The Brothers Glaser

January 25, 2012

 

The Brothers Glaser have learned that Newshound Productions is projecting a mid 2012 release of a new documentary on the musical careers of Tompall & The Glaser Brothers. View a excerpt from the upcoming video HERE.

We were first contacted by Mike VanBuren of Newshound Productions in February 2010 requesting our help in contacting Tompall, Chuck and Jim to see if they would be interested. We had always felt that this type of documentary about their impact on country music was long overdue, so we were more than happy to make the introductions. We are very pleased that it is coming to fruition and look forward to its upcoming release. More info:

 

October 15, 2011

 

Joel Glaser of The Brothers Glaser was on hand Saturday at the 2011 NCMF Banquet and Awards Ceremony to accept the award for each of us. We are extremely proud to be new inductees of the Nebraska Country Music Foundation Hall of Fame!

We are committed to the mission on which the NCMF was founded and look forward to continuing the “promotion, performance and teaching of country music and its principles, to the young and old, and to keep country music entertainment a part of our past, present and future.”

 

October 14, 2011

 

 

By Amy Schweitzer
amy.schweitzer@theindependent.com

Published: Friday, October 14, 2011 11:13 PM CDT
HASTINGS — Two family country music groups from Spalding will be honored by the Nebraska Country Music Foundation on Saturday.

Two generations of Glasers, Tompall & The Glaser Brothers and their nephews, The Brothers Glaser, will be inducted into the Nebraska Country Music Foundation Hall of Fame at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Hastings.

”It’s rare to have two generations within the same family with such talent; it’s even more special to be inducting them at the same time,” said Deb Shaw, president of the foundation. “It will be an honor for the Nebraska Country Music Foundation to induct The Glaser Brothers and Brothers Glaser into our hall of fame and share their praiseworthy talent with our fellow members, family and friends.”

Paul Robert Glaser, a member of the younger Brothers Glaser, said they were honored and humbled.

 “Because we were so influenced by them, it is an honor to be inducted at the same time,” he said, adding, “I think it is long overdue for them.”

Both brother groups grew up in Spalding in Greeley County, but Paul Robert Glaser said that although family members still live in the area, most of the band members are scattered around the country.

Tompall & The Glaser Brothers, Tompall, Chuck and Jim Glaser, began their career in the 1950s, performing around Central Nebraska. The brothers moved to Nashville in 1959 and toured with country greats Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline, among others. The Glaser Brothers scored numerous hits from the 1960s through the 1980s and became members of the Grand Ole Opry in 1963.

In addition to performing worldwide, the brothers opened their own recording studio, Glaser Sound Studio, in 1968. Waylon Jennings, Jimmy Buffet, Grand Funk Railroad, Bobby Bare and many other well-known country and rock artists hung out and recorded there. The studio eventually became known as “Hillbilly Central.”

The Glaser Brothers also formed their own publishing company in the 1960s. Their most famous acquisition was a song that had been passed over by many other firms. “Gentle On My Mind” became a hit song for Glen Campbell. The Glaser Brothers’ hands-on approach to their careers inspired many other musicians to do the same. More info:

Tompall, Chuck and Jim Glaser are now mostly retired.

The Brothers Glaser, including Paul Robert, Gary D, David and Joel Glaser, are four of the 13 children of Tompall, Chuck and Jim Glaser’s older brother, Robert.

They grew up listening to their famous uncles’ music. Paul Robert Glaser said their father encouraged their talents, taking them to talent shows starting when Paul Robert was in junior high.

As teenagers, the nephews formed their own group, performing in the mid-1960s around Central Nebraska and toured the Midwest in the 1970s. Under the names The Second Generation, Genesis IV and The Glaser Brothers Band, the younger Glasers performed at many high school functions, in clubs and on the hotel circuit until the early 1980s. The brothers did their first recording session in 1976 with Mario “Doc” Dantes, founder of the Nebraska Country Music Foundation.

Paul Robert Glaser said they didn't sing much with their famous uncles, but they have gotten advice from time to time.

“Although we have never actually sung with them, we did record in their studio in Nashville in the late 1970s,” he said. “Jim has also been kind enough to comment on the songs as we worked on arrangements.”

In honor of their father, who died in 2006, the four regrouped as The Brothers Glaser and began production of an album in tribute to Tompall and the Glaser Brothers. The CD is scheduled to be released in early 2012. It will include many of their uncles’ songs including one of their biggest hits, “Lovin’ Her Was Easier,” and their first hit, “Five Penny Nickel.”

Paul Robert Glaser said the project has been challenging because the four brothers now live in different states.

“The album was recorded using the Internet to transfer the music between our respective home studios,” he said. “It was a real challenge, but also a lot of fun.”

As a thank-you to the Nebraska Country Music Foundation, the brothers produced a special-edition, extra-play CD of selections from their upcoming release. Joel Glaser plans to hand out copies of it after the ceremony.

The Nebraska Country Music Foundation will hold the Hall of Fame ceremony as the finale of its 31st Annual Festival, “Lovin’ Country” 2011. The weeklong festival features songwriting and performing competitions.

Receiving the award for Tompall & The Glaser Brothers will be a nephew, Jerry Ryan, and receiving for The Brothers Glaser will be group member Joel Glaser

According to its website, The Nebraska Country Music Foundation was founded by Barb and Mario “Doc” Dantes in 1980. Their mission is the “promotion, performance and teaching of country music and its principles, to the young and old, and to keep country music entertainment a part of our past, present and future.” More info:

 

July 30, 2011

 

 

The Nebraska Country Music Foundation (NCMF) Board of Directors has informed The Brothers Glaser that they have been nominated to be inducted into the Nebraska Country Music Hall of Fame! The induction is set for October 15, 2011 in Hastings, Nebraska.

The Brothers Glaser were contacted by the president of the NCMF, Deb Shaw, who said that the organization was honored to have The Brothers Glaser as members of the Hall of Fame. For submitting our name for consideration, The Brothers Glaser would like to thank Chris Nielsen and all the board members of the NCMF for this very special honor!

For more information about this event see the NCMF website.