.
RCA eventually offered The Shaw Brothers a record deal, but the twins had a brief spell as The Hillside Singers before signing with the label and recorded what became one of the biggest internation hits of the early ’70s, “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony).” The song started as a jingle for Coca-Cola, which aired it as “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” beginning in July 1971, but it became so incredibly popular that songwriters Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway, Billy Davis and ad executive Bill Backer added three verses and removed the product reference to create a full-length song for commercial release.
Two groups cut singles of the tune, The Hillside Singers and The New Seekers, with The Hillside Singers’ rendition going to #13 in the Billboard Hot 100, #5 in Billboard’s Easy Listening chart and #58 in Canada’s RPM chart shortly after the Metromedia label released it in November 1971. In 1972, Billboard ranked The Hillside Singers’ version at #97 for the year.
Follow Me, Collaborations, Television appearances
Under the RCA banner, the Ron and Rick’s career went quickly from strength to strength. In 1974, they went to London to record their album Follow Me, which they followed with many others that included their take on standard folk songs and their originals. Their musical talents had few boundaries; they played, they sang, they wrote and they performed.
When it came to performing, their relaxed style, wit and brotherly repartee had audiences all over the world talking about the Shaw Brothers live-concert experience and provided them with opportunity to work with many of the big names of the day including Bob Hope and a popular comedian from Andover, Massachusetts, Jay Leno. They collaborated with John Denver, Johnny Cash, Tom Paxton, Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy, among others, and appeared on a variety of television shows including American Bandstand, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Johnny Carson Show and a Bob Hope special.
“New Hampshire’s Musical Ambassadors”
All the national acclaim aside, it was in New England that Ron and Rick found their greatest rewards. In Boston, The Shaw Brothers’ song “The Day the Tall Ships Came” was the theme for Operation Sail in 1976 and their tune “New Hampshire Naturally” was selected as a New Hampshire state song. The late New Hampshire Governor Hugh Gallen described them as “New Hampshire’s musical ambassadors to the world” and how right he was; the twins were the first choice to perform at New Hampshire events in the presence of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
In terms of New Hampshire venues, one stood head and shoulders above any of the spots around the world where Ron and Rick played: Prescott Park in Portsmouth, the scene of what became a summer tradition for 25 years, the annual summer concert series. People came in droves from all over the region to see The Shaw Brothers perform and the venue was the site of one of their best-known albums, Concert in the Park. The Shaw Brothers’ annual summer concert was an essential part of the New England musical calendar.
True to New England roots, Deaths, Legacy
From learning how to sing and play ukulele with their father at age three back in the White Mountains to gracing stages all over the world is a story in itself. But the story of most lasting value is that Ron and Rick always stayed true to their geographical origins. New England and the Northeast coast helped build their character and values. Perhaps their greatest childhood memories came from the summers they spent at Camp Huckins in Freedom, New Hampshire as both campers and counselors. That was where they spent evenings with their fellow campers sitting around the campfire, singing and playing music. The bond created amongst the group lasted a lifetime, as did their connection to Camp Huckins.
Few, if any, have had such a musical influence on this area. Both passed away in Portsmouth, the city they loved (Ron in 2018, Rick in 2021) and the city and its people loved them. New Hampshire was where their hearts were and, very fittingly, it’s the state that became their final resting place. Naturally.
(by Jessica Shaw)
