A classic example of one-hit-wonder syndrome, the Kalin Twins have a more interesting history than many who fall into this age group. Herbie (Herbert Harry Kalin, 16 February 1934, Port Jervis, New York State, USA, d. 21 July 2006) and Harold “Hal” Kalin (b. 16 February 1934, Port Jervis, New York State, USA, d. 24 August 2005, Waldorf, Maryland, USA) were real life twins (many references give their birth date as 1939 but this was a Decca Records diversion, in an attempt to make them appear younger than they were). Herbie (Herbert Harry Kalin, 16 February 1934, Port Jervis, New York State, USA, d. 21 July 2006) and Harold “Hal” Kalin (born 16 February 1934, Port Jervis, New York State, USA, d . 24 August 2005, Waldorf, Maryland, USA) was the real life twins (many references provide their birth date as 1939 but this was a Decca Records diversion, in an attempt to make them seem younger than they were). Their first public performances came at just five years of age at a local Christmas party, and the bug stayed with them. Their first public appearance came in just five years at a local Christmas party, and the error stayed with them. They graduated from Port Jervis High School in June 1952, but plans to break into the music industry were delayed when Hall was drafted into the Air Force as a radio operator. They graduated from Port Jervis High School in June 1952, but has plans to break into the music industry was delayed when Hall was drafted in Air Force as a radio operator. They kept in touch during this period, recording and writing songs on a tape recorder and sending them back and forth. They kept in touch during this period, recording and writing songs on a tape recorder and send them back and forth. After Hal’s discharge in 1956 they set about resurrecting their double act. After Hall’s release in 1956 they set about resurrecting their double act. During these early struggles a demo single was pressed, combining the compositions “Beggars Of Love” and “The Spider And The Fly.” During these early struggles a demo single was pressed, combining the compositions “beggar Of Love” and “Spider and The Fly.” The result was an audition for Decca, and their first single proper, “Jumpin ‘Jack” / “Walkin’ To School.” The result was a hearing for Decca, and their first proper single, “Jumpin ‘Jack” / “Walkin’ to school.”

While searching through piles of writers’ demo tapes to find a suitable follow-up the twins discovered a song entitled “When”, written by Paul Evans and Jack Reardon. While searching through piles of writers’ demo tapes to find the appropriate monitoring of twins found a song titled “When”, written by Paul Evans and Jack Reardon. It became their second single. It was their second single. However, the record company chose to plug its flip side, “Three o’clock Thrill” instead. But the record company decided to close its flip side, “Three o’clock thrill” instead. It was not until disc jockeys belatedly began to play “When” that the single took off. It was not until late disc jockeys started playing “When” that the single rail. It reached number 5 in the Billboard charts but topped the UK charts for no less than five weeks (selling over two million copies worldwide). It reached number 5 on the Billboard charts but topped the UK charts for no less than five weeks (selling over two million copies worldwide). Coast to coast touring of the U.S. ensued before a two week engagement at the Prince of Wales Theater in England (later dates introduced Cliff Richard as support artist on his first national tour). Coast to coast touring in the U.S. ensued before a two-week engagement at the Prince of Wales Theater in England (later dates introduced Cliff Richard as a support artist on his first national tour). The subsequent “Forget Me Not” and “Oh, My Goodness” both made reasonable showing in the Billboard charts, but neither entered the UK equivalent. The subsequent “Forget me not” and “Oh, my goodness” both made reasonable removals of Billboard charts, but neither entered the British equivalent. Two more minor U.S. hits followed, “It’s Only The Beginning” and “Sweet Sugar Lips’, but their remaining Decca sides failed to sell. With the arrival of the Beatles there seemed little place in the market for the Kalin Twins” innocent harmonies, although a further single, “Sometimes it comes, sometimes it Goes” for Amy Records, did appear in 1966. Two further minor U.S. hits followed, “It is only the beginning” and “Sweet Sugar Lips’, but their remaining Decca sides failed to sell. With the arrival of the Beatles there seemed little room in the market for the Kalin Twins” innocent harmonies, even if another single, “Sometimes it comes, sometimes it Goes” for Amy Records, was listed in 1966.

Disillusioned with their diminishing rewards, the brothers mutually agreed to return to their day jobs, with each pursuing college degrees. Disillusioned with their diminishing rewards brothers mutually agreed to return to their day jobs, with each pursuing college degrees. They did not perform again until 1977 when a friend booked them to appear weekly at his new night spot, the River Boat Club. They did not perform again until 1977 when a friend ordered them to appear each week on its new night spot, River Boat Club. This led to further one-off engagements, in which they were sometimes joined by younger sibling Jack to appear as the Kalin Brothers. This led to a further one-off commitments, in which they were sometimes joined by younger sibling Jack to emerge as the Kalin Brothers. A brace of singles appeared on small labels: “Silver Seagull” and “American Eagle” both used the same backing track. A brace of singles appeared on small labels: “Silver seagull” and “American Eagle” both used the same backing track. They disappeared again until old hand support Cliff Richard invited them to play at his 30th Anniversary shows in 1989. They disappeared again until old hand support Cliff Richard invited them to play at his 30th anniversary show in 1989. Harold Kalin was killed in an automobile accident in August 2005. Harold Kalin was killed in a car accident in August 2005. His brother suffered a fatal heart attack less than a year later. His brother has suffered a fatal heart attack less than a year later.

Harold (Hal) en Herbert (Herb) Kalin die overigens echte tweelingen zijn, werden geboren op 16 februari 1934 te Port Jervis in New York. Nochtans vermeld hun ‘Decca’ biografie dat ze geboren werden in 1939, een slinkse truck van de platenmaatschappij om de al wat ouder ogende tweelingen een jonger imago aan te meten bij het jonge publiek.

Op vijfjarige leeftijd maken ze hun zangdebuut op een feest van de plaatselijke brandweer. Het enthousiaste antwoord van die eerste auditie, een staande ovatie, echode nog ontelbare keren de wereld rond. Succes op school in shows en later bij diverse dansgelegenheden zette de broers aan om hun geluk en fortuin te gaan zoeken in de showbusiness. Succes gaat echter niet over één nacht ijs. Zo hebben ze verscheidene jaren aan leergeld betaald in het harde leven van de nachtclubs tot dat ze in 1957 via songwriter Clint Ballard bij “Decca Records” ontdekt werden. De platenmaatschappij zag veel mogelijkheden in het schrijvers –en zangtalent van de gebroeders Kalin en biedt hun een platencontract aan op lange termijn.

In 1958 worden ze naar de sterrenwereld gekatapulteerd door hun eerste en inmiddels klassieke hit “When”. Het resultaat mag er wezen. Wereldwijd verkopen ze méér dan drie miljoen exemplaren. Nochtans was “When” gelanceerd als de b-kant van de singel “Three O’ Clock Thrill” dat volgens ‘Decca’ alle ingrediënten had van een teenybopper hit. Maar Hal en Herb dachten daar anders over en begonnen stiekem de b-kant te promoten. Wie had ooit gedacht dat die kleine jongens van dat brandweerfeest zouden opklimmen naar de éérste plaats van de hitparade (UK)

Op 23 augustus 2005 komt er een einde aan het Kalin Twins verhaal als Harold om het leven komt bij een auto-ongeval. Elf maanden later, op 21 juli 2006 sterft ook Herbert na een fatale hartaanval.