March 17, 2007

Bonnie, Jim Ed, and Maxine Brown, better known as the popular 1950s and 1960s singing group the Browns, grew up near Pine Bluff (Jefferson County). Perhaps their biggest year was 1959, when their song “The Three Bells” reached No. 1 on both the country and pop charts. The trio performed together until growing families and other issues led to their breakup in 1967. Jim Ed went on to a fairly successful career as a solo artist and in a duo with Helen Cornelius. The trio occasionally re-forms for performances.