Twinn Connexion -

Twinn Connexion was an American vocal duo comprised of identical twins Jay and Jerry Hopkins. In 1968, they released a self-titled album on Decca.

Members: Jay Hopkins (vocals), Jerry Hopkins (vocals)

Background

Twinn Connexion formed in New York City in 1967 when identical-twin singers Gerald “Jerry” Hopkins and James E. “Jay” Hopkins signed with Decca Records under the Twinn Connexion name.

The brothers were born on Jan. 15, 1941, in Helena, Mont., and began singing country songs learned from radio while in grade school. Jerry and Jay performed at civic and charitable functions around Helena, then graduated from Helena High School. The twins also starred in the local half-hour weekly television program Teen Time Varieties while in high school.

Jerry and Jay entered University of Montana drama department in Missoula and performed as “The Hopki” in University Theatre productions. Jay played King Lear, while Jerry played Prospero in The Tempest. Jerry also founded Story Book Theatre for children at University of Montana and appeared at Old Brewery Theatre, a Helena summer-stock company.

The brothers moved to New York City in 1963 and met actor-playwright Robert Cessna, who developed a new act for them and became their manager. Cessna steered the twins into Greenwich Village clubs and coffeehouses, including Bitter End. They also pursued Off-Broadway theatre work in New York City.

Northern Music/MCA publisher Bill Downer heard the duo at Champagne Gallery on MacDougal Street in 1967 and brought them to Decca Records. Decca paired Twinn Connexion with producer-songwriter Jerry Keller and arranger-songwriter Dave Blume for an album of Keller-Blume songs. Keller and Blume recorded the brothers with New York players associated with Carolyn Hester Coalition. Decca issued “Sixth Avenue Stroll” in July 1968 (b/w “Oh What a Lovely Day”) as the first single ahead of Twinn Connexion.

Discography: